South Carolina Residential HVAC License — RBH License Through the Builders Commission

The RBH License Is Residential-Only — And the Trigger Is Low

South Carolina's Residential Builders Commission (RBC) issues the Residential Specialty HVAC Installer and Repairer license, known by the code RBH. This license authorizes HVAC work on residential structures up to three stories in height with sixteen or fewer units.

The licensing trigger is $500 in total project cost — labor and materials combined. That threshold catches virtually every equipment change-out, split-system heat pump retrofit, and duct modification on a residential property. If you are doing any meaningful HVAC work on homes, you need this license.

The residential RBH license does not authorize commercial, industrial, or institutional work. Any project on a structure exceeding three stories, exceeding sixteen units, or on non-residential property falls outside the RBH scope and is handled under the Contractor's Licensing Board track; the CLB license requirement turns on the $10,000 threshold.

Experience Requirements

The RBC requires one year of hands-on residential HVAC work within the past five years. This experience must be verified through the Residential HVAC Installer and Repairer Experience Affidavit, signed by the licensed builder or HVAC contractor who supervised your work.

The board cross-checks experience claims against tax documentation. You must submit W-2 or 1099 records that correspond directly to the employment period listed on the affidavit. Any gap between the dates on your affidavit and the dates on your tax forms triggers an audit that can delay your application by months or result in denial for unverified experience.

If your former employer is uncooperative or unavailable, South Carolina law permits alternative verification using tax returns, 1099-MISC forms, and notarized reference letters from licensed builders, contractors, or clients. The key is assembling a documentation package where every claimed work period has matching financial proof.

Exam Requirements

The RBC must approve your experience before you can register for exams. This is the opposite of the commercial track, where you test first and file second.

Once approved, you register through PSI to take two exams:

• Residential HVAC Trade Exam: 80 questions covering mechanical code, fuel gas code, SMACNA duct standards, and refrigeration fundamentals. Time limit is 240 minutes. Passing score is 65% (52 correct). The exam is open-book — you can bring only the specific editions of reference texts listed in the PSI candidate bulletin, with non-removable tabs.
• Residential Business Management and Law Exam: 50 questions on South Carolina construction law, contracts, and business management. Time limit is 120 minutes. Passing score is 68% (34 correct).

The trade exam fee is $100. The law exam fee is included with the trade registration.

Financial Requirements

The residential track does not use the tiered financial group system that the commercial track does. Instead, the RBC evaluates financial responsibility through two mechanisms:

Credit report: Every applicant must submit a complete personal credit report from TransUnion, Experian, or Equifax. The report must be dated within 30 days of your application filing date — anything older gets rejected outright. The commission reviews for unresolved construction judgments, mechanic's liens, and bankruptcy proceedings. There is no minimum credit score. If you have blemishes on your report, a written explanation letter addressing each item can satisfy the board's review.

Surety bond: If any project you undertake exceeds $5,000 in total cost, you must file a $10,000 surety bond with the RBC. The bond must be issued in your personal legal name — not your LLC or corporation name. If the surety company issues the bond to your business entity, the commission rejects it and your license issuance stalls until you get a corrected bond.

Application Process

1. Complete the online Residential Specialty application through the RBC's electronic portal
2. Pay the $135 application fee (the RBC accepts checks or money orders only — no cash)
3. Submit your experience affidavit and matching tax records
4. Wait for experience approval (the portal gives you 30 days to complete the application once started, and one year from payment to submit all supporting credentials)
5. Schedule and pass both PSI exams after receiving your eligibility letter
6. Submit your PSI pass sheets, the $220 license fee, and personal credit report
7. File your $10,000 surety bond if applicable

If you do not complete the process within one year of paying the application fee, the application expires, the fee is forfeited, and you restart from the beginning.

Renewal

RBH licenses renew by June 30 of odd-numbered years. The renewal fee is $220. Late renewals add $50 to the fee. If your license lapses for under three years, reinstatement costs $480 — significantly more than keeping your renewal current.

South Carolina does not require continuing education hours for residential HVAC license renewal. You pay the fee, update your financial documentation if needed, and continue operating.

For the full residential licensing pipeline — including the experience documentation strategy, credit report preparation, and bond filing logistics — the South Carolina HVAC License Guide covers the complete RBC track from application through your first permitted residential project.

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