South Carolina Electrical License Reciprocity (2026): 7 States

South Carolina's commercial electrical license reciprocates with 7 states, plus NASCLA. Its residential electrician license reciprocates with North Carolina and Mississippi. Reciprocity skips the SC trade exam only. You still pass the SC Business and Law exam and show the financial statement or bond required for your license group.

South Carolina electrical reciprocity: licenses SC accepts

Find your state below. Every route still requires the SC Business and Law exam.

Two South Carolina certificates also count for both licenses: a Master Electrician certificate earned by exam from MASC (December 1990 to December 2025) or from Carolinas AGC (since January 1, 2026).

Your EL group sets your job limit and your financial requirement

The number after "EL" is your group. It caps how big a job you can take. To get a group, you show a financial statement that meets either the working capital or the net worth amount, or you post a surety bond for the net worth amount. NC applicants are also capped by their NC class, as shown above.

• EL1 and EL2: an owner-prepared statement (Doc. 172) works.
• EL3 and EL4: a CPA-compiled statement.
• New EL5: a CPA-audited balance sheet.

Bonds use the mechanical contractor bond form. Full rules are under "Financial Statements" and "License Group Limits" on the CLB licensure page.

What to send SC LLR

Commercial (Contractor's Licensing Board):

• The SC Examination Waiver Form, filled out and sealed by the board that gave your exam. A copy of your card or score report won't work.
• Your PSI pass report for the SC Business Management and Law for Commercial Contractors exam. Details are in the PSI candidate bulletin.
• The qualifying party application (Doc. 168) and the license application (Doc. 165), with the $350 license fee.
• Your financial statement or bond for the group you want.
• No experience affidavit. Waiver applicants skip the 2-year experience rule.

Residential (Residential Builders Commission):

• The online Residential Electrician application, a $135 application fee and a $220 license fee.
• A license verification sent by the NC or Mississippi board straight to the Commission.
• An experience affidavit. Work under your own license counts.
• A credit report less than 30 days old and a notarized lawful-presence affidavit.
• A pass on the Residential Business Management and Law exam.
• A $10,000 surety bond before you take any job over $5,000.

Where a South Carolina license is accepted

Each state below sets its own rules. Most accept only the SC commercial license, and most still give their own business and law exam.

Where an SC license doesn't transfer

• Georgia: no reciprocity with any state, as of May 2026.
• Virginia: SC isn't on DPOR's agreement chart. Virginia's universal route needs a license DPOR rates as similar in scope.
• North Carolina, with EL1: the NC agreement starts at EL2.
• Utah journeyman: South Carolina isn't on Utah's journeyman map.

Checking another state? Use the 50-state reciprocity guide. Licensed in NC? See the North Carolina reciprocity guide.

JCR also has the Tennessee reciprocity guide, Mississippi reciprocity guide and Virginia reciprocity guide.

To compare exams by state, use the state requirements page.

How to apply for an SC license by reciprocity

1. Pick commercial or residential. Commercial is for jobs over $10,000. Residential is for home jobs over $500.
2. Check that your license is in the table above and that you earned it by exam.
3. Book and pass the SC Business and Law exam at PSI (or the residential version).
4. Ask your home board to fill out the SC Examination Waiver Form (commercial) or send a license verification (residential).
5. Get your financial statement or bond (commercial), or your credit report and affidavit (residential).
6. Send the application and fees to the right SC LLR board.

South Carolina reciprocity questions

Does South Carolina have reciprocity with North Carolina?

Yes, both ways. NC Unlimited holders can get SC groups EL1 to EL5, Intermediate up to EL3, and Limited up to EL2. An NC license earned by exam and held 1 year also qualifies for SC Residential Electrician. You still pass the SC Business and Law exam.

Does South Carolina accept a Georgia electrical license?

Yes, for commercial work. SC still accepts Georgia Unrestricted Electrical. It doesn't work the other way: Georgia stopped accepting SC licenses and has no reciprocity today.

Do I still take the SC Business and Law exam with reciprocity?

Yes. Reciprocity skips only the trade exam. Commercial applicants take the Business Management and Law for Commercial Contractors exam at PSI. Residential applicants take the residential version.

How much money do I need for an SC electrical license?

It depends on your group. EL1 needs $3,500 working capital, $7,000 net worth or a $7,000 bond. EL5 needs $200,000 working capital, $300,000 net worth or a $300,000 bond.

Can I use my South Carolina electrical license in Tennessee?

Yes, for Tennessee's CE contractor license. Tennessee skips its trade exam for SC commercial licensees, but you still take Tennessee's business and law exam. There is no route to the Tennessee LLE.

What NEC edition is the SC electrical exam on?

The commercial exam uses the 2020 NEC with SC changes. The residential exam uses the 2017 NEC. If no reciprocity route fits, see JCR's South Carolina electrical license guide.