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

South Carolina plumber licenses

South Carolina issues 2 plumber 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 plumber 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 - Plumbing subclassification license

All plumbing within property lines (including solar water heating, connections to water meters and sewer taps), water-supply piping, fixtures, pressure vessels and tanks, venting and sanitary drainage, roof leaders, water-conditioning equipment, swimming-pool piping, and the gas lines serving gas-fired plumbing equipment. Groups 3-5 may also install standpipe systems that do not feed sprinklers.¹

Exemptions and dollar thresholds:

• License required when the total cost of construction is over $10,000.¹
• Residential plumbing (buildings up to three floors) is governed by the Residential Builders Commission specialty license; a mechanical contractor working in its licensed classification is exempt from that chapter.⁴

Other rules on who may do this work:

• General contractors holding Water and Sewer Lines may not run water/sewer lines from the right-of-way to a residence unless subcontracting to a plumbing-subclassification licensee.¹

Requirements for a Mechanical Contractor - Plumbing subclassification license

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

Experience

At least 2 years¹
The qualifying party must show at least two years of full-time employment within the previous five years in the Plumbing 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

Plumbing technical examination plus South Carolina contracting law examination¹
Plumbing 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 (with a limited exception).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 - Plumbing 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 takes the Plumbing technical exam and the S.C. contracting law exam (fees paid to the exam provider) and scores 70% or better.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 Plumbing) and pays the $350 initial license fee.¹
4. Get a city/county business license where you work; plumbing 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 - Plumbing subclassification license. The other plumber licenses have their own routes in their sections below.

Licensed Residential Specialty Contractor - Plumber

Installing, altering and repairing residential water and natural gas piping, sewage systems and water filter/purification/conditioning systems with their fixtures, vents and devices, as an independent contractor for builders, general contractors or owners.⁴

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 - Plumbing⁷
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. Plumbers who were registered in good standing for two years before July 1, 2004 were licensed without exam (lapse over three years requires the exam).⁴

Surety bond

$10,000⁴ (Minimum; required when a job for a property owner 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 Plumbing specialty license with the $135 application fee.²
2. Pass the residential plumbing 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; plumbing permit offices must see your state license.⁴

Temporary or provisional license

After a governor-declared emergency, out-of-state specialty contractors can get an emergency license ($100; $5,000 bond; projects up to $35,000).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.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 - Plumbing subclassification (license issued to an entity by the South Carolina Contractor's Licensing Board, license groups 1-5)A state LLR license is needed to pull plumbing 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, Columbia and North Charleston plumbing permit forms ask for the SC LLR license or state contractor card; no separate city plumber license was found there. State law (S.C. Code 40-49-10) still calls for local plumbing-examiner certificates in cities of 15,000+, but no city was confirmed to issue them.⁴

Licensed Residential Specialty Contractor - PlumberCities 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, Columbia and North Charleston plumbing permit forms ask for the SC LLR license or state contractor card; no separate city plumber license was found there. State law (S.C. Code 40-49-10) still calls for local plumbing-examiner certificates in cities of 15,000+, but no city was confirmed to issue them.⁴

Laws and rules

The requirements above come from these laws and board rules.

• S.C. Code Ann. Title 40, ch. 11 (Contractors), incl. 40-11-410(5)(f)
• 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

Plumber licenses in other states

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