Individuals interested in becoming licensed or registered as a Residential Builder, Residential Specialty Contractor or Home Inspector by Examination must take a two-part examination for licensure in South Carolina.
Part One: Technical Examination
Home Builders: (110 multiple-choice questions)
Applicants must obtain a passing score of 70% on the Technical Examination.
Residential Specialty Contractors:
Electrical: Technical Examination (60 multiple-choice questions)
Applicants must obtain a passing score of 73.3% on the Technical Examination.
HVAC: Technical Examination (80 multiple-choice questions)
Applicants must obtain a passing score of 65% on the Technical Examination.
Plumbing: Technical Examination (65 multiple-choice questions)
Applicants must obtain a passing score of 67.7% on the Technical Examination.
Home Inspector: Technical Examination (100 multiple-choice questions)
Applicants must obtain a passing score of 70% on the Technical Examination.
Part Two: Business Management and Law Examination (50 multiple-choice questions)
Applicants must obtain a scale score of 68 to pass the Business Management and Law Examination.
Prior to application submission, applicants must have one year of Commission-approved experience under the supervision of a licensee in the trade in which they are applying in order to be eligible to take the examination for licensure.
Individuals wishing to sit for the examination must first submit an application with the Commission for review/approval. The Commission will notify the applicant and PSI once an applicant has been approved to take the examination. The applicant will contact PSI to schedule the examination.
The Residential Builder license may be obtained without a technical examination if the applicant:
- is a currently licensed SC General Contractor.
- has a current license in the eligible state that must have been obtained by examination for one year or longer. Grandfathered licensees do not qualify for an exam waiver.
- has passed the NASCLA National Contractors Exam within the past 3 years.
Work experience requirements and the Business Management and Law Exam are still applicable. A Verification of Licensure should be sent directly to the SC Residential Builder Commission via mail or email from the issuing state. The work experience requirements are still applicable.
A Residential Builder who receives their license by exam waiver is not qualified to perform work in the mechanical trades and will have a limited license (RB Exam Waiver) issued. RB Exam Waiver licensees must subcontract with an appropriately licensed person or company to perform any of the mechanical trades on a project.
The Electrical, HVAC or Plumber Contractor license may be obtained without a technical examination if the applicant:
- is a current licensed SC Commercial Mechanical Contractor in the required field; or
- has a Master Certification issued by examination from the Municipal Association of SC; or
- has a current license in the eligible state that must have been obtained by examination for one year or longer. Grandfathered licensees do not qualify for an exam waiver.
- Electrical Exam Waiver Agreement: North Carolina, Mississippi
- HVAC Exam Waiver Agreement: Alabama, North Carolina, Mississippi
- Plumbing Exam Waiver Agreement: North Carolina, Mississippi
All examination fees are paid directly to PSI. Examinations cannot be scheduled prior to obtaining an Examination Eligibility Letter from the Commission.
PSI examination study materials may be found at:
Please see the following page:
Any person licensed to practice residential building by any other state or country whose requirements are determined by the Commission to be commensurate with the requirements of this state, may be licensed to practice residential building in this state without taking the technical examination. Exam waiver is assessed by state requirements and examination content.