Getting your South Carolina General Contractor license looks like a lot of paperwork. It's really just 6 steps. This guide walks you through each one, using the state's own application rules (DOC 165) and the current PSI exam bulletin — so what you read here is exactly what the state will ask you to do.

One thing to know up front: the state and PSI officially call this the Commercial Contractor license. Same license. It lets you do commercial and residential work. You need it for any job worth $5,000 or more.

Getting your South Carolina General Contractor license looks like a lot of paperwork. It's really just 6 steps. This guide walks you through each one, using the state's own application rules (DOC 165) and the current PSI exam bulletin — so what you read here is exactly what the state will ask you to do.

One thing to know up front: the state and PSI officially call this the Commercial Contractor license. Same license. It lets you do commercial and residential work. You need it for any job worth $5,000 or more.

• 2 years of commercial construction experience in the last 5 years
• A business set up to work in South Carolina (sole proprietors are fine)

Not sure this is your license? Mostly build houses? You probably want the Residential Builder license instead. Want to work in more than one state? The NASCLA route lets one exam count in 17+ states — it's covered in Step 1.

South Carolina has two levels for building contractors:

• Limited Building Contractor — Buildings up to 3 stories. Your job limit tops out at $1,000,000.
• Unlimited Building Contractor — No height limit. At the top group, no job size limit either.

Working in more than one state?

Take the NASCLA Accredited Examination for your Unlimited license. Pass it once, and 17+ states accept it. That's one exam instead of one per state.

See the SC NASCLA prep collection →

Your "group" sets the biggest job you're allowed to bid. To get a group, you show the Board your company's finances — or buy a surety bond instead.

You only need to pass one money test: net worth or working capital, not both.

From DOC 165 (12/22/2025).

The simple version:

• Groups 1–2: You can fill out your own financial statement (Doc 172).
• Groups 3–4: A CPA needs to prepare it.
• Group 5: Requires a full CPA audit.
• Alternative: Don't want to share financials? A surety bond works at any level.

Sign up at test-takers.psiexams.com/sccon or call 855-340-3701.

You'll take two exams:

Heads up: PSI only lets you book 6 hours of testing per day. The NASCLA exam runs 5.5 hours, so plan Business & Law for a different day.

Both exams are open book. You bring the approved reference books in with you.

Sounds easy — it isn't. The clock is what gets people. You don't have time to dig through 20 books for every answer.

The Tab Rule Most Guys Don't Know

PSI has a strict rule: your book tabs must be permanent — the kind that tear the page if you pull them off.

The proctor will strip out Post-It notes and sticky tabs before your exam starts.

That's exactly why our books come pre-highlighted and pre-tabbed with permanent tabs. The 40–60 hours of marking is already done, and every tab passes inspection.

If you don't pass the first time, you can retake a technical exam twice in 12 months, then once every 6 months after that. Business & Law has no retake limit.

Your Prep Options

1. Pre-Highlighted & Tabbed NASCLA + SC Business Law Combo

Books marked for you + course + practice exams — the whole package. →

2. SC NASCLA Combo (Standard)

Same materials — you tab and highlight the books yourself. →

3. Unlimited Contractor 24-Book Reference Set

Books only — includes SC Business & Law. →

4. SC Commercial Business & Law Study Pack

Just the B&L exam materials. →

5. SC One-Time Practice Exams

See where you stand before test day. →

After you pass, build your application package.

Application Checklist

• $350 license fee — check or money order to SCCLB
• Experience affidavit — proof of 2 years of commercial work
• Papers from the SC Secretary of State (not required for sole proprietors)
• Company ownership papers — Articles of Incorporation or Organization
• Signed Company Acknowledgement
• Financial statement or surety bond from Step 2
• PQP form — Doc 168 for new applicants
• Background paperwork if you answer "yes" to any background question

What's a PQP?

Every license names a Primary Qualifying Party (PQP) — the person responsible for the work.

For most guys reading this, that's you. You're the one who takes the exams.

If your PQP ever leaves the company, you have 15 days to tell the Board — or the license can be cancelled.

Mail everything to:

PO Box 11329

Columbia, SC 29211

Or email it to contact.clb@llr.sc.gov.

Once you're licensed, remember one date:

General Contractor licenses expire October 31 of even-numbered years.

Every book set, tab kit, and practice exam matches the current PSI reference list.

Try the free course demo and see how it works.

See SC General Contractor Prep →

Talk to a Licensing Specialist

We've helped contractors pass in South Carolina for 15+ years. Not sure which route fits? Call us.

877-699-0775

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1. Pick your license type

2. Pick your license group

3. Register with PSI

4. Pass both exams

5. Get your paperwork together

6. Send in your application

Official Sources

This guide is built from SC LLR DOC 165 (v2.1, 12/22/2025) and the PSI Commercial Contractor Candidate Information Bulletin (updated 1/17/2025).

Requirements change — re-verify quarterly.