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Plumber
Total cost: $190
Governing Authority
SC Dept of Labor, Licensing and Regulation (LLR): Residential Builders Commission (residential) + Contractor's Licensing Board (commercial) + Municipal Association of SC (MASC — individual J/M certifications)
Official website →Yes
State Licensed?
8,000
Apprentice Hours
4
License Levels
$190
Total Fees
0 hrs
CE Hours
International Plumbing Code (IPC)
Code Version
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Get the Roadmap — $20Apprentice Registration Fee
$25
Apprentice registration fee
Journeyman License Fee
$25
MASC journeyman application fee; exam $100 (Prov); Residential Specialty app $100 + license $80-$160
Exam Fee
$100 (MASC/Prov) / $75 per section (PSI for contractor)
MASC exam $100 via Prov; PSI state exams $75 each section
Renewal Fee
$20 (MASC J/yr) / $350 (Mechanical Contractor, Oct 31 odd years)
MASC journeyman $20/year; Mechanical Contractor PB $350 biennial (Oct 31 odd years)
Regulation Status
VerifiedState Licensed
Yes
Regulation Level
state
License Types Available
State-Level Licensing Required
Regulated by the SC Dept of Labor, Licensing and Regulation (LLR): Residential Builders Commission (residential) + Contractor's Licensing Board (commercial) + Municipal Association of SC (MASC — individual J/M certifications)
Apprenticeship Program
8,000
Total Hours
4 yrs
Duration
576
Classroom Hours
7,424
OJT Hours
Registered Apprenticeship Program Required
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Experience Required
Registration required; no prior experience
No exam required
Additional Requirements
Experience Required
MASC Journeyman: 2 years experience (2-year degree = 1 year credit); Residential Specialty: 1 year full-time in past 5 years under licensed plumber; Mechanical Contractor PB: 2 years in past 5 years
Exam required
Additional Requirements
Experience Required
MASC Master: Additional experience beyond journeyman; renewal $50 every 2 years
Exam required
Additional Requirements
Exam Information
VerifiedJourneyman Exam
RequiredMaster Exam
RequiredExam Provider
PSI (state exams) / Prov (MASC exams)
Plumbing Code Version
International Plumbing Code (IPC)
Open Book Exam
Passing Score
70%
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Overall licensing difficulty: 25/100
Study recommendation: 1–2 weeks of focused review is usually sufficient
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Difficulty rating based on education, exam, and experience requirements. Individual experience may vary.
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Minimum Age
Education
Background Check
Insurance Required
Bonding Required
Not sure if you need a plumber license? Check whether your state requires one.
South Carolina has 34% below average — nationally the ratio is 1 per 746 residents.
South Carolina has below-average plumbers density — strong demand for new plumbers.
South Carolina ranks #48 out of 51 states by plumbers per capita.
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
Apprentice Registration Apprentice registration fee | $25 |
Journeyman License MASC journeyman application fee; exam $100 (Prov); Residential Specialty app $100 + license $80-$160 | $25 |
Exam Fee MASC exam $100 via Prov; PSI state exams $75 each section | $100 (MASC/Prov) / $75 per section (PSI for contractor) |
Renewal Fee MASC journeyman $20/year; Mechanical Contractor PB $350 biennial (Oct 31 odd years) | $20 (MASC J/yr) / $350 (Mechanical Contractor, Oct 31 odd years) |
Total Initial Fees Estimated total for apprentice registration + journeyman license + exam | $190 |
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Renewal & CE Requirements
Verified2 years
Renewal Period
0
CE Hours Required
$40
Renewal Fee
No CE Requirement
Renewal fee per 2 years
Out-of-State Reciprocity
VerifiedAccepts Out-of-State Licenses
Transfer Type
Endorsement
Additional Requirements for Transfer
Most states require plumbers to pass the local exam or apply for endorsement when transferring an out-of-state license. Requirements vary by state.
Moving to another state? Use our Transfer Tool to see what you need →
Compare South Carolina with other states →
See how requirements, costs, and timelines differ across all 50 states.
COMPLEX MULTI-TRACK SYSTEM: 3 separate licensing paths through different authorities — Residential Builders Commission (residential >$200), Contractor's Licensing Board (commercial >$5,000), MASC (individual J/M certifications). Residential Specialty exam can be waived if holding current SC Mechanical Contractor PB for 1+ year.
COMPLEX MULTI-TRACK SYSTEM: 3 separate licensing paths — Residential Builders Commission (residential >$200), Contractor's Licensing Board (commercial >$5,000), MASC (individual J/M certifications)
MASC certifications are individual competency credentials, NOT contractor licenses
Residential Specialty can be obtained without exam if holding current SC Mechanical Contractor PB for 1+ year
Residential requires $10,000 surety bond for projects >$5,000
No CE requirement for plumbing
Uses SC State Plumbing Code (based on IPC)
Technical Exam Waiver with multiple states (B&L exam still required)
NASCLA Accredited Exam accepted for some classifications
Residential renewal: June 30 odd years; Commercial renewal: October 31 odd years
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Plumber requirements in South Carolina verified against SC Dept of Labor, Licensing and Regulation (LLR): Residential Builders Commission (residential) + Contractor's Licensing Board (commercial) + Municipal Association of SC (MASC — individual J/M certifications), April 2026.
Accessed 2026-03-24
Accessed 2026-03-06