South Carolina Mechanical (HVAC) Contractor Exam Prep

Choose your access term

Business & Law is half off with this classification. Add it only if you want it, for the same term: $49.50 for 30 days, $64.50 for 60 days, $84.50 for 90 days.

Official sitting

Questions80
Time4 hours
Passing score70%

Confirm question count, time, open-book rules, and passing score on the live board bulletin before you sit. We do not guarantee a passing result. Source: PSI SC Commercial Contractor CIB updated 2026-08-27: Air Conditioning 80 questions, 56 correct, 4 hours. Heating and Refrigeration are different papers..

What’s included

19,000+ word study guide

Worked calculations, code-section breakdowns, exam traps, a key-terms glossary and a 30/60/90-day plan.

4 full-length practice exams

Original questions weighted to match the topic mix of the real exam.

320 practice questions

Every one with a written explanation and the code section behind the answer.

Same study guide and four exams on every term. You are choosing how long you can log in.

Instant accessSecure checkoutBuilt on current codes
SKU: N/A Category:

What this prep covers

  1. About the South Carolina Mechanical HVAC license
  2. How South Carolina licensing works
  3. HVAC fundamentals the exam assumes
  4. The refrigeration cycle
  5. Load calculations (Manual J and the code)
  6. Duct design (Manual D) and air distribution
  7. Combustion, venting, and combustion air
  8. Gas piping and oil
  9. Refrigerant handling and EPA Section 608
  10. Ventilation, IAQ, and controls
  11. Energy code, efficiency, and commissioning
  12. Worked calculations
  13. Sample exam questions, solved
  14. Common mistakes and exam traps
  15. Key codes and tables to tab
  16. Glossary of must-know terms

…and 2 further sections in the full guide.

South Carolina Mechanical (HVAC) Contractor licensing, explained

About the South Carolina Mechanical HVAC license

South Carolina regulates HVAC work through two separate paths, and it matters which one your exam targets. Commercial HVAC/R work is licensed by the South Carolina Contractor's Licensing Board (CLB) as a Mechanical Contractor, with separate PSI trade exams for its Air Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration subclassifications (the license is held at the business/qualifying-party level). Residential HVAC work is licensed by the South Carolina Residential Builders Commission, either as a Residential Specialty Contractor – HVAC or, for smaller jobs (over $500), a Residential HVAC Installer and Repairer license. Every path requires documented field experience plus a PSI-administered exam — confirm with your course/instructor which classification you are studying for.

Your exam is built on South Carolina's adopted mechanical code — the International Mechanical Code (IMC), paired with the International Fuel Gas Code (IFGC) — plus the state energy code (IECC) and the federal EPA Section 608 refrigerant rules. South Carolina has not adopted the Uniform Mechanical Code. The state's Building Codes Council moves to a new ICC edition every few years (the 2021 IMC took effect in 2023; the 2024 IMC was adopted in 2025), so always confirm the exact edition in effect for your test date on the PSI candidate bulletin.

Know these scope facts cold: most work requires a permit and inspection (rough-in and final); you must work within the classification you hold; and unlicensed or out-of-scope work is a violation that can cost the license and carry penalties. The mechanical code exists to deliver safe combustion and venting, adequate ventilation, and safe refrigeration — the exam keeps returning to those safety purposes.

How South Carolina licensing works

  • Experience: for the CLB's commercial Mechanical Contractor classifications (Air Conditioning, Heating, Refrigeration), 2 years of supervisory-level experience (journeyman, foreman, supervisor, or contractor) within the preceding 5 years in that specific classification. For the Residential Builders Commission's Residential Specialty Contractor – HVAC, 1 year of commission-approved experience under a licensed supervisor within the preceding 5 years.
  • Residential HVAC Installer and Repairer license: a separate, lower-tier Residential Builders Commission license for residential HVAC work over $500. The technical exam can be waived if you already hold an eligible Mechanical Contractor Air Conditioning/Packaged Equipment classification, an approved out-of-state license, or a current Master HVAC certification — but the Business Management and Law exam is always required.
  • EPA certification: handling refrigerant requires federal EPA Section 608 certification (Type I, II, III, or Universal) — separate from any state license but expected on the job.
  • Application: submit the application, fees, and proof of experience before you are approved to sit; both boards use PSI to deliver their exams.
  • Exam vendor: PSI. Every path requires two separate exams — a trade/technical exam in your classification, plus a South Carolina Business Management and Law exam. Passing scores differ by path: the CLB's commercial Air Conditioning exam is 80 questions with a 70 percent (56-correct) cut score, and its Heating and Refrigeration exams are 50 questions at 70 percent (35 correct); the Residential Specialty Contractor – HVAC technical exam is 80 questions at 65 percent, with the Business Management and Law exam requiring a scale score of 68 (SC Contractors' Licensing Board Commercial Contractor Candidate Information Bulletin, Air Conditioning/Heating/Refrigeration Examination Content Outline sections (issued via LLR's contracted testing vendor, PSI), plus LLR Residential Specialty Contractors HVAC exam requirements page (llr.sc.gov/res/exam.aspx) for the residential technical exam and Business Management and Law scale score). Confirm the current question count, time limit, and cut score on your PSI candidate bulletin.
  • Renewal: CLB Mechanical Contractor licenses expire every two years (October 31 of odd-numbered years) — confirm the current fee and any continuing-education requirement directly with the board, since this can change.

