- Residential specialty work under $500 needs no license. The residential HVAC bond applies only to jobs over $5,000. Commercial mechanical license applies to jobs over $10,000.
- Residential: one year of hands on residential HVAC work under a licensed contractor, within the last five years. Commercial: two years in the classification within the last five years.
- Plan for a trade exam and a business and law exam.
- Residential: $10,000 surety bond if you take jobs over $5,000 in labor and materials. Commercial: net worth proof or a surety bond by group, from $7,000 (Group 1) to $300,000 (Group 5).
- Residential HVAC license renews every two years by June 30 of odd years. Commercial mechanical licenses expire October 31 of odd years.
Do you need a state license in South Carolina?
South Carolina licenses HVAC work at the state level through the South Carolina LLR, Residential Builders Commission. Below is what the board asks for, in the order you will run into it.
Residential specialty work under $500 needs no license. The residential HVAC bond applies only to jobs over $5,000. Commercial mechanical license applies to jobs over $10,000.
South Carolina license types for HVAC work
South Carolina splits the work into 3 licenses. Pick the one that matches the jobs you take, since working outside its scope is the same as working without one.
| License | What it covers |
|---|---|
| Residential HVAC (heating and air conditioning installer and repairer) | HVAC work on homes up to three floors and 16 units |
| Mechanical Contractor: Air Conditioning, Heating, Packaged Equipment, Refrigeration | Commercial mechanical work over $10,000, through the Contractor's Licensing Board |
| Mechanical license Groups 1 to 5 | Job size limits from $35,000 (Group 1) to unlimited (Group 5) |
Steps to get licensed in South Carolina
- Get one year of residential HVAC work under a licensed contractor and keep W2s or 1099s.
- Send the residential HVAC application to the Residential Builders Commission with the $100 fee and a full credit report.
- Your supervisor returns the experience affidavit to the Commission.
- After approval, schedule and pass the Residential HVAC and Business Management and Law exams with PSI.
- Send your PSI results, the $160 license fee and a $10,000 bond if you will take jobs over $5,000.
- For commercial work over $10,000, apply separately to the Contractor's Licensing Board for a mechanical license.
Experience and other requirements
Experience. Residential: one year of hands on residential HVAC work under a licensed contractor, within the last five years. Commercial: two years in the classification within the last five years.
The license to apply for. Residential HVAC license (Residential Builders Commission), or Mechanical Contractor license for commercial work.
South Carolina HVAC exams
Trade exam. Yes. Residential HVAC exam through PSI. Commercial mechanical classifications have PSI technical exams.
Business and law exam. Yes. The SC Business Management and Law exam through PSI, for both residential and commercial.
Separate from any state license, the EPA requires Section 608 certification for anyone who works on equipment with refrigerant. It is federal and applies in every state.
What it costs in South Carolina
The board lists 5 fees along the way. These are the state's own numbers. Insurance, any bond, exam prep and your business registration come on top.
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Residential HVAC application | $100 |
| Residential HVAC license (issued more than 12 months before renewal) | $160 |
| Residential HVAC license (issued less than 12 months before renewal) | $80 |
| Commercial mechanical initial license | $350 |
| Commercial mechanical renewal (every two years, on time) | $135 |
Insurance and bond
Insurance. The official pages we read do not say. Check with the board (official site).
Bond. Residential: $10,000 surety bond if you take jobs over $5,000 in labor and materials. Commercial: net worth proof or a surety bond by group, from $7,000 (Group 1) to $300,000 (Group 5).
Renewal and licenses from other states
Renewal. Residential HVAC license renews every two years by June 30 of odd years. Commercial mechanical licenses expire October 31 of odd years.
Reciprocity. Residential: the Commission has exam waiver agreements for the HVAC technical exam (its FAQ lists Alabama, North Carolina and Mississippi), and you still take the SC business and law exam. Commercial: exam waivers for listed reciprocating states, and current MASC or CAGC master mechanical certificates for the Air Conditioning and Heating classifications.
Good to know in South Carolina
- A residential builder licensed by SC exam can do HVAC work without a separate license.
- Holders of a SC Mechanical Contractor license with an HVAC classification, or of the MASC Master Heating and Air certificate by exam, can get the residential HVAC license without the technical exam.
- EPA Section 608 certification is a separate federal requirement for refrigerant work.
After you are licensed
The license lets you take the work. Getting the work is the next job.
- Register the business. If you work under a name other than your own, register it where your state asks (often the Secretary of State, sometimes the county), and keep the name the same on your license, your truck and your invoices.
- Claim your Google Business Profile. It is the listing people see when they search for HVAC repair near them. Fill in your service area, hours and real photos of your work.
- Put up a website that shows the license. Customers look for it before they call. Koira builds a contractor website for you and keeps it current.
- See where you stand. The free Koira report checks how your business shows up in search and on maps against shops near you.
Where this comes from
Every fact on this page comes from the South Carolina LLR, Residential Builders Commission and the official pages below, checked October 8, 2026. Fees and rules change, so confirm with the board before you file.
More for your trade: how HVAC companies run on Koira.