South Carolina Residential Builder

* License will be required for the practice of contracting in South Carolina for contracts exceeding $5,000.

* You must be pre-approved by the board before being allowed to sit for the exam.

* Application fees must be submitted with your application as well as a credit report.

* The South Carolina Business and Law exam is required.

* Applicants must obtain a $15,000 surety bond.

* No monetary limitation or requirements

* Submit an affidavit showing proof of at least one year of actual experience of the supervision of a licensed builder.

Surety Bonds: Beginning with this renewal cycle, the South Carolina Contractor's Licensing Board can now accept a surety bond in lieu of a financial statement for both renewals and initial applications. Basically, an applicant can provide a surety bond in the amount of two (2) times the net worth requirement for the Group Level applied for. For example a General Contractor Group 5 would require a surety bond in the amount of $500,000.

Test Information: This test covers information in 8 subject areas. The questions are created from content in the 8 book set shown below the following chart.

You have 3 attempts to pass this test in 12 months.
Candidate Information Bulletin: Click here to download the bulletin.

"Residential builder" means one who constructs, superintends, or offers to construct or superintend the construction, repair, improvement, or reimprovement of a residential building or structure which is not over three floors in height and which does not have more than sixteen units in any single apartment building, when the cost of the undertaking exceeds five thousand dollars. Anyone who engages or offers to engage in such undertaking in this State is considered to have engaged in the business of residential building. Permitted Work

Q. Can I obtain a SC Residential Builders License if I am licensed in another state without having to take the SC exam? A. Yes, you may waive the technical portion of the examination only if you hold a license by examination from a state with which the Commission has an Exam Waiver Agreement. Grandfather licensees do not qualify for exam waiver, you must be licensed by examination in one of the following states. The Commission has an Exam Waiver Agreement with the following states for a Residential Builders license only: