How to get a Mechanical Contractor - Electrical subclassification license in South Carolina

South Carolina electrician licenses

South Carolina issues 2 electrician credentials. Each has its own section below; the table shows what each one covers and its headline requirements.

Applies to every license level

These rules are the same for every South Carolina electrician license on this page, so they are shown once here. Each license's own section lists only what differs.

Requirements

Background check

A board may not deny a license solely because of a prior conviction unless it directly relates to the occupation (S.C. Code 40-1-140).³

Fees

The board's pages we cite do not list the exam fee.

Renewal

Exemptions

No CE while on active military duty (S.C. Code 40-1-610).³

From another state

Who needs a Mechanical Contractor - Electrical subclassification license

Electrical work under 600 volts (wiring, panels, controls, conduits, lighting incl. athletic fields and parking lots, fire alarm systems, small window A/C units); any contract with electrical work above 50 volts must go to an Electrical-licensed (or public electrical utility) contractor.¹

Exemptions and dollar thresholds:

• License required when the total cost of construction is over $10,000 (raised from $5,000 by 2023 Act No. 69).¹
• Residential work up to three floors is governed by the Residential Builders Commission (residential specialty electrical license); a mechanical contractor working in its licensed classification is exempt from that chapter.⁴

Other rules on who may do this work:

• Solar: wiring and connections only by a Mechanical Contractor with the Electrical subclassification (or for residential, a licensed residential builder/electrician).¹
• Sign installers need an electrical license to make the final branch-circuit connection.¹

Requirements for a Mechanical Contractor - Electrical subclassification license

The rules this license shares with every other level are under Applies to every license level.

Experience

At least 2 years¹
The primary qualifying party must show at least two years of full-time employment within the previous five years in the Electrical subclassification (or other proof the board approves) and hold a management role with the licensee.¹
Supervision: Qualifying party must be in management and actively involved in supervision and operations.¹

Exam

Electrical technical examination plus South Carolina contracting law examination¹
Electrical technical exam⁵
South Carolina Commercial Contractors Business, Law and Project Management exam¹
Retakes: At most two attempts per subclassification in 12 months, then one every six months.¹
Time limit: Anyone not certified as a qualifying party for four or more consecutive years must retake the exams the board requires.¹
Exam waived: Technical exam may be waived if the applicant passed an essentially equivalent exam in another state.¹

Business requirements

License is issued to an entity with a certified qualifying party in a management position; a qualifying party may serve only one licensee (two only if same location and at least 50% ownership of one).¹

Business requirements

Financial statement (or bond) proving the mechanical license group's net worth or working capital, balance sheet dated within 12 months.¹

How much a Mechanical Contractor - Electrical subclassification license costs

Each line is a separate charge as the board lists it. The board does not publish a combined total, so none is shown here.

How to apply

1. The person who will qualify the business applies to take the Electrical technical exam and the S.C. contracting law exam (fees paid to the exam provider) and scores 70% or better to get a qualifying-party certificate.¹
2. Pick the license group by the largest job you will bid and prepare the matching financial statement (or a surety bond).¹
3. The business applies to the Contractor's Licensing Board with the qualifying party's employment affidavit (two of the last five years in Electrical) and pays the $350 initial license fee.¹
4. Get a city/county business license where you work; permit offices ask for the SC LLR license number.⁶

Renewal and continuing education

How often

Every 2 years¹

When it expires

Renew every two years by the expiration date with a current financial statement for the group; renewals not postmarked by then lapse.¹

Renewal fee

$135²

Late renewal

Late renewal fee: $100²
Late renewal fee: $150²
Late renewal fee: $200²
Reinstatement fee: $350²

If it expires

A lapsed license can be renewed within 90 days with renewal and late fees; after that the entity must apply as a new applicant.¹

Moving to South Carolina with a license from another state

These are the routes the South Carolina Contractors' Licensing Board publishes for the Mechanical Contractor - Electrical subclassification license. The other electrician licenses have their own routes in their sections below.

Licensed Residential Specialty Contractor - Electrician

Requirements

Experience

Must be qualified and experienced in the specialty; no hour or year figure is set in statute or regulation for the specialty license.⁴

Exam

Residential specialty contractor examination - Electrical⁷
Retakes: Retakes allowed on paying another exam fee; after three failures, wait 12 months.⁴
Exam waived: License without exam for applicants licensed in good standing in states the commission finds have comparable exams.⁴

Surety bond

$10,000⁴ (Minimum; required when a job exceeds $5,000)

Insurance

The commission may consider workers' compensation insurance when examining an applicant.⁴

Business requirements

A firm (or anyone using a fictitious name) needs a Residential Business Certificate of Authorization with a licensee in responsible charge.⁴

Also required

No more than three specialty classifications; more requires a residential builder license.⁴

Fees

Each line is a separate charge as the board lists it. The board does not publish a combined total, so none is shown here.

How to apply

1. Apply to the Residential Builders Commission for the Electrical specialty license with the $135 application fee.²
2. Pass the residential electrical specialty exam (three failures = 12-month wait).⁴
3. Pay the $220 license fee; file a surety bond of at least $10,000 before taking jobs over $5,000 for a homeowner. Firms also get a certificate of authorization ($100).²
4. Get the city/county business license where you work; permit offices must see your state license.⁴

Temporary or provisional license

After a governor-declared emergency, out-of-state specialty contractors licensed by exam at home can get an emergency license ($100; $5,000 bond; projects up to $35,000; national criminal background report).⁷

Renewal

Renewal fee

$220²

Late renewal

Late renewal fee: $50²
Reinstatement fee: $260²

If it expires

Inactive more than three years: new application and exam. Grandfathered (no-exam) licenses lapsed more than three years also require the exam.⁴

From another state

The rules this license shares with every other level are under Applies to every license level.

City and county rules

Mechanical Contractor - Electrical subclassification (license issued to an entity by the South Carolina Contractor's Licensing Board, license groups 1-5)A state LLR license is required to pull electrical permits; cities and counties also require business licenses and may examine and license residential specialty contractors (but cannot re-examine one who passed the state exam). Charleston and Columbia permit forms ask for the SC LLR license number; no separate city electrician license was found there.⁴

Licensed Residential Specialty Contractor - ElectricianCities and counties may examine and license residential specialty contractors, but may not re-examine one who passed the state-approved exam; they also require business licenses, and permit offices must see the state license. Charleston and Columbia electrical permit forms ask for the SC LLR license number; no separate city electrician license was found there.⁴

Laws and rules

The requirements above come from these laws and board rules.

• S.C. Code Ann. Title 40, ch. 11 (Contractors)
• S.C. Code Regs. ch. 29 (Contractor's Licensing Board)
• S.C. Code Regs. 10-10
• S.C. Code Ann. Title 40, ch. 1 (Professions and Occupations, general)
• S.C. Code Ann. Title 40, ch. 59 (Residential Builders)
• S.C. Code Regs. 106-1, 106-2, 106-5
• S.C. Code Regs. 10-38 B
• S.C. Code Ann. Title 40, ch. 1

Common questions

Electrician licenses in other states

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