Contractor License from Florida to South Carolina: Does It Transfer? (2026)
Last verified: 2026-08-07 · source: South Carolina Contractor's Licensing Board (commercial) and Residential Builders Commission (residential) — SC Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation ↗
A contractor license transfers from Florida to South Carolina by endorsement — there is no automatic reciprocity, but you do not start over. Apply to the South Carolina Contractor's Licensing Board (commercial) and Residential Builders Commission (residential) — SC Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation, verify your Florida license, and meet South Carolina's endorsement requirements. South Carolina grants a TECHNICAL-EXAM WAIVER, never full reciprocity. The Contractor's Licensing Board publishes a Waiver/Reciprocity Agreements chart (Rev. 02/2019) naming the exact out-of-state exams it accepts per classification; the Residential Builders Commission runs a separate, narrower waiver. In both systems the waiver removes only the technical/trade exam — every waiver applicant must still pass the S.C. Business Management and Law exam through PSI..
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Verdict
Licensure by endorsement
South Carolina does not have a trade agreement covering Florida for the selected trade, so this move runs on South Carolina's case-by-case endorsement process. If you do commercial general-building work, check whether South Carolina accepts the NASCLA exam — passing it once can replace the trade exam here and in about fourteen other states. Electricians should check South Carolina's NERA status.
What changes, Florida → South Carolina
| Florida (current) | South Carolina (destination) | |
|---|---|---|
| Application fee | Application/endorsement fee set by DBPR rule; no single verified transfer figure | $350 (General and Mechanical Contractor initial license fee $350; biennial renewal $135 (reinstatement $350). PSI exam fees are paid directly to PSI and are additional. Residential Builders Commission fees are set separately and were not published as a dollar figure on the pages read.) |
| Processing time | Not stated on retrievable pages | Neither the Contractor's Licensing Board nor the Residential Builders Commission publishes a processing-time estimate. |
| Licensing authority | Florida DBPR - Construction Industry Licensing Board (CILB) | South Carolina Contractor's Licensing Board (commercial) and Residential Builders Commission (residential) — SC Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation |
The destination column is what you must satisfy — South Carolina sets the rules for this move.
Step by step
- Confirm South Carolina's current requirements on the South Carolina Contractor's Licensing Board (commercial) and Residential Builders Commission (residential) — SC Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation website (linked below) — rules change.
- Submit the endorsement application to the South Carolina Contractor's Licensing Board (commercial) and Residential Builders Commission (residential) — SC Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation (application linked below).
- Arrange license verification from your current state.
- Pass the S.C. Business Management and Law for Commercial Contractors exam through PSI.
- Hold a current, good-standing license earned by passing the partner state's technical exam — grandfathered or waived-in licensees do not qualify.
- Submit license verification from the issuing board showing the exam taken and active status.
- Designate a Primary Qualifying Party and meet the net worth or surety bond level for the group limit sought.
- Submit the Doc. 165 initial application with the $350 licensure fee and SC Secretary of State business verification.
- Pay the fees ($350 (General and Mechanical Contractor initial license fee $350; biennial renewal $135 (reinstatement $350). PSI exam fees are paid directly to PSI and are additional. Residential Builders Commission fees are set separately and were not published as a dollar figure on the pages read.)) and allow Neither the Contractor's Licensing Board nor the Residential Builders Commission publishes a processing-time estimate..
Official links
Related guides
Frequently asked questions
Does South Carolina accept a Florida contractor license?
A contractor license transfers from Florida to South Carolina by endorsement — there is no automatic reciprocity, but you do not start over. Apply to the South Carolina Contractor's Licensing Board (commercial) and Residential Builders Commission (residential) — SC Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation, verify your Florida license, and meet South Carolina's endorsement requirements. South Carolina grants a TECHNICAL-EXAM WAIVER, never full reciprocity. The Contractor's Licensing Board publishes a Waiver/Reciprocity Agreements chart (Rev. 02/2019) naming the exact out-of-state exams it accepts per classification; the Residential Builders Commission runs a separate, narrower waiver. In both systems the waiver removes only the technical/trade exam — every waiver applicant must still pass the S.C. Business Management and Law exam through PSI..
What still applies even if reciprocity covers my trade?
South Carolina's business and law exam, financial statement, bond, and registration — reciprocity waives the trade exam only, not these.
What does the Florida-to-South Carolina move cost and how long does it take?
$350 (General and Mechanical Contractor initial license fee $350; biennial renewal $135 (reinstatement $350). PSI exam fees are paid directly to PSI and are additional. Residential Builders Commission fees are set separately and were not published as a dollar figure on the pages read.); processing Neither the Contractor's Licensing Board nor the Residential Builders Commission publishes a processing-time estimate..
Would the NASCLA exam help for this move?
If you do commercial general-building work, possibly — about 15 states accept the NASCLA Accredited Commercial General Building exam toward licensure. Check whether South Carolina is one on the South Carolina Contractor's Licensing Board (commercial) and Residential Builders Commission (residential) — SC Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation site.
Sources
Primary sources only — official boards and compact commissions. Data last verified 2026-08-07.
- SC Contractor's Licensing Board — Waiver/Reciprocity Agreements chart (Rev. 02/2019), per-state accepted technical exams ↗ (accessed 2026-08-07)
- SC Contractor's Licensing Board — Licensure with the Board (waiver/reciprocity path, Business Management and Law exam, $350 fee) ↗ (accessed 2026-08-07)
- SC Contractor's Licensing Board — Fees ($350 initial, $135 biennial renewal) ↗ (accessed 2026-08-07)
- SC Residential Builders Commission — Examination and Exam Waivers (builder waiver states; electrical/HVAC/plumbing waiver agreements) ↗ (accessed 2026-08-07)
- SC Code of Laws Section 40-11-290 — licensure of applicant licensed in another state ↗ (accessed 2026-08-07)
- Florida Statutes 489.115 - Certification and registration; endorsement; reciprocity ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- NASCLA - States accepting the NASCLA Accredited Commercial GB Exam (Florida listed) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
Reviewed by Billy Reiner, Editor · verified against primary sources 2026-08-07
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