Plumber 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 Plumbing Contractor (Mechanical License, Groups 1-5) + Residential Specialty Plumbing Contractor + Journeyman/Master Plumber Certification |
| Experience Required | Commercial: 2 years of work experience within the last 5 years in plumbing. Residential: 1 year of work experience within the last 5 years. Journeyman certification: 2 years / 4,000 hours under a licensed master plumber. Master certification: additional 2 years as a certified journeyman (4 years total). |
| 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 Plumbing Trade Exam + SC Business Management & Law (Commercial) + SC Residential Plumbing Trade Exam + SC Residential Business & Law Exam |
| Bond Required | Yes — $10,000 |
| Insurance | General liability: recommended. Workers comp: required with employees |
| Continuing Education | Not required |
| 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 Plumbing Trade Exam
80 questions4 hoursPass: 70% (commercial: 56/80), 67.7% (residential: 44/65)
Plumbing codesPiping systemsDrain/waste/ventWater supplySafety
SC Business Management & Law (Commercial)
50 questions3 hoursPass: 70% (commercial: 56/80), 67.7% (residential: 44/65)
SC construction lawBusiness managementLicensing regulations
SC Residential Plumbing Trade Exam
65 questions3 hoursPass: 70% (commercial: 56/80), 67.7% (residential: 44/65)
Residential plumbingPipingFixturesDWV systemsIsometric analysisSafety
SC Residential Business & Law Exam
2 hoursPass: 70% (commercial: 56/80), 67.7% (residential: 44/65)
SC residential lawBusiness management
Exam provider: PSI
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 Plumbing Contractor
Residential plumbing 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 plumbing work over $10,000 requires CLB mechanical contractor license
- Residential plumbing work over $200 requires RBC specialty license
- As of January 1, 2026, CAGC replaced MASC as certification provider for master plumber certifications
- No continuing education required for license renewal
- Trade exam may only be taken 3 times in a 12-month period
- All commercial exams are open-book
- Master Plumber certification accepted from MASC (Dec 1990 - Dec 2025) or CAGC (Jan 2026+)
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a plumber license in South Carolina?
Yes, South Carolina requires a statewide plumber license through the SC Contractors' Licensing Board (commercial) / SC Residential Builders Commission (residential), both under LLR.
How much does a plumber 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