HVAC Technician License Requirements in South Carolina
- Training hours
- —
- Upfront cost
- $355
- Exam
- Residential HVAC Installer and Repairer Exam (technical portion) and Business Management and Law exam
- Renewal cycle
- Every 2 years
- Issuing board
- South Carolina Residential Builders Commission (Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation)
How to get licensed
- 1
Meet the prerequisites
Pass a criminal background check. Applicants must submit a personal credit report (TransUnion, Equifax, or Experian, dated within 30 days of application) for review of liens and outstanding judgments, and any 'yes' answer to a criminal-history question on the application requires a state criminal history (SLED) report. A notarized Verification of Lawful Presence affidavit is also required. No specific statewide minimum age is published for this license -- the lawful-presence affidavit sets an 18+ threshold only for certain non-citizen immigration categories, not for licensure generally, so minAge is recorded as null. [1]
- 2
Complete approved training
Complete the required training. South Carolina does not require a fixed classroom-hour training program for the Residential HVAC Installer and Repairer license. Instead, applicants must show a minimum of one year of residential HVAC work experience performed within the past five years, verified by a notarized experience affidavit from each employer/supervisor plus supporting W-2s/1099s. No state-approved school or apprenticeship program is mandated, though a certificate of completed apprenticeship or EPA/NATE certifications may be submitted as supporting documentation of experience. Residential HVAC work exceeding $500 requires this license; commercial HVAC work exceeding $10,000 instead requires a Mechanical Contractor license (AC or PK classification) from the SC Contractor's Licensing Board, which does carry its own supervisory-experience requirement (two years within the preceding five, in a journeyman/foreman/supervisor/contractor role). [1]
- 3
Residential HVAC Installer and Repairer Exam (technical portion) and Business Management and Law exam
Pass the Residential HVAC Installer and Repairer Exam (technical portion) and Business Management and Law exam. Computer-based testing at PSI test centers; both the technical (Residential HVAC) and Business Management and Law portions must be passed Applicants get up to three attempts within a 12-month eligibility window; failing three times requires a 12-month wait before retesting. Exam fees are paid directly to PSI and are not published on the Commission's own pages reviewed, so the fee is recorded as null rather than guessed. The technical portion (but not the Business Management and Law portion) can be waived for applicants who already hold a qualifying SC Mechanical Contractor license, an active out-of-state license from Alabama, Mississippi, or North Carolina, or a HARV (Master Mechanical) certification. [2]
- 4
Submit your application
Submit your application to South Carolina Residential Builders Commission (Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation) with the $135 application fee. [3]
- 5
Receive your license
Once your application is approved, South Carolina Residential Builders Commission (Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation) issues your Residential HVAC Installer and Repairer License (RBH) for South Carolina.
Fees
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Application fee [3] | $135 |
| License fee [3] | $220 |
| Renewal fee [3] | $220 |
| Residential HVAC Installer and Repairer Exam (technical portion) and Business Management and Law exam [2] | None specified |
| Renewal late fee [3] | $50 |
| Reinstatement fee (license lapsed less than 3 years) [3] | $480 |
Fees per the Commission's official fee table for the Residential HVAC Installer and Repairer License (RBH). A $10,000 surety bond is also required (individual, not company name) before performing or offering work exceeding $5,000 in total project cost.
Renewal & continuing education
Renew every 2 years.
Residential HVAC Installer and Repairer licenses renew June 30 of every odd-numbered year (2025, 2027, 2029, etc.) -- a de facto two-year cycle. No continuing-education hour requirement was found published for this license; renewal is by fee payment ($220, or $270 with the late fee) and keeping the surety bond current. If lapsed more than three years, the license cannot be renewed and requires a new application with re-examination.
Reciprocity
Endorsement/reciprocity from another state is available.
An exam waiver for the technical portion (Business Management and Law exam still required) is available to applicants who: hold an active SC Mechanical Contractor license (AC or PK classification, obtained by exam, in good standing 1+ year); hold a current, exam-obtained license in good standing for 1+ year from Alabama, Mississippi, or North Carolina (grandfathered/non-exam licenses do not qualify); or hold a HARV (Master Mechanical) Certification issued by the Municipal Association of South Carolina (through December 2025) or Carolinas AGC (from January 2026). Applicants from other states must complete the full licensure-by-exam process.
13 state-approved training providers in South Carolina — browse programs and compare schools on tradecolleges.org.
Cost calculator
- $135
- $220
Frequently asked questions
What license do HVAC technicians need in South Carolina?
A Residential HVAC Installer and Repairer License (RBH) from the SC Residential Builders Commission for residential work over $500. Commercial HVAC work exceeding $10,000 instead requires a Mechanical Contractor license (AC or PK classification) from the SC Contractor's Licensing Board.
What exam is required and who administers it?
PSI Examination Services administers both a Residential HVAC technical exam and a Business Management and Law exam; applicants must pass both, with up to three attempts within a 12-month window.
How much work experience do I need?
A minimum of one year of residential HVAC experience performed within the past five years, verified by a notarized affidavit from each employer or supervisor plus supporting W-2s or 1099s.
What does licensure cost and how often do I renew?
A $135 application fee and a $220 license fee to start; the license renews every two years (June 30 of odd-numbered years) for another $220, with a $50 late fee if missed.
Can I transfer a license from another state?
Only from Alabama, Mississippi, or North Carolina -- an active, exam-obtained license from one of those states waives the technical exam (the Business Management and Law exam is still required). Licenses from other states don't qualify for a waiver and must go through the standard exam process.
Sources
- [1] llr.sc.gov/res/PDF/Residential_HVAC_Lic-Electronic-PKG.pdf — accessed 2026-07-11
- [2] llr.sc.gov/res/Online/HVAC.aspx — accessed 2026-07-11
- [3] llr.sc.gov/res/reshvac.aspx — accessed 2026-07-11