70% Passing Score

50-Question Heating Exam

3-Hour Open-Book Exam

HT Mechanical Contractor

Important South Carolina licensing fact: the Heating classification is HT and is different from Air Conditioning AC, Packaged Equipment PK, Refrigeration RG, and Plumbing PB. South Carolina also allows HT Heating licensees to perform boiler-installation work. Passing the Heating exam does not automatically issue the contractor license.

What Is South Carolina Heating Contractor Exam Prep?

South Carolina Heating Contractor Exam Prep is focused preparation for contractors and qualifying parties pursuing the HT Heating classification under the South Carolina Contractors' Licensing Board.

The Heating scope includes installation, replacement, alteration, and repair of heating systems using high- or low-pressure steam, vapor, or hot water. It includes the piping, ducts, mechanical equipment, and boilers within, adjacent to, or connected with a building. Necessary gas lines may also be installed when covered heating equipment is gas-fired.

The technical examination is relatively short at 50 questions, but the reference library is not. Candidates may need to move among mechanical code, fuel gas code, boiler references, load-calculation manuals, duct-sizing tools, piping references, HVAC textbooks, and system-design information.

That is why open-book preparation matters. Having a dozen books near your chair is not the same thing as knowing which one answers the question. The clock is excellent at explaining that difference.

Exam: South Carolina Heating, Commercial Contractor.

Questions: 50.

Time: 3 hours.

Passing score: 35 correct answers, or 70 percent.

Format: open book.

Classification: Heating, HT, Mechanical Contractor.

Additional examination: South Carolina Business Management and Law for Commercial Contractors.

The South Carolina Heating Contractor Complete Highlighted & Tabbed Book Package can help candidates build familiarity with the large reference set used for open-book preparation.

South Carolina Heating Contractor Licensing Path

Use the Heating exam as one part of the South Carolina Mechanical Contractor licensing process.

Step Authority / Requirement What to Verify
Classification South Carolina Contractors' Licensing Board Confirm that Heating HT matches the commercial work the business plans to perform
Technical Exam PSI 50 questions, 3 hours, 35 correct required, open book
Business Management & Law South Carolina / PSI 50 questions, 125 minutes, 35 correct required, open book
Qualifying Party South Carolina Contractors' Licensing Board Primary Qualifying Party or Qualifying Party certification for Heating
Experience South Carolina Contractors' Licensing Board Exam-route applicants generally document at least two years of applicable experience within the previous five years
Financial Group Mechanical Contractor Groups 1 through 5 Bid and job limit supported by working capital, net worth, or qualifying surety bond
Final License South Carolina Contractors' Licensing Board Application, qualifying party, business authorization, financial documentation, PASS sheets, and current licensure fee

Research Authority and Verification

The current South Carolina Contractors' Licensing Board information, South Carolina contractor law, current PSI examination bulletin, and current 1 Exam Prep Heating products were reviewed for this page.

Verified Point Authority Current Result
Heating classification South Carolina Contractors' Licensing Board Heating is an HT Mechanical Contractor classification
Heating examination PSI 50 questions, 3 hours, 35 correct required
Open-book format PSI South Carolina commercial contractor exams are open book using approved references
Business Management & Law South Carolina LLR / PSI Required in addition to the Heating examination
Experience South Carolina Contractors' Licensing Board At least two years of applicable work experience within the previous five years for exam-route PQP/QP applicants
Boiler installation South Carolina Contractors' Licensing Board Heating HT licensees may engage in boiler-installation work
Mechanical renewal cycle South Carolina Contractors' Licensing Board Mechanical Contractor licenses expire October 31 of odd-numbered years
Natural gas scope South Carolina Contractors' Licensing Board HT licensees may install natural-gas piping serving HVAC equipment within the allowed heating scope

South Carolina Heating Contractor Exam Breakdown

The current South Carolina Heating exam contains nine official content areas. Code Compliance is the largest category with 8 questions. HARV Load Calculation and Low-Pressure Boilers each contain 7.

Fuel Gas Systems and Piping contain 6 questions each. High-Pressure Boilers contain 5. HARV General and HARV Controls contain 4 questions each, while Ducts contain 3.