This is the opening of the full study guide. The complete guide continues into code navigation, worked calculations and solved exam questions.

Other South Carolina exam prep

South Carolina Mechanical (HVAC) Contractor exam — common questions

Who administers the South Carolina Mechanical (HVAC) Contractor exam?

The SC Air Conditioning (Mechanical Contractor technical) is administered by PSI Commercial Contractor Candidate Information Bulletin, copyright 2026, updated August 27, 2026: Air Conditioning examination is 80 questions, 56 correct to pass, 4 hours. Scope is air-conditioning equipment and systems that produce conditioned air for environmental heating or cooling, or both. Hot water and steam heating systems are not included. References: 2021 IMC with South Carolina modifications or 2018 South Carolina Mechanical Code; 2021 IFGC with South Carolina modifications or 2018 South Carolina Fuel Gas Code; OSHA 1926; ACCA Manual N, Manual D, and Manual J; ACCA Ductulator; Modern Refrigeration and Air Conditioning 21st or 22nd edition. Heating is 50 questions, 35 correct, 3 hours. Refrigeration is 50 questions, 35 correct, 3 hours. Packaged Equipment is 80 questions, 56 correct, 4 hours with a different outline. Business and Law is a separate exam..

How many questions are on the South Carolina Mechanical (HVAC) Contractor exam?

The exam contains 80 questions. You need 70% to pass. You are allowed 4 hours.

How much practice does this prep include?

It includes 4 full-length practice exams and 320 practice questions in total. Every question has a written explanation naming the code section the answer comes from.

How long is the study guide?

The South Carolina Mechanical (HVAC) Contractor guide runs to roughly 19,566 words, covering 18 sections from licensing rules through worked calculations and solved exam questions.

How long do I get access?

Choose 30, 60 or 90 days at checkout. Access begins the moment you enrol, works on any device, and you can retake every practice exam as often as you like. Days remaining are shown in your dashboard and you can extend at any time.

Is this an official South Carolina Mechanical (HVAC) Contractor exam?

No. This is independent preparation material. It is not affiliated with or endorsed by any state licensing board or exam vendor, and it does not contain real exam questions. Always confirm current requirements with your licensing board.

About this South Carolina Mechanical (HVAC) Contractor prep

This prep is built specifically for the South Carolina Mechanical (HVAC) Contractor examination and includes a 19,000+-word study guide written for this exam, 4 full-length practice exams and 320 practice questions, each with a written explanation.

The SC Air Conditioning (Mechanical Contractor technical) is administered by PSI Commercial Contractor Candidate Information Bulletin, copyright 2026, updated August 27, 2026: Air Conditioning examination is 80 questions, 56 correct to pass, 4 hours. Scope is air-conditioning equipment and systems that produce conditioned air for environmental heating or cooling, or both. Hot water and steam heating systems are not included. References: 2021 IMC with South Carolina modifications or 2018 South Carolina Mechanical Code; 2021 IFGC with South Carolina modifications or 2018 South Carolina Fuel Gas Code; OSHA 1926; ACCA Manual N, Manual D, and Manual J; ACCA Ductulator; Modern Refrigeration and Air Conditioning 21st or 22nd edition. Heating is 50 questions, 35 correct, 3 hours. Refrigeration is 50 questions, 35 correct, 3 hours. Packaged Equipment is 80 questions, 56 correct, 4 hours with a different outline. Business and Law is a separate exam.. This prep is written to that board’s current scope, not to a generic national syllabus.

The real South Carolina Mechanical (HVAC) Contractor exam contains 80 questions, with a passing score of 70%. Our practice exams mirror that structure so the format is familiar before you sit it.

Topics covered

  • About the South Carolina Mechanical HVAC license
  • How South Carolina licensing works
  • HVAC fundamentals the exam assumes
  • The refrigeration cycle
  • Load calculations (Manual J and the code)
  • Duct design (Manual D) and air distribution
  • Combustion, venting, and combustion air
  • Gas piping and oil
  • Refrigerant handling and EPA Section 608
  • Ventilation, IAQ, and controls
  • Energy code, efficiency, and commissioning
  • Worked calculations
  • Sample exam questions, solved
  • Common mistakes and exam traps
  • Key codes and tables to tab
  • Glossary of must-know terms
  • Your 30 / 60 / 90 day study plan
  • Exam-day strategy

How access works

You are paying for access length (30, 60, or 90 days). The study guide and four timed exams are the same on every term. Access starts when you enrol and works on any device for that term.

Not affiliated with or endorsed by any state licensing board or exam vendor. For exam-preparation purposes only.