A current South Carolina license or registration is required to engage in residential building, specialty contracting or home inspecting activities in this state, as defined in S.C. Code of Laws Title 40 Chapter 59.
A residential business certificate of authorization is required for any firms where a licensee does not own at least 51% of the business.
- To become licensed as a Residential Builder
- To become registered as a Residential Specialty Contractor
- To become licensed as a Residential Electrical Contractor
- To become licensed as a Residential HVAC Contractor
- To become licensed as a Residential Plumbing Contractor
- To become licensed as a Home Inspector
- To obtain a residential business certificate of authorization
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License type Fee Type Current Fee Amount Residential Builder License (RBB) RBB Application Fee $135.00 RBB License Fee $220.00 RBB Renewal Fee $220.00 RBB Renewal Late Fee $50.00 RBB Reinstatement Fee $480.00 Certificate of Authorization (COA) COA License Fee $100.00 COA Renewal Fee $100.00 Residential Specialty Contractor Electrical License (RBE) RBE Application Fee $135.00 RBE License Fee $220.00 RBE Renewal Fee $220.00 RBE Renewal Late Fee $50.00 RBE Reinstatement Fee $480.00 Residential Specialty Heating and Air License (RBH) RBH Application Fee $100.00 RBH License Fee $220.00 RBH Renewal Fee $220.00 RBH Renewal Late Fee $50.00 RBH Reinstatement Fee $480.00 Residential Home Inspector License (RBI) RBI Application Fee $80.00 RBI Reinstatement Fee $360.00 RBI Renewal Fee $160.00 RBI Renewal Late Fee $90.00 Residential Specialty Plumbing License (RBP) RBP Application Fee $135.00 RBP License Fee $220.00 RBP Renewal Fee $220.00 RBP Renewal Late Fee $50.00 RBP Reinstatement Fee $480.00 Residential Specialty Contractor Registration (RBS) RBS Registration Fee $100.00 RBS Reinstatement Fee $290.00 RBS Renewal Fee $100.00 RBS Renewal Late Fee $20.00 - PSI Exam Fees
- Licensee/Registrant List (CD): $10
- Duplicate License: $10 (wallet card)
- Verification of License: $0
- Name or Address Change with a new card issued: $10
There is no charge for address or name changes made for the Commission's records only. The charge applies if a new license/registration card is requested.
**Initial registration fees are prorated for applications received after April 1 of the year prior to renewal (even years, 2020, 2022, etc.) and approved by the Board. The prorated registration fee is $50.
Paper Applications
- Application for Residential Specialty Contractor Electrical License by Examination
- Application for Residential Specialty Contractor HVAC License by Examination
- Application for Residential Specialty Contractor Plumbing License by Examination
- Application for Registration as a Residential Specialty Contractor
- Application for Residential Home Builder by Examination
- Application for Certificate of Authorization
- Application for Home Inspector
- Reinstatement Application Residential Specialty Contractor Electrical/Plumbing/HVAC
- Reinstatement Application Specialty Contractor Registration
- Reinstatement Residential Builder Lapsed Form
- Reinstatement Residential Home Inspector Lapsed Form
All of the above apps with the exception of the Certificate of Authorization are available for online submission as well.
Forms
- Complaint Form
- Change of Information Form
- Residential Construction Standards are the guidelines used in analyzing complaints.
- Surety Bond
- Companies that have written bonds
- Licensee List Request
- SC Standards of Practice for Home Inspectors
Instructions for Applying for Registration or Licensure
Any person licensed to practice residential building by any other state or country whose requirements are determined by the Commission to be commensurate with the requirements of this state, may be licensed to practice residential building in this state without taking the technical examination. Exam waiver is assessed by state requirements and examination content.
Licensure by Examination:
In order to be eligible for licensure with the Commission, applicants must successfully pass the required examination administered by PSI and have one year of verifiable experience under the supervision of a licensed individual in the trade for which they are applying. When submitting an application to the Commission, the requirements are as follows:
(1) Complete the application for the trade for which you are seeking licensure/registration. Application must include a notarized signature and all other items listed within the application. Incomplete applications will be returned unprocessed.
