South Carolina Electrical Contractor License (Commercial): Requirements, Exams, and Fees

South Carolina Commercial Electrical Contractor License: Requirements and Exams

South Carolina does not license journeyman or master electricians statewide. It licenses electrical contractors, through two boards in the Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation (LLR):

• The Contractor's Licensing Board (CLB) licenses commercial contractors. An electrical contractor holds a Mechanical Contractor license with the Electrical classification. This article covers that license.
• The Residential Builders Commission licenses residential electricians. See South Carolina Residential Electrical Contractor requirements.

PSI gives the exams for both boards.

Who can apply

You need at least 2 years of commercial experience within the last 5 years in the electrical classification. You don't prove it up front: you pass the exams first, then file an experience affidavit with your license application.

The license also needs a financial statement or a bond, which sets your license group: the size of project you may contract for.

Two exams

	Electrician trade exam	Business Management and Law for Commercial Contractors
Questions	80	50
Time	5 hours	125 minutes
To pass	56 correct (70%)	35 correct (70%)
Book policy	Open book	Open book
Main references	NEC (2023, or 2020 until July 1, 2027), NFPA 72 (2019), American Electricians' Handbook (17th), 29 CFR 1926	NASCLA Contractor's Guide, South Carolina Commercial Contractors (9th)
PSI fee	$78	$78
Retakes	Twice in 12 months, then once per 6 months	Unlimited

What's on the Electrician exam breaks the 80 questions down by area. Our practice exam covers the Electrician trade exam only. We do not cover Business and Law yet.

The NASCLA option

Instead of the state Electrician exam, you may take the NASCLA Accredited Examination for Electrical Contractors: 100 questions in 4.5 hours, 75 correct to pass, $116. Several states accept it, but its outline is different, and you still pass South Carolina's Business and Law exam. We have a separate NASCLA Electrical Contractor practice exam.

The attempt cap

This is the rule that catches people. The Electrician exam may be taken only twice in a 12-month period, and after that only once every six months. Your PSI registration lasts one year, or until you fail twice in that window. Two failed attempts can cost you half a year, so sit the exam when your practice scores are well above 70%.

Which NEC?

From November 1, 2026, PSI allows the 2023 or the 2020 NEC (or the NEC Handbook of the same edition). After July 1, 2027, only the 2023 edition may be used. South Carolina adopted the 2023 NEC with its 2024 codes, which local jurisdictions enforce from January 1, 2027.

If you are buying a code book now, buy the 2023: it works for every exam date, and it is what you will work from.

South Carolina modifies three NEC sections: the dwelling GFCI list in 210.8(A), outdoor-outlet GFCI in 210.8(F) and the dwelling AFCI list in 210.12(B). They matter mostly for residential work.

Applying, step by step

1. Register with PSI for the Electrician and Business and Law exams (online at test-takers.psiexams.com/sccon or (855) 340-3701).
2. Pass both.
3. Apply to the CLB with your experience affidavit, financial statement or bond, and the $350 initial license fee.

Fees

Fee	Amount
PSI Electrician exam	$78
PSI Business and Law exam	$78
PSI NASCLA Electrical Contractor exam (instead of the trade exam)	$116
CLB initial license	$350
Renewal, every two years	$135

Renewal

Mechanical contractor licenses, including the electrical classification, expire October 31 of odd-numbered years. Renewal costs $135, and late fees start November 1.

Reciprocity

LLR's annual report lists Contractor's Licensing Board endorsement or reciprocity with Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas and Utah. Ask the Board at (803) 896-4686 whether an agreement covers the electrical classification and which exams it waives.

Residential work

A Mechanical Contractor license with the electrical classification also allows residential electrical work. If you want the separate Residential Electrician license from the Residential Builders Commission, holding the commercial license by exam for a year waives its technical exam. You still take the residential Business and Law exam.

Pass rates

Neither LLR nor PSI publishes pass rates for this exam.

Getting ready

Try our free South Carolina Electrician practice test on the 2023 NEC, or see the full South Carolina Commercial Electrical Contractor exam prep. For the test itself, read South Carolina Electrician exam day.