Electrician License Requirements in South Carolina
| Licensing Authority | SC Contractors' Licensing Board (commercial) / SC Residential Builders Commission (residential), both under LLR (SC CLB / SC RBC) |
| License Type | Commercial Electrical Contractor (Mechanical License, Groups 1-5) + Residential Specialty Electrical Contractor + Journeyman/Master Electrician Certification |
| Experience Required | Commercial: 2 years of work experience within the last 5 years in electrical contracting. Residential: 1 year of work experience within the last 5 years. Journeyman certification: 2 years / 4,000 hours under a certified journeyman or master electrician. Master certification: 4 additional years as a certified journeyman. |
| Education Substitute | A 2-year associate degree from a technical school reduces journeyman experience to 1 year / 2,000 hours. |
| Exam Required | Yes — SC Commercial Electrical Trade Exam + SC Business Management & Law (Commercial) + SC Residential Electrical Trade Exam + SC Residential Business & Law Exam + Journeyman Electrician Exam + Master Electrician Exam |
| Bond Required | Yes — $10,000 |
| Insurance | General liability: recommended. Workers comp: required with employees |
| Continuing Education | 8 hours every 2 years (journeyman: 8 hours; master: 16 hours including 4 hours business/law) |
| Processing Time | 7-10 business days (residential); 3-4 weeks (commercial) |
Fee Breakdown
| Application Fee | $100 |
| Exam Fee | $75 |
| Initial License Fee | $160 |
| Commercial mechanical contractor license | $350 |
| Half-period residential license | $80 |
| Each PSI exam section | $75 |
| Est. Initial Total | $840 |
Renewal: $160 every 2 years (commercial: expires Oct 31 odd years; residential: expires June 30 odd years)
Exam Requirements
SC Commercial Electrical Trade Exam
50 questions125 minutesPass: 70% (commercial: 35/50), 73.3% (residential: 44/60)
National Electrical CodeElectrical systemsSafetyWiring methods
SC Business Management & Law (Commercial)
50 questions3 hoursPass: 70% (commercial: 35/50), 73.3% (residential: 44/60)
SC construction lawBusiness managementLicensing regulations
SC Residential Electrical Trade Exam
60 questions3 hoursPass: 70% (commercial: 35/50), 73.3% (residential: 44/60)
Residential wiringNEC residentialSafety
SC Residential Business & Law Exam
2 hoursPass: 70% (commercial: 35/50), 73.3% (residential: 44/60)
SC residential lawBusiness management
Journeyman Electrician Exam
70 questions3 hoursPass: 70% (commercial: 35/50), 73.3% (residential: 44/60)
NECElectrical theorySafety
Master Electrician Exam
100 questions4 hoursPass: 70% (commercial: 35/50), 73.3% (residential: 44/60)
NECAdvanced electricalSupervisionCode compliance
Exam provider: PSI (contractor exams) / CAGC (journeyman/master certifications as of Jan 1, 2026)
License Tiers
Mechanical Group 1 (Commercial)
Projects up to $35,000. Net worth $3,500 or $7,000 surety bond.
Exam: Required
Mechanical Group 2 (Commercial)
Projects up to $100,000. Net worth $10,000 or $15,000 surety bond.
Exam: Required
Mechanical Group 3 (Commercial)
Projects up to $200,000. Net worth $20,000 or $30,000 surety bond.
Exam: Required
Mechanical Group 4 (Commercial)
Projects up to $400,000. Net worth $40,000 or $60,000 surety bond.
Exam: Required
Mechanical Group 5 (Commercial)
Unlimited. Net worth $200,000 or $300,000 surety bond.
Exam: Required
Residential Specialty Electrical Contractor
Residential electrical work over $200. Requires $10,000 surety bond.
Exam: Required
License Reciprocity
This state has reciprocity agreements with 9 states. You may be able to skip the trade exam if you hold a valid license from one of these states.
alabamaTrade/technical exam waiver for qualifying license holders. Must still pass SC Business Management & Law exam.
georgiaTrade/technical exam waiver for qualifying license holders. Must still pass SC Business Management & Law exam. Residential builders/specialty: exam waiver if current license obtained by exam with no disciplinary action in last 3 years.
louisianaTrade/technical exam waiver for qualifying license holders. Must still pass SC Business Management & Law exam.
mississippiTrade/technical exam waiver for qualifying license holders. Must still pass SC Business Management & Law exam.
north carolinaTrade/technical exam waiver for qualifying license holders. Must still pass SC Business Management & Law exam. Residential: exam waiver for builder, electrical, HVAC, and plumbing if current license obtained by exam with no disciplinary action in last 3 years.
ohioTrade/technical exam waiver for qualifying license holders. Must still pass SC Business Management & Law exam.
tennesseeTrade/technical exam waiver for qualifying license holders. Must still pass SC Business Management & Law exam.
texasTrade/technical exam waiver for qualifying license holders. Must still pass SC Business Management & Law exam.
utahTrade/technical exam waiver for qualifying license holders. Must still pass SC Business Management & Law exam.
Notes
- Commercial electrical work over $10,000 requires CLB mechanical contractor license
- Residential electrical work over $200 requires RBC specialty license
- As of January 1, 2026, CAGC replaced MASC as certification provider for master electrician certifications
- Trade exam may only be taken 3 times in a 12-month period
- All commercial exams are open-book
- SLED background check required for commercial license
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a electrician license in South Carolina?
Yes, South Carolina requires a statewide electrician license through the SC Contractors' Licensing Board (commercial) / SC Residential Builders Commission (residential), both under LLR.
How much does a electrician license cost in South Carolina?
The estimated initial cost is $335, including application, exam, and license fees.
Data last verified: 2026-04-02 | Source: SC CLB / SC RBC