Electrician license
South Carolina electrician license
South Carolina licenses electrical businesses, not individual journeymen. The Contractor's Licensing Board licenses commercial mechanical contractors in the electrical classification, and the Residential Builders Commission licenses residential electrical specialty contractors. Journeyman and master electrician cards come from a separate trades certification program, run by the CAGC Foundation since January 1, 2026. This page covers Mechanical Contractor, Electrical classification (commercial) and Residential Specialty Contractor, Electrical. Local licensing in South Carolina cities and counties (statewide trades certification) is covered below.
Licenses at a glance
| License | Experience | Exam | Fees |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mechanical Contractor, Electrical classification (commercial) | Not set in hours | 80 questions, 2023 NEC | $350 initial license fee; $135 to renew every two years |
| Residential Specialty Contractor, Electrical | Not set in hours | 60 questions, 2023 NEC | Not confirmed: check with the board |
How to get each South Carolina license
Mechanical Contractor, Electrical classification (commercial)
Requirements. The business names a qualifying party who has passed the electrician trade exam and the South Carolina Business Management and Law for Commercial Contractors exam, and who has at least 2 years of work experience in the classification within the past 5 years.
Exam. Required.
| Testing company | PSI |
|---|---|
| Code edition | 2023 NEC |
| Questions | 80 questions |
| Time | 300 minutes (5 hours) |
| Passing score | 56 of 80 correct (70%) |
| Code book | Not confirmed: check with the board |
| Exam fee | $78 to PSI for the electrician exam; the business and law exam is a separate $78 |
| Official bulletin | PSI, South Carolina Contractor's Licensing Board Candidate Information Bulletin (updated 9/15/2026) |
Fees. $350 initial license fee; $135 to renew every two years.
From November 1, 2026 candidates may bring the 2023 or the 2020 NEC; after July 1, 2027 only the 2023 edition is allowed. Candidates may take the NASCLA electrical contractor exam (100 questions, 270 minutes, 75 correct to pass) instead of the state electrician exam.
Sources: SC Contractor's Licensing Board, Licensure with the Board; SC Contractor's Licensing Board, Fees; PSI, SC Contractor's Licensing Board Candidate Information Bulletin (updated 9/15/2026).
Residential Specialty Contractor, Electrical
Requirements. Show 1 year of experience under the builder, electrician or general contractor who signs your affidavit, then pass the residential electrical exam and the residential business and law exam. A surety bond is needed if the work will exceed $5,000. The license covers residential structures of up to sixteen units and three stories.
Exam. Required.
| Testing company | PSI |
|---|---|
| Code edition | 2023 NEC |
| Questions | 60 questions |
| Time | 180 minutes (3 hours) |
| Passing score | 44 of 60 correct (73.3%) |
| Code book | Not confirmed: check with the board |
| Exam fee | Not confirmed: check with the board |
| Official bulletin | PSI, South Carolina Residential Builders Commission Candidate Information Bulletin (updated 11/1/2026) |
Fees. Not confirmed: check with the board
Sources: SC Residential Builders Commission, Electrician Application Instructions; PSI, SC Residential Builders Commission Candidate Information Bulletin (updated 11/1/2026).
Local electrician licenses in South Carolina
South Carolina cities and counties (statewide trades certification): Journeyman Electrician, Journeyman Electrician Residential and Master Electrician certification
The trades certification card shows the holder met the program's experience and exam requirements. The CAGC Foundation took over the program from the Municipal Association of South Carolina on January 1, 2026; existing MASC cards stay valid until they expire. The journeyman electrician exam (Prov) is 70 questions, 180 minutes, 70% to pass, open book, 2023 NEC, $100. Issued by CAGC Foundation SC Trades Certification Program (formerly the Municipal Association of South Carolina program). Official page.
Sources: CAGC SC Trades Certification Program; Municipal Association of South Carolina, Trades Certification; Prov, CAGC SC Trades Certification Program Candidate Information Bulletin (last revised November 9, 2026).