That means code compliance, load calculations, fuel gas, piping, and boiler knowledge make up most of the examination. Candidates should understand the technical concepts while also knowing which reference contains the table, formula, diagram, or rule.

PSI uses the abbreviation HARV in the current Heating exam outline. Do not let the abbreviation send you on an archaeological expedition through the index. Treat it as part of the official exam terminology.

Primary SEO Target South Carolina Heating Contractor Exam Prep
Licensing Authority South Carolina Contractors' Licensing Board
Contractor Type Mechanical Contractor
Classification Heating, HT
Testing Provider PSI
Trade Exam 50 questions
Exam Time 3 hours
Passing Requirement 35 correct answers / 70%
Format Open book
Largest Category Code Compliance, 8 questions
Business & Law 50 questions • 125 minutes • 35 correct required • open book
Mechanical License Renewal October 31 of odd-numbered years

How to Study for the South Carolina Heating Contractor Exam

Study the official PSI outline and practice with the actual references. Do not divide your time evenly simply because there are nine categories. The exam tells you which subjects deserve more attention.

Code Compliance: review mechanical-code installation rules, clearances, combustion air, venting, equipment, hydronic systems, ducts, and related requirements.

Load Calculations: practice Manual N and Manual J navigation and learn which building characteristics affect heating-load calculations.

Boilers: study low-pressure and high-pressure systems separately, including components, controls, safety devices, operation, combustion, feedwater, and maintenance.

Fuel Gas: practice gas-piping sizing, regulators, appliance requirements, combustion air, venting, testing, and code-table navigation.

Piping and Ducts: practice piping layouts, fittings, sizing, airflow, friction rate, and Ductulator use.

The South Carolina Heating Contractor Highlighted & Tabbed Book Package organizes the commercial heating references for open-book study.

Heating Loads, Piping, Ducts, Boilers, and Code Strategy

Heating questions become easier when you decide what type of problem you are solving before grabbing a book. A load problem belongs in a different reference than a boiler-safety question. A gas-sizing question belongs in a different place than a duct-friction problem.

LOAD BOILER DUCT GAS loads • boilers • fuel gas • piping • ducts • controls • mechanical code

South Carolina Heating Contractor exam-prep illustration for load calculations, boilers, ductwork, piping, fuel gas, and controls.

  • Commercial Loads: use Manual N for small commercial building load calculations
  • Residential Loads: use Manual J for residential load-calculation concepts and equipment sizing
  • Low-Pressure Boilers: review hot-water and steam systems, controls, safeties, combustion, maintenance, and operation
  • High-Pressure Boilers: review construction, fittings, feedwater systems, controls, water treatment, operation, and safety
  • Fuel Gas: practice pipe sizing, combustion air, regulators, appliance installation, venting, and testing
  • Piping: review fittings, offsets, measurements, materials, system design, and practical pipe calculations
  • Ductwork: practice airflow, friction rate, velocity, equivalent duct size, and Ductulator navigation
  • Controls: review heating controls, electrical fundamentals, sequence of operation, and troubleshooting concepts

Your South Carolina Heating Contractor Licensing Roadmap

Move from the correct HT classification through technical testing, Business Management and Law, qualifying-party certification, financial qualification, and final Mechanical Contractor licensure.

1

Confirm Heating HT is the correct classification

Review the South Carolina Heating scope and make sure it matches the commercial heating work the company intends to contract for.

2

Document qualifying experience

Exam-route applicants generally need at least two years of applicable work experience completed within the previous five years.

3

Build the current reference library

Compare every heating reference with the current PSI bulletin, including mechanical code, fuel gas code, boiler books, load manuals, piping references, and HVAC textbooks.

4

Prepare by the nine PSI content areas

Study Code Compliance, HARV General, Controls, Load Calculations, Fuel Gas, Piping, Ducts, Low-Pressure Boilers, and High-Pressure Boilers.

5

Pass the Heating examination

Prepare for 50 questions, three hours, and 35 correct answers required.

6

Pass Business Management and Law

Commercial Heating candidates must also pass the separate South Carolina Business Management and Law examination.

