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How to pass the South Carolina General Contractor exam

Two exams, five license groups, and one choice that decides which building exam you take. Here’s how the South Carolina commercial license works and how to study for it, checked against the state’s own documents.

At a glance

The exams

Question counts, times and passing scores are from PSI’s South Carolina Commercial Contractor bulletin (updated 8/27/2026). All exams are multiple choice on computer. PSI may add a few unscored experimental questions; for Limited Building, time for them is already added. PSI won’t let you schedule more than 6 hours of testing in one day, so plan Business & Law and your building exam on different days.

Before you apply

• The license goes to the business: the company is licensed, and it must name a primary qualifying party (the person who passed the exams) for each classification. That person must serve in a management role and be actively involved in management, supervision and operations.
• Experience, 2 years in the last 5: at least 2 years of full-time work within the past 5 years in the classification you want, shown on an experience affidavit. PSI’s bulletin says it must be commercial experience.
• The rule most people miss: your exam caps your group. Passing Limited Building qualifies you for Groups 1 to 3 only, and your buildings are limited to 3 stories. For Groups 4 or 5, the qualifying party must pass the unlimited exam.
• Net worth or working capital: you meet one, not both. Group 1: $20,000 net worth or $10,000 working capital. Group 2: $60,000 or $40,000. Group 3: $150,000 or $100,000. Group 4: $250,000 or $175,000. Group 5: $350,000 or $250,000.
• Financial statement type (first license): Groups 1 and 2: owner-prepared statement with an affidavit of accuracy. Groups 3 and 4: statement compiled by a licensed CPA. Group 5: audited balance sheet. The balance sheet date can be no more than 12 months old.
• Surety bond instead: you can file a surety bond equal to your group’s net worth instead of a financial statement: $20,000, $60,000, $150,000, $250,000 or $350,000 for Groups 1 to 5.

Step by step

1. Pick your license group firstLook at the size of the jobs you bid. If you need Group 4 or 5, take the NASCLA exam. Limited Building stops at Group 3 and 3 stories.
2. Register and schedule with PSISign up at test-takers.psiexams.com/sccon. PSI’s fees: $78 for Business & Law, $78 for Limited Building, $110 for NASCLA. Cancel at least 2 days ahead or you lose the fee.
3. Get and prepare the reference booksBuy the editions on PSI’s list. Highlight, underline and add permanent tabs. Don’t write in them.
4. Pass Business & Law and your building examScores show on screen right away. A building exam can be taken 2 times in 12 months, then once every 6 months. Business & Law has no limit.
5. Pull your paperwork togetherFinancial statement or surety bond for your group, your experience affidavit, and proof that the business is registered with the SC Secretary of State (not needed for a sole proprietorship or general partnership).
6. Apply to the boardSend the license application with your passing scores, the name of your primary qualifying party, and the $350 initial license fee. Check LLR’s Contractor’s Licensing Board page for the current forms.

The reference books

Business & Law uses one book: the NASCLA Contractors Guide to Business, Law and Project Management, South Carolina Commercial Contractors, 9th edition.

Limited Building uses the 2021 International Building Code with SC modifications (or the 2018 or 2021 South Carolina Building Code), OSHA 29 CFR Part 1926, Modern Masonry (9th ed.), SJI Technical Digest No. 9, Carpentry and Building Construction, Roofing Construction and Estimating, the ACI Contractor’s Guide to Quality Concrete Construction, Pipe and Excavation Contracting, and the South Carolina 811 Excavator Manual.

The NASCLA exam has a much longer list, about two dozen references, including the 2021 or 2024 IBC, ACI 318, Principles and Practices of Commercial Construction (11th ed.), Construction Jobsite Management, Construction Project Management, and NASCLA’s national business guide. Code questions are based only on the listed code edition.

What you can bring: the books on the list. Highlighting, underlining and permanent tabs are fine. Permanent means the tab would tear the page if pulled off. No Post-its, no handwriting, and no loose or attached papers. The test center doesn’t supply books.

A 6-week study plan

On test day

• Arrive 30 minutes early with one valid, unexpired government photo ID. The name must match your PSI registration. Late arrivals can lose the fee.
• Bring every listed book with permanent tabs only. If the proctor can pull a tab off without ripping the page, it comes off before you start.
• Calculators must be silent, battery-operated, non-programmable, non-printing and without a letter keyboard. You don’t need a ruler or scale.
• The tutorial (up to 15 minutes) doesn’t count against your time. You can go back and change answers until time runs out.
• Watch the clock: about 2.5 minutes per question on Business & Law, under 4 minutes on Limited Building, and under 3 minutes on NASCLA.
• Phones, watches, jackets, sweaters and hats go in storage. Restroom breaks need the proctor’s OK, and the clock keeps running.

Quick answers