(2) Check or Money Order only in the amount listed on the application made payable to SC Residential Builders Commission. Fee is non-refundable. NO CASH IS ACCEPTED. Fees are prorated for applications received after April 15th of the year prior to renewal. See application for prorated fee amounts.
(3) Copy of your valid Driver's License, State Issued photo ID or Passport
(4) Copy of your Social Security card.
(5) Criminal history background check from the State Law Enforcement Division (SLED) www.sled.sc.gov. Non-residents must submit a criminal history background check from the applicant's resident state (State Law Enforcement Agency or equivalent). You must supply this only if you have prior arrests/convictions.
Licensure by Exam Waiver:
SC currently has Exam Waiver Agreements for the technical portion of the examination only for Residential Builders to practice in the non-mechanical trades only with Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, North Carolina, SC Contractor's Licensing Board, Utah and NASCLA National Exam.
SC currently has Exam Waiver Agreements for the technical portion of the examination for those who have passed the Alabama Electrical Exam and the NASCLA Electrical Exam.
Listed below are the instructions for applying for exam waiver registration.
To be eligible for licensure by Exam Waiver with the Residential Builders Commission, the applicant must be currently licensed in good standing in an exam waiver state as a builder or electrician. When submitting an application to the Commission, the requirements are as follows:
(1) Complete the Application in the trade you are applying for in its entirety. Application must include a notarized signature and all other required documents. Incomplete applications will be returned unprocessed.
(2) Check or Money Order only in the amount listed on the application made payable to SC Residential Builders Commission. Fee is non-refundable. NO CASH IS ACCEPTED. Fees are prorated for applications received after April 15th.
(3) Copy of your valid Driver's License, State Issued photo ID or Passport
(4) Copy of your Social Security card.
(5) Criminal history background check from the State Law Enforcement Division (SLED) www.sled.sc.gov. Non-residents must submit a criminal history background check from the applicant's resident state (State Law Enforcement Agency or equivalent). You must supply this only if you have prior arrests/convictions.
Residential Specialty Registration:
(1) Complete the Application in the trade for which you are applying in its entirety. Application must include a notarized signature and all other required documents. The three letters of reference must include your name, the trade you performed for the individual, the name, address, and phone number for the individual writing the letter. We will not accept form letters. Incomplete applications will be returned unprocessed.
(2) Check or Money Order only in the amount listed on the application made payable to SC Residential Builders Commission. Fee is non-refundable. NO CASH IS ACCEPTED. Fees are prorated for applications received after April 15th.
(3) Copy of your valid Driver's License, State Issued photo ID or Passport
(4) Copy of your Social Security card.
(5) Criminal history background check from the State Law Enforcement Division (SLED) www.sled.sc.gov.
Non-residents must submit a criminal history background check from the applicant's resident state (State Law Enforcement Agency or equivalent). You must supply this only if you have prior arrests/convictions.
Licensure by Reinstatement
Licensees who allow their license/registration to lapse for twelve months up to 3 years must apply for reinstatement.
To apply for reinstatement, licensees/registrants must submit the following:
(1) Complete the Reinstatement Application for the trade for which you were previously licensed/registered. Application must include a notarized signature and all other documents listed within the application. Incomplete applications will be returned unprocessed.
(2) Check or Money Order for reinstatement fee amount listed on the application made payable to SC Residential Builders Commission.
(3) Copy of your valid Driver's License, State Issued photo ID or Passport.
(4) Criminal history background check from the State Law Enforcement Division (SLED) www.sled.sc.gov. Non-residents must submit a criminal history background check from the applicant's resident state (State Law Enforcement Agency or equivalent). Applies only if the applicant has prior arrests/convictions.
(5) License lapse of 3 or more years must reapply and successfully complete the examination required for initial licensing.
(6) Registration lapse of 3 or more years must reapply as a new applicant.