7

Complete PQP or QP certification

Submit qualifying-party paperwork, experience documentation, and examination PASS information as required.

8

Choose the mechanical license group and complete licensure

Select the appropriate Group 1 through Group 5 project limit and provide the financial statement or surety bond, business documents, and final application materials.

South Carolina Heating Contractor Exam Weighting

The bars below compare the current 50-question PSI Heating examination outline. The longest bar represents Code Compliance, the largest category.

Code Compliance 8 questions

HARV Load Calculation 7 questions

Boilers - Low Pressure 7 questions

Fuel Gas Systems 6 questions

Piping 6 questions

Boilers - High Pressure 5 questions

HARV General 4 questions

HARV Controls 4 questions

Ducts 3 questions

Study priority: Code Compliance, Load Calculations, Low-Pressure Boilers, Fuel Gas Systems, and Piping combine for 34 of the 50 questions. That is 68 percent of the examination.

South Carolina Heating Contractor Exam References

The Heating exam uses a large reference library. Always compare every title and edition with the live PSI bulletin before testing.

Reference Primary Study Use Exam Note
International Mechanical Code Mechanical equipment, installation, ventilation, duct systems, combustion air, chimneys, vents, hydronic systems, and code compliance Current PSI list includes 2021 IMC with South Carolina modifications or listed South Carolina code alternative
International Fuel Gas Code Gas piping, sizing, regulators, combustion air, appliances, venting, testing, and fuel-gas safety Use the exact PSI-listed South Carolina option
Trane or ACCA Ductulator Airflow, duct sizing, velocity, friction rate, and round-to-rectangular equivalency PSI lists approved Ductulator options
Low Pressure Boilers, 5th Edition Low-pressure steam and hot-water boilers, controls, safety, combustion, operation, and maintenance Seven exam questions are assigned to low-pressure boilers
High Pressure Boilers, 6th Edition High-pressure boiler construction, fittings, controls, feedwater, combustion, water treatment, operation, and safety Five exam questions are assigned to high-pressure boilers
Manual N Commercial load calculations for small commercial buildings ACCA Manual N, 5th Edition
Manual J Residential heating and cooling load calculations ACCA Eighth Full Edition
System Design Manual - Part III: Piping Design Piping design and heating-system design concepts Carrier reference
Pipefitter's Handbook Pipe fittings, offsets, measurements, layout, materials, and practical pipe calculations PSI-listed trade reference
Modern Refrigeration and Air Conditioning HVAC fundamentals, heating systems, refrigeration, controls, service, installation, and troubleshooting PSI lists approved editions
Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Technology Heating, refrigeration, equipment, controls, system operation, maintenance, and diagnostics Use the edition accepted by the current PSI bulletin
Trane Air Conditioning Manual System principles, equipment, airflow, design, and HVAC fundamentals Current PSI bulletin lists the 1996 manual
ASHRAE Handbook of Fundamentals Heating, psychrometrics, loads, air properties, and HVAC fundamentals Verify the exact PSI-listed edition before purchasing
South Carolina Commercial Contractors Guide Separate Business Management and Law examination Current PSI business reference is the South Carolina Commercial Contractors 9th Edition

How to Prepare for the Open-Book South Carolina Heating Contractor Exam

Build these exam-prep habits

  • Practice with the exact current reference library
  • Learn which book controls each major topic
  • Study the mechanical and fuel gas code indexes
  • Practice Manual N and Manual J load problems
  • Practice Ductulator questions under a timer
  • Study low-pressure and high-pressure boilers separately
  • Use approved permanent tabs before exam day
  • Complete full 50-question three-hour practice sessions

Avoid these exam-prep mistakes

  • Trying to memorize the entire reference library
  • Using temporary Post-it tabs
  • Bringing loose or attached notes
  • Writing notes inside exam references
  • Ignoring high-pressure boilers
  • Skipping load calculations because you work mainly in service
  • Ignoring fuel gas and piping
  • Assuming open book means plenty of time

PSI reference rule: commercial contractor examinations are open book. Approved references may be highlighted, underlined, and indexed. Permanent tabs are allowed, but temporary removable tabs are not. Books must otherwise remain unmarked and cannot contain additional loose or attached papers.