Practice for the exam
Free practice. The journeyman electrician practice test with 2026 and 2023 NEC versions has 30 questions on code and calculations, scored by subject, with no account. It is general NEC practice, not built from the South Carolina exam outline.
How to apply
Pass the required PSI exams first (no board pre-approval is needed for the commercial exams), then submit the license application with the qualifying party application, exam pass sheets, experience affidavit and financial statement or surety bond. Apply on the official site.
Source: SC Contractor's Licensing Board, Licensure with the Board.
Renewal and continuing education
| Renewal | Every two years. Mechanical contractor licenses, including electrical, expire October 31 of odd-numbered years; residential electrical licenses renew June 30 of odd-numbered years. |
|---|---|
| Continuing education | Not confirmed: check with the board |
Sources: SC Contractor's Licensing Board, Fees; SC Residential Builders Commission, Electrician Application Instructions.
Reciprocity with other states
By technical exam waiver: a contractor licensed by exam in a state on the board's exam waiver agreement list may skip the technical exam, but must still pass the South Carolina business and law exam. For residential electrical, current licensure by exam in North Carolina or Mississippi, the NASCLA electrical exam, or a master electrician card issued by exam also waives the trade exam.
Sources: SC Contractor's Licensing Board, Licensure with the Board; SC Residential Builders Commission, Electrician Application Instructions.
Look up a South Carolina electrician license
To check that an electrician or contractor is licensed, use the official SC LLR Licensee Lookup, Contractors.
Good to know
The CAGC master electrician exam is 100 questions in 240 minutes, 70% to pass, open book, $100. A current master electrician card issued by exam can stand in for the commercial electrical technical exam.
Sources: Prov, CAGC SC Trades Certification Program Candidate Information Bulletin (last revised November 9, 2026); SC Contractor's Licensing Board, Licensure with the Board.
Common questions
Who issues electrician licenses in South Carolina?
South Carolina licenses electrical businesses, not individual journeymen. The Contractor's Licensing Board licenses commercial mechanical contractors in the electrical classification, and the Residential Builders Commission licenses residential electrical specialty contractors. Journeyman and master electrician cards come from a separate trades certification program, run by the CAGC Foundation since January 1, 2026.
Does South Carolina accept electrician licenses from other states?
By technical exam waiver: a contractor licensed by exam in a state on the board's exam waiver agreement list may skip the technical exam, but must still pass the South Carolina business and law exam. For residential electrical, current licensure by exam in North Carolina or Mississippi, the NASCLA electrical exam, or a master electrician card issued by exam also waives the trade exam.
How often does a South Carolina electrician license renew?
Every two years. Mechanical contractor licenses, including electrical, expire October 31 of odd-numbered years; residential electrical licenses renew June 30 of odd-numbered years.
How do I look up an electrician license in South Carolina?
Use the official SC LLR Licensee Lookup, Contractors at https://verify.llronline.com/LicLookup/Contractors/Contractor.aspx?div=69
Sources
Every fact on this page comes from South Carolina's own licensing board, statute or rule, or the testing company the board names. Where a fact could not be confirmed from one of them, the page says to check with the board. Rules and fees change: confirm with the board before you apply.
- CAGC SC Trades Certification Program, opened November 11, 2026
- SC Contractor's Licensing Board, Licensure with the Board, opened November 11, 2026
- PSI, SC Contractor's Licensing Board Candidate Information Bulletin (updated 9/15/2026), opened November 11, 2026
- SC Contractor's Licensing Board, Fees, opened November 11, 2026
- SC Residential Builders Commission, Electrician Application Instructions, opened November 11, 2026
- PSI, SC Residential Builders Commission Candidate Information Bulletin (updated 11/1/2026), opened November 11, 2026
- SC Contractor's Licensing Board home (licensee lookup links), opened November 11, 2026
- Municipal Association of South Carolina, Trades Certification, opened November 11, 2026
- Prov, CAGC SC Trades Certification Program Candidate Information Bulletin (last revised November 9, 2026), opened November 11, 2026
Electrician license requirements in every state · How to become an electrician · Journeyman electrician license · Master electrician license
Last verified November 11, 2026.