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Anyone interested in working as a licensed contractor, whether commercial or residential, is required in South Carolina to pass certain professional licensing exams.

These include the Business Management & Law Exam. The additional tests you will be required to take will depend on the specific type of license you are applying for.

South Carolina Contractor License Requirements

In addition to passing the professional exams and the Business Management & Law Exam, you will need to meet other requirements set by the state. It’s important to point out that South Carolina does not require continuing education courses for renewals.

It’s also important to know that the state has reciprocity agreements for licensure with certain states. For the General Contractor Unlimited license, the states with which there is reciprocity include:

• Mississippi
• North Carolina
• Oregon
• Tennessee
• Utah
• Virginia
• Louisiana
• Arkansas
• Georgia
• Alabama
• The Virgin Islands

There are two main types of building licenses in South Carolina: the Limited Contractor license and the Unlimited Contractor license. There are also various specialty licenses available, as well.

Other requirements for licensure in South Carolina that contractors must meet include those that prove that they have the necessary experience, posting a surety bond, and more.

With the exception of specialty licenses (HVAC, electrical, plumbing, etc.), contractor licenses are dependent upon certain requirements being met before taking the examination. In other words, you are required to apply for and be approved to take the examination before you can schedule testing.

There are testing centers throughout the state. Once you apply to take the exam and are approved to do so, the Commission will notify you that you can schedule it.

Once you’ve passed the exam, you can apply to obtain your South Carolina contractor license.

SC Business Management and Law Exams

There are two different Business Management & Law Exams: one for residential contractors and the other for commercial contractors. The two are very similar, with only a few minor differences.

The Commercial Business Management and Law Exam

There are 50 questions on the commercial exam, and you must receive a score of at least 35 correct to pass. The test is timed; you will have 125 minutes to complete the test, and it is open-book.

The Residential Business Management and Law Exam

Similar to the commercial exam, there are 50 questions on the residential exam for South Carolina contractors. You will need a minimum of 34 questions answered correctly to pass. The test is 120 minutes, and it is open-book.

Topics Covered

For both tests, topics that will be covered include business management, licensing laws, estimating and bidding, contracts, project management, insurance and bonding, safety, recordkeeping and reporting, labor laws, financial management, tax laws, and liens. The residential exam also covers environmental laws and regulations.

Make sure you’re prepared for the South Carolina Business Management & Law Exam. RocketCert offers the very best expert education and exam prep materials available, including lifetime access to those materials. We also offer a “No Pass, No Pay” policy, so get started with test prep with RocketCert now!