Contractor License from North Carolina 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 ↗
Yes — South Carolina has a reciprocity arrangement covering North Carolina license holders. Apply to the South Carolina Contractor's Licensing Board (commercial) and Residential Builders Commission (residential) — SC Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation under its reciprocity/endorsement track; typically you skip the national exam and complete state-specific requirements only.
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Verdict
Reciprocity agreement
South Carolina has a trade agreement covering North Carolina — but read it at the trade-and-class level before celebrating. The agreement waives South Carolina's exam for the specific trade and class named in the table below; your other licenses may not be covered. What survives for every applicant: South Carolina's business and law exam, financial statement, bond, and registration. Confirm your exact trade and class against the South Carolina Contractor's Licensing Board (commercial) and Residential Builders Commission (residential) — SC Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation listing.
What changes, North Carolina → South Carolina
| North Carolina (current) | South Carolina (destination) | |
|---|---|---|
| Application fee | $75–$125 (Application fee by classification: limited $75, intermediate $100, unlimited $125 (2026 Laws & Regulations). Examination fee (up to $100) is additional and is avoided when a NASCLA or accepted out-of-state exam waiver is used.) | $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 | Board does not publish a stated processing time | Neither the Contractor's Licensing Board nor the Residential Builders Commission publishes a processing-time estimate. |
| Licensing authority | North Carolina Licensing Board for General Contractors | 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 reciprocity 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 North Carolina contractor license?
Yes — South Carolina has a reciprocity arrangement covering North Carolina license holders. Apply to the South Carolina Contractor's Licensing Board (commercial) and Residential Builders Commission (residential) — SC Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation under its reciprocity/endorsement track; typically you skip the national exam and complete state-specific requirements only.
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 North Carolina-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)
- NCLBGC — FAQ for Contractors (NASCLA exam & Examination Waiver Form) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- NCLBGC — 2026 Laws and Regulations Book (application fees $75/$100/$125) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- NASCLA — Commercial exam participating state agencies (NC Licensing Board for General Contractors listed) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
Reviewed by Billy Reiner, Editor · verified against primary sources 2026-08-07
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