South Carolina Business and Law exam is also required to be passed to obtain your contractor’s license.
Building Construction (Commercial)- NASCLA ACCREDITED contractors must submit verification of 2-years of Full-Time experience within the last 5 years and a financial statement with the completed application.
Financial Limits are based on the Company's net worth. There is no mandated bond or insurance requirements at this time.
The first step in the licensing process is to gain approval for the exams. A completed application should be submitted to the state licensing board with documentation of your experience & financial information.
To apply, contact the South Carolina Contractors Licensing Board at (803) 896-4686. The licensing fee for all commercial licenses is $350.
The Building Construction (Commercial) - NASCLA Accredited contractor will include commercial, industrial, institutional, modular, and all other types of building construction, including residential structures. This license classification includes all work under the sub-classifications of Wood Frame Stuctures-Class II, Interior Renovation, Masonry, Pre-engineered Metal Buildings, General Roofing, and Structural Shapes. Licensees under this classification may perform ancillary work, including grading, associated with the building or structure which the licensee has engaged to construct.
The first step in the licensing process is to pass the exams. A completed application should then be submitted to the state licensing board with documentation of your experience, financial information and your passing test scores.
To apply, contact the South Carolina Contractors Licensing Board at (803) 896-4686. The licensing fee for all commercial licenses is $350.
All licenses that fall under the category of General Contractor are divided in five financial categories based on net worth:
- Group 1 – Allows for jobs of 50,000 or less, applicants must submit a self-prepared financial statement showing a net worth of at least $10,000.
- Group 2 – Allows for jobs of $200,000 or less, applicants must submit a self-prepared financial statement showing a net worth of at least $40,000.
- Group 3 – Allows for jobs of $500,000 or less, applicants must submit a financial statement that has been compiled or reviewed by a CPA showing a net worth of at least $100,000.
- Group 4 – Allows for jobs of $1,500,000 or less, applicants must submit a financial statement that has been compiled or reviewed by a CPA showing a net worth of at least $175,000.
- Group 5 – There are no financial limits on the size of job allowed, applicants must submit an audited financial statement that has been prepared by a CPA showing a net worth of at least $250,000.
Experience required:
- Within the past five years, contractor must show two years of actual work experience as a full-time employee in the desired classification. Only commercial experience is accepted.
Important Contacts
The NASCLA-Accredited Examination Program was designed to assist contractors who need to be licensed in multiple jurisdictions. Contractors who take the accredited examination can access NASCLA’s examination database (NED) and request that their results be sent to other jurisdictions that accept the examination, thereby reducing redundant licensing requirements. NASCLA Accredited license is accepted in the following states:
Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oregon, South Carolina, Tennessee, Utah, Virginia & the Virgin Islands.
West Virginia will accept the NASCLA exam scores for the West Virginia General Contractor, provided the NASCLA exam was passed after 11/1/2013.
Nevada is also accepting the NASCLA exam scores if the exam was passed after 12/1/2013.
Arizona began accepting as of 8/1/17 this examination in lieu trade exams for the B-1 and B-2 General Commercial Contracting Classifications. As of 11/21/2017 Arizona also began administering the NASCLA exam.
As of 3/1/2019, Florida is accepting the NASCLA exam. Scores from the NASCLA exam are now acceptable for the Residential, Building, or General Contractor classifications. Applicants using the NASCLA exam will still be required to pass the Florida Business and Finance exams and meet all other application requirements.
There are currently no continuing education requirements for this license.
The fee for the NASCLA General Contractor exam is $106. The fee for the Business Law exam is $75.
The Business Law exam has 50 multiple-choice questions, a 2-hour time limit and requires 70% to pass.
Exam topics include Licensing requirements, Estimating & Bidding, Tax Laws, Labor Laws, Contracts and more.
The NASCLA Accredited exam for has 115 questions and a time limit of 330 minutes and a 70% is required to pass.
*Physical Diagram/Blueprint Packet to be handed out onsite at the testing center.
Trade Exam Content:
1. General Requirements (25)
2. Site Construction (15)
3. Concrete (6)
4. Masonry (4)
5. Metals (6)
6. Wood (5)
7. Thermal and Moisture Protection (5)
8. Doors, Windows and Glazing (4)
9. Finishes (5)
10. Mechanical and Plumbing Systems (6)
11. Electrical Systems (3)
12. Procurement and Contract Requirements (31)
To schedule your exam, you must first obtain pre-approval by submitting experience and education information to the testing company, PSI. Once approved, schedule exams by contacting PSI at (800) 733-9267.
All eligibility's are valid for 1-year from the date that the application is received by the Board. If you do not pass the examination within the 1-year period, you must reapply with the Board. You must pass both the Business and Law and the Trade examinations within the 1-year period. The trade exam may only be taken 2 times in a 12- month period and thereafter only once in six months.
Once you are approved through PSI, you will receive a Registration Confirmation Notice, which is valid for 1 year, or until an examination classification has been failed twice within the referenced time frame. Candidates are required to submit a registration form and examination fee for each examination.
American Contractors offers a 2 day seminar for the NASCLA Accredited Contractor exam which includes Business and Law. Seminars are from 8:00 pm to 5:00 pm on both days. American Contractors has been holding Seminars to help contractors pass their exam for over 22 years. Sign up today for the NASCLA Accredited Exam Preparation Seminar!