South Carolina Heating HT Scope vs Other Mechanical Classifications

Heating HT is designed for heating equipment and systems using high- or low-pressure steam, vapor, or hot water. The scope includes related piping, ducts, mechanical equipment, and boilers.

Air Conditioning AC covers air-conditioning systems and environmental heating or cooling equipment, but hot-water and steam heating systems are not included under the AC classification.

Packaged Equipment PK covers packaged air-conditioning and heating equipment within its statutory scope. Refrigeration RG covers refrigeration work. Plumbing PB is the classification generally required for commercial natural-gas piping that is not simply serving equipment within the allowed AC, HT, or PK scope.

South Carolina specifically states that Heating HT licensees may perform Boiler Installation work. Boiler compliance inspections are a different matter and must be handled under the Boiler Safety Program's inspection requirements.

That distinction matters. Owning a wrench does not automatically make every mechanical classification one giant happy license family.

South Carolina Mechanical Contractor Group Limit Comparison

The HT classification controls the type of work. The mechanical contractor group controls the maximum bid and job dollar limit.

Group Bid / Job Limit Working Capital Net Worth / Equity Surety Bond
Group 1 $35,000 $3,500 $7,000 $7,000
Group 2 $100,000 $10,000 $15,000 $15,000
Group 3 $200,000 $20,000 $30,000 $30,000
Group 4 $400,000 $40,000 $60,000 $60,000
Group 5 Unlimited $200,000 $300,000 $300,000

Financial qualification: South Carolina applicants using financial statements need to meet either the working-capital requirement or the net-worth / total-equity requirement for the requested group. They are not required to meet both. An applicable surety bond may be used under the Board's rules.

South Carolina Heating Contractor Exam and Licensing Requirements

Heating Qualifying Party

PQP / QP Path
  • Qualify through the Heating technical examination or approved waiver route
  • Pass South Carolina Business Management and Law
  • Generally document two years of applicable work experience within the previous five years
  • Complete PQP or QP certification paperwork
  • Provide required PSI PASS sheets when qualifying by examination
  • Maintain certification with the applicable contractor entity

Mechanical Contractor Business

Final HT License
  • Submit General and Mechanical Contractor application
  • Designate the Primary Qualifying Party
  • Choose Mechanical Group 1 through 5
  • Provide financial statement or qualifying surety bond
  • Provide South Carolina business authorization when applicable
  • Submit Heating and Business & Law PASS sheets
  • Pay the current licensing fee

Exam waiver note: South Carolina recognizes certain approved reciprocal examinations and certifications for some mechanical classifications. Applicants using a waiver route still need to satisfy the current South Carolina Business Management and Law and licensing requirements applicable to their situation.

Renewal: South Carolina Mechanical Contractor licenses expire October 31 of odd-numbered years.

Six-Week South Carolina Heating Contractor Exam Prep Plan

Build mechanical-code speed, boiler knowledge, load-calculation skill, fuel-gas confidence, and open-book navigation without trying to meet twelve technical books for the first time at the PSI desk.

Week 1

PSI Outline + Mechanical Code

  • Verify the current PSI bulletin
  • Organize the entire reference library
  • Study Code Compliance
  • Review mechanical-code navigation
  • Take a baseline practice test
Week 2

Fuel Gas + Combustion

  • Gas-piping sizing
  • Combustion air
  • Appliance requirements
  • Venting and chimneys
  • Fuel-gas safety
Week 3

Load Calculations + Controls

  • Manual N
  • Manual J
  • Heat-loss concepts
  • System sizing
  • HARV controls
Week 4

Piping + Ducts

  • Pipefitter's Handbook
  • Carrier piping design
  • Ductulator practice
  • Airflow and friction
  • System distribution
Week 5

Boilers

  • Low-pressure boilers
  • High-pressure boilers
  • Controls and safeties
  • Feedwater and water treatment
  • Operation and maintenance
Week 6

Full Heating Simulation

  • 50-question mixed practice sets
  • 3-hour timer
  • Reference-selection drills
  • Review every slow lookup
  • Continue Business & Law preparation

How Hard Is the South Carolina Heating Contractor Exam?

