Plumber License from Ohio to South Carolina: Does It Transfer? (2026)
Last verified: 2026-07-21 · source: South Carolina Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation — Residential Builders Commission ↗
A plumbing license transfers from Ohio to South Carolina by endorsement — there is no automatic reciprocity, but you do not start over. Apply to the South Carolina Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation — Residential Builders Commission, verify your Ohio license, and meet South Carolina's endorsement requirements. South Carolina waives only the technical (Residential Plumbing) portion of its exam for an applicant who holds a residential plumbing license obtained BY EXAMINATION, current and in good standing, in North Carolina or Mississippi — the only two states with a residential-plumbing Exam Waiver Agreement (grandfathered or waived-in licensees do not qualify); every applicant, including waiver applicants, must still pass the South Carolina Business Management and Law exam, and all others must pass both the Residential Plumbing technical exam and the Business/Law exam.
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Verdict
Licensure by endorsement
Ohio is not among the states South Carolina names for an automatic exam waiver, so this move runs on the South Carolina Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation — Residential Builders Commission's individual endorsement or equivalency review rather than a guarantee. South Carolina waives only the technical (Residential Plumbing) portion of its exam for an applicant who holds a residential plumbing license obtained BY EXAMINATION, current and in good standing, in North Carolina or Mississippi — the only two states with a residential-plumbing Exam Waiver Agreement (grandfathered or waived-in licensees do not qualify); every applicant, including waiver applicants, must still pass the South Carolina Business Management and Law exam, and all others must pass both the Residential Plumbing technical exam and the Business/Law exam. Bring your Ohio license, proof that it is active and in good standing, and your apprenticeship and exam records — and get any discretionary exam or experience credit in writing before you rely on it.
What changes, Ohio → South Carolina
| Ohio (current) | South Carolina (destination) | |
|---|---|---|
| Application fee | $25 ($25.00 non-refundable reciprocity application fee per trade; proof of at least $500,000 contractor liability insurance required. Non-reciprocal applicants pay a $25 exam application fee plus BCI and FBI background-check costs.) | $135–$355 ($135 application processing fee plus a $220 license fee due after passing the exam(s), both payable to LLR-Residential Builders Commission; PSI exam fees paid separately to PSI; $10,000 surety bond required if work exceeds $5,000; renews biennially by June 30 of odd years) |
| Processing time | No board-stated processing time; reciprocity applications are approved or denied by board review. | 3–6 weeks (Commission staff review applications within 15 business days; allow another 15 business days if additional information is requested; license issued within 3 business days after approval) |
| Licensing authority | Ohio Construction Industry Licensing Board (OCILB) — Ohio Department of Commerce, Division of Industrial Compliance | South Carolina Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation — Residential Builders Commission |
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 Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation — Residential Builders Commission website (linked below) — rules change.
- Submit the endorsement application to the South Carolina Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation — Residential Builders Commission (application linked below).
- Arrange license verification from your current state via the verification system.
- Document one year of hands-on residential plumbing experience under a licensed residential plumber (or appropriately licensed professional), gained within the preceding five years.
- Pass the South Carolina Residential Business Management and Law exam (PSI) — required even when the technical exam is waived.
- For the exam waiver, hold a residential plumbing license obtained by examination in North Carolina or Mississippi and submit an out-of-state license verification.
- Submit a full credit report; post a $10,000 surety bond if performing work exceeding $5,000 (labor plus materials).
- Pay the fees ($135–$355 ($135 application processing fee plus a $220 license fee due after passing the exam(s), both payable to LLR-Residential Builders Commission; PSI exam fees paid separately to PSI; $10,000 surety bond required if work exceeds $5,000; renews biennially by June 30 of odd years)) and allow 3–6 weeks (Commission staff review applications within 15 business days; allow another 15 business days if additional information is requested; license issued within 3 business days after approval).
Official links
Related guides
Frequently asked questions
Does South Carolina accept a Ohio plumbing license?
A plumbing license transfers from Ohio to South Carolina by endorsement — there is no automatic reciprocity, but you do not start over. Apply to the South Carolina Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation — Residential Builders Commission, verify your Ohio license, and meet South Carolina's endorsement requirements. South Carolina waives only the technical (Residential Plumbing) portion of its exam for an applicant who holds a residential plumbing license obtained BY EXAMINATION, current and in good standing, in North Carolina or Mississippi — the only two states with a residential-plumbing Exam Waiver Agreement (grandfathered or waived-in licensees do not qualify); every applicant, including waiver applicants, must still pass the South Carolina Business Management and Law exam, and all others must pass both the Residential Plumbing technical exam and the Business/Law exam.
Which exam applies moving from Ohio to South Carolina?
South Carolina waives only the technical (Residential Plumbing) portion of its exam for an applicant who holds a residential plumbing license obtained BY EXAMINATION, current and in good standing, in North Carolina or Mississippi — the only two states with a residential-plumbing Exam Waiver Agreement (grandfathered or waived-in licensees do not qualify); every applicant, including waiver applicants, must still pass the South Carolina Business Management and Law exam, and all others must pass both the Residential Plumbing technical exam and the Business/Law exam.
What does the Ohio-to-South Carolina move cost and how long does it take?
$135–$355 ($135 application processing fee plus a $220 license fee due after passing the exam(s), both payable to LLR-Residential Builders Commission; PSI exam fees paid separately to PSI; $10,000 surety bond required if work exceeds $5,000; renews biennially by June 30 of odd years); processing 3–6 weeks (Commission staff review applications within 15 business days; allow another 15 business days if additional information is requested; license issued within 3 business days after approval).
Can I keep my Ohio plumbing license after I'm licensed in South Carolina?
Yes — plumbing licenses in different jurisdictions run independently. Keep the Ohio credential active on its own renewal and continuing-education schedule and you hold both, which is common for plumbers working near a state line.
Sources
Primary sources only — official boards and compact commissions. Data last verified 2026-07-21.
- SC Residential Builders Commission — Residential Plumbing Contractor FAQ (fees, NC/MS technical-exam waiver, bond, renewal) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- SC Contractor's Licensing Board — Reciprocity/Waiver Agreements (commercial plumbing PB: Ohio, Tennessee CMC/CMC-A, MASC Master Plumbing) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- OCILB Examination Application (state commercial plumbing contractor license; $25 fee; five-year experience; trades include Plumbing) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- OCILB South Carolina Reciprocity Application (PL trade; exam waived for tested SC licensees; $25 per trade) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- OCILB West Virginia Mechanical Reciprocity Application (PL trade; must hold WV Master Plumber + WV Contractor license, tested not grandfathered) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
Reviewed by Billy Reiner, Editor · verified against primary sources 2026-07-21
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