South Carolina HVAC License Requirements
South Carolina doesn't license individual HVAC technicians. HVAC contractors need a state license from the SC LLR Residential Builders Commission and the Contractor's Licensing Board. Some cities license HVAC technicians. Anyone who handles refrigerant also needs federal EPA 608 certification.
Contractor only · By BrazeJobs Team · Updated
License tiers
| Apprentice | No state license |
| Journeyman | No state license |
| Master | No state license |
| Contractor | Residential HVAC (RBC); commercial Mechanical (CLB, Groups 1-5 by job size) |
Requirements
| Contractor experience | Residential 1 year; commercial 2 years in last 5 |
| Exam | PSI exams |
| Fees | CLB license $350; residential bond if work over $5,000 |
| Renewal | 2 years (residential: June 30 odd years; commercial mechanical: Oct 31 odd years) |
| Local license | Workers may need local license |
| Board | SC LLR Residential Builders Commission; Contractor's Licensing Board |
Local licenses in South Carolina
Columbia
CityCity business license (with state LLR license)
Columbia Planning and Development Services
Permit contractor qualifications checklist (rev. Apr 2026): copy of SC LLR license and current City of Columbia business license. No city competency license.
- Source: planninganddevelopment.columbiasc.gov · checked November 5, 2026
Federal: EPA 608 certification
| Rule | Federal certification required to service or dispose of refrigerant equipment and to buy refrigerant |
Who: anyone who maintains, services, repairs or disposes of equipment that could release refrigerant (attaching gauges, adding or removing refrigerant). Types: Type I (small appliances), Type II (high- and very high-pressure), Type III (low-pressure), Universal (all types). Expiry: credentials do not expire. Buying refrigerant: sellers may sell only to certified technicians or employers of one, with limited exceptions (e.g. small cans of MVAC refrigerant). EPA does not issue cards; approved certifying organizations do. Universal requires a proctored core exam.
Exam
| Exam provider | PSI (for Contractor's Licensing Board) |
| Format | Open book |
| Questions | Air conditioning: 80; Heating: 50; Refrigeration: 50 |
| Passing score | 70% |
| Bulletin date | 2025-01-17 |
SC Contractor's Licensing Board bulletin (PSI, updated Jan 17, 2025): open book; 70% (e.g. 56 of 80). Contractor license exams; general exam time 4 hours stated for at least one exam.
- Source: proctor2.psionline.com · checked November 6, 2026
Licensed in another state or the military
| Military spouses | Expedited licensure for spouses of active-duty members stationed in SC who hold an active good-standing out-of-state license |
- Source: llr.sc.gov · checked November 6, 2026
Apprenticeship
| Registering agency | U.S. Department of Labor Office of Apprenticeship (no state agency) |
Programs register through the Office of Apprenticeship; use the Partner Finder for local sponsors.
- Source: apprenticeship.gov · checked November 6, 2026