The South Carolina Heating exam is difficult because 50 questions can reach across mechanical code, fuel gas, controls, load calculations, piping, ductwork, and two different boiler categories.

The open-book format helps, but the reference library is large. A candidate can understand heating systems very well and still lose points by searching the wrong book or spending five minutes locating one table.

Boilers deserve special attention. Low-pressure and high-pressure boilers combine for 12 questions, which is nearly one-quarter of the examination. Load calculations add 7 more. Code Compliance adds 8.

Strong preparation uses technical understanding and navigation together. You want enough knowledge to recognize the subject immediately and enough book familiarity to confirm the rule quickly.

Open book is helpful. Open every book is not.

South Carolina Heating Contractor Exam Day Checklist

Do this

  • Confirm your PSI appointment and exact exam title
  • Arrive at least 30 minutes early
  • Bring required government-issued identification
  • Bring only approved references
  • Use permanent tabs that meet PSI rules
  • Use highlighting and underlining completed before testing
  • Bring an allowed silent, battery-operated, nonprinting, nonprogrammable calculator
  • Organize references in a consistent order
  • Protect time for all 50 questions

Do not do this

  • Bring temporary removable tabs
  • Bring loose or attached notes
  • Write in references during the examination
  • Assume every question needs a lookup
  • Ignore high-pressure boiler questions
  • Spend too long on one load calculation
  • Use the wrong mechanical or fuel-gas code edition
  • Forget the separate Business Management and Law exam

Pacing tip: 50 questions in 180 minutes gives you an average of about 3 minutes and 36 seconds per question. Answer fast knowledge questions first, then use the saved time for calculations and deeper reference searches.

South Carolina Heating Contractor Exam Prep Options

Heating Highlighted & Tabbed Books

Prepared Reference Library
  • Mechanical code reference
  • Fuel gas code reference
  • Ductulator
  • Low- and high-pressure boiler books
  • Manual N and Manual J
  • Piping references
  • HVAC textbooks
View Highlighted & Tabbed Books

Heating Ultimate Rental Package

Books + Courses + Classes + Application
  • Highlighted and tabbed rental reference set
  • Heating Trade exam course
  • Business Management and Law course
  • Live exam-prep classes
  • One-year course access
  • Application Service
  • One-year rental period
View Ultimate Rental Package

Business & Law reminder: the Heating technical exam does not replace the separate South Carolina Business Management and Law for Commercial Contractors examination.

View South Carolina Business Management and Law Exam Prep

South Carolina Heating Contractor Ultimate Exam Prep Package by 1 Exam Prep

South Carolina Heating Contractor Exam Prep

This South Carolina-specific 1 Exam Prep credential artwork is directly related to the Heating Contractor HT Mechanical Contractor licensing pathway.

• 50-question South Carolina Heating examination

• 3-hour testing period

• 35 correct answers required

• 70% passing requirement

• Open-book PSI commercial contractor exam

• Code Compliance, Fuel Gas, Piping, Ducts, Controls, and Load Calculations

• Low-Pressure and High-Pressure Boiler preparation

• South Carolina Business Management and Law is also required

• PQP/QP, experience, financial, and Mechanical Contractor licensing requirements still apply

Build technical knowledge and reference speed together. The exam rewards Heating candidates who recognize the problem, choose the correct book, and locate the controlling information without letting the clock run the boiler room.

Frequently Asked Questions

South Carolina Heating Licensing

Commercial Heating contractors are regulated by the South Carolina Contractors' Licensing Board through the Mechanical Contractor licensing system.
The Heating Mechanical Contractor classification is abbreviated HT.
The Heating classification includes installation, replacement, alteration, and repair of heating equipment and systems that use high- or low-pressure steam, vapor, or hot water. It includes connected piping, ducts, mechanical equipment, boilers, and necessary gas lines when the covered equipment is gas-fired.
Yes. The South Carolina Contractors' Licensing Board states that Heating HT licensees may engage in Boiler Installation work.
HT licensees may install necessary gas piping serving heating or HVAC equipment within the scope allowed by the Heating classification. General commercial natural-gas piping outside those HVAC equipment exceptions generally requires the PB Plumbing classification.

