The requirements for a South Carolina commercial contractor license come from two places: LLR (the Contractor's Licensing Board) sets the qualifications, and PSI administers the exams. This post lays out what is confirmed in each category so you can check your eligibility before spending time and money.
This is an independent study aid, not affiliated with the SC Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation (LLR), the Contractor's Licensing Board, or PSI. Verify every requirement against the current LLR pages and the PSI candidate bulletin.
The $5,000 licensing threshold
SC law requires a commercial contractor license for general contracting work on projects totaling $5,000 or more (SC Code Title 40, Chapter 11). That figure is the line between unlicensed work and a license violation. It is also a likely exam question, so commit it to memory either way.
Experience requirements
For general and mechanical classification candidates, LLR requires at least 2 years of commercial experience within the preceding 5 years. This is documented experience, so start gathering references and project records early. Specialty classifications follow their own LLR rules. The experience rules come from LLR, not PSI.
The two exams
Commercial contractor candidates (except Fire Alarm and Burglar Alarm candidates) must pass:
- Business Management and Law for Commercial Contractors. 50 scored questions, 70 percent to pass (35 correct), 125 minutes, $78 PSI fee, open book (NASCLA South Carolina Commercial Contractors 9th Edition only). Unlimited retakes within a 12-month period.
- The applicable technical examination. Generally limited to two attempts in a 12-month period, then once every six months.
Your PSI registration confirmation is valid for one year or until the applicable attempt limit is reached. The full format detail is in the exam overview.
Business entity requirements
Corporations and LLCs doing business in South Carolina must register with the SC Secretary of State. Sole proprietorships, partnerships, LLCs, and corporations are all recognized business forms. If you are forming or registering an entity for the license, confirm the current registration requirements on the Secretary of State's site.
Penalty rules
Operating outside the licensing law carries administrative penalties under SC Code section 40-11-100:
- First administrative offense: up to $500.
- Continuing violations: up to $2,500 per day.
- Appeal window: a citation must be appealed within 15 days.
- Payment: if not appealed, payment is due within 30 days.
The 15-day appeal and 30-day payment clocks are separate numbers the exam likes to test side by side.
What this post does not cover
A few items are deliberately left out because they are not confirmed from primary sources: specific unemployment insurance rates, public-works bonding thresholds, license group tiers and renewal fees, and qualifying-party replacement rules. Application and license fees are set by LLR and should be verified directly on the LLR site. The license cost post explains what is confirmed and what to check.
Putting it together
The practical sequence is: confirm the threshold applies to you, document your experience, register for PSI, pass the Business and Law exam (open book, unlimited retakes), pass the technical exam, then apply through LLR. See how to get the license for the step-by-step version and the timeline for realistic pacing.
Try the free practice quiz
The fastest way to find your weak areas is to test them. Take the free 12-question South Carolina Commercial Business and Law practice quiz, the scored version with email results, so you can see exactly which topics need work. Start the free quiz
For full coverage of every exam-tested requirement, the South Carolina Commercial Business Law Study Guide includes 150 weighted practice questions.