Heating Exam Basics

The current PSI Heating examination contains 50 questions.
Candidates currently receive three hours.
You currently need 35 correct answers out of 50, which equals a 70 percent passing requirement.
Yes. South Carolina commercial contractor examinations are currently open book using the approved references listed by PSI.
Code Compliance is currently the largest single category with 8 questions.
HARV Load Calculation currently contains 7 questions.
The current outline has 7 Low-Pressure Boiler questions and 5 High-Pressure Boiler questions, for 12 boiler questions total.
Yes. Fuel Gas Systems currently contains 6 questions.
Yes. The current PSI outline assigns 6 questions to Piping and 3 questions to Ducts.

Heating Exam References

The current PSI Heating reference list includes the 2021 International Mechanical Code with South Carolina modifications or the listed South Carolina code alternative. Verify the live PSI bulletin before testing.
PSI lists an International Fuel Gas Code with South Carolina modifications or the applicable South Carolina Fuel Gas Code alternative. Use the exact edition identified by the current bulletin.
Manual J supports residential load calculations, while Manual N supports small commercial building load calculations. The Heating exam includes load-calculation questions that can require knowledge from both types of applications.
A Ductulator helps compare airflow, duct size, velocity, friction rate, and equivalent round or rectangular duct dimensions.
Yes. Current PSI rules allow approved references to be highlighted and underlined before the exam.
Yes. PSI allows permanent tabs or indexing. A permanent tab must tear the page if removed. Temporary Post-it-style tabs are not allowed.
No. PSI requires approved references to otherwise remain unmarked. Handwritten notes and extra loose or attached papers are prohibited.
PSI currently allows nonprogrammable calculators that are silent, battery-operated, do not print paper tape, and do not contain an alphabetic keyboard.

South Carolina Business and Licensing

Yes. Heating Commercial Contractor candidates must pass both the Heating technical examination and the South Carolina Business Management and Law for Commercial Contractors examination.
The current examination contains 50 questions. Candidates need 35 correct answers and receive 125 minutes.
Yes. The current South Carolina commercial Business Management and Law examination is open book using the approved commercial contractor reference.
Applicants qualifying by examination generally must submit at least two years of applicable work experience performed within the previous five years for the requested classification.
Group 5 has an unlimited bid and job dollar limit. Current financial requirements include $200,000 working capital or $300,000 net worth / total equity, or the applicable $300,000 surety bond route.
South Carolina Mechanical Contractor licenses expire October 31 of odd-numbered years under the current renewal cycle.
No. Passing the Heating exam satisfies an examination component. The qualifying party and contractor business must still complete the applicable South Carolina certification, financial, business, and licensing requirements.

1 Exam Prep

Yes. 1 Exam Prep offers South Carolina Heating Contractor preparation through online study options, highlighted and tabbed books, complete book packages, live training, and rental packages.
Yes. The South Carolina Heating Contractor Complete Highlighted & Tabbed Book Package includes the major PSI-listed heating references organized to support faster open-book navigation.
Yes. 1 Exam Prep offers South Carolina Heating rental packages that combine Heating Trade preparation with South Carolina Business Management and Law study materials and courses.

Watch: South Carolina Heating Contractor Exam Prep

Watch this related 1 Exam Prep South Carolina Heating Contractor video for a closer look at the Heating exam-prep pathway, reference materials, open-book preparation, contractor study options, and licensing support.

Heating exam-prep tip: watch the video with your books nearby, then practice selecting the correct reference for Code Compliance, Fuel Gas, Load Calculations, Piping, Ducts, Controls, and Boilers. The goal is to turn "I know this is somewhere" into "I know exactly where to look."

Ready for South Carolina Heating Contractor Exam Prep?

Build faster mechanical-code navigation, stronger load-calculation skills, better fuel-gas knowledge, confidence with hydronic piping, duct systems, controls, low-pressure boilers, high-pressure boilers, heating-system design, and the South Carolina Mechanical Contractor licensing process.

Questions? Call 877-775-9400
or email sales@1examprep.com

South Carolina Heating Exam Prep