1
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outh Carolina Septic Tank Contractor Licensing
S
Exam 2025 – actual Exam Format Questions &
Answers with Rationales | 100% Verified | Graded A+
Student Name:_________________________
Date:_______________
Time Limit:100 minutes
Total Questions: 85
Instructions
● T his exam contains 85 questions: 60 multiple-choice (MCQ) and 25 select-all-that-apply
(SATA), covering site evaluation, installation techniques, SCDES regulations, and tank
sizing/distribution.
● Read each question carefully and select the best answer(s).
● Ensure all answers are marked clearly.
● A score of 80% or higher is required to pass, per Regulation 61-56.
● No external resources are permitted unless specified.
Site Evaluation
Case Study 1: Residential Lot Assessment
A contractor is evaluating a lot for a 3-bedroom home above the South Carolina Fall Line.
1. M
CQ: What is the primary consideration for site suitability?
a. Proximity to the house foundation
b.Soil texture and drainage
c. Lot size only
d. Vegetation cover
Rationale: Soil texture and drainage (b) determine wastewater treatment and absorption,
per Regulation 61-56. Proximity (a), lot size alone (c), and vegetation (d) are secondary.
, 2
2. S ATA: Which factors must be assessed during a site evaluation? (Select all that apply.)
a.Soil type
b.Slope of the lot
c.Proximity to wells
d. House color
e.Seasonal saturation zone
Rationale: Soil type, slope, well proximity, and seasonalsaturation (a, b, c, e) are critical
for septic system suitability, per Regulation 61-56. House color (d) is irrelevant.
3. MCQ: Why are backhoe pits required above the FallLine?
a. To reduce evaluation time
b.To assess rock obstructions
c. To lower costs
d. To simplify permitting
Rationale: Backhoe pits (b) are required above theFall Line due to potential rock
obstructions, per SCDES guidelines. They don’t reduce time (a), lower costs (c), or
simplify permitting (d).
4. SATA: Which tools are appropriate for soil evaluation?(Select all that apply.)
a.Hand auger
b.Backhoe pits
c. Metal detector
d.Soil probe
e. pH meter
Rationale: Hand auger, backhoe pits, and soil probe(a, b, d) assess soil texture and
depth, per SCDES standards. Metal detectors (c) and pH meters (e) are not standard.
5. MCQ: A site has high clay content. What is the impacton septic design?
a. Smaller drainfield required
b.Larger drainfield required
c. No impact on design
d. Alternative system prohibited
Rationale: High clay content (b) requires a largerdrainfield due to slower wastewater
absorption, per Regulation 61-56. Smaller drainfields (a), no impact (c), or prohibiting
alternatives (d) are incorrect.
Case Study 2: Commercial Lot Assessment
A contractor evaluates a lot for a restaurant with a septic system.
6. M
CQ: What is the minimum distance from a well for a commercial septic system?
a. 50 feet
b.100 feet
c. 75 feet
d. 25 feet
Rationale: Commercial systems require a 100-foot setback from wells (b), per
Regulation 61-56, due to higher flow rates. Other distances (a, c, d) are insufficient.
, 3
7. S ATA: Which site conditions require a Professional Soil Classifier (PSC)? (Select all that
apply.)
a.Site fails conventional system evaluation
b.Subdivision with 10+ lots
c. Sandy soil only
d.Complex soil conditions
e. Small residential lot
Rationale: PSCs are required for failed conventionalevaluations, subdivisions with 10+
lots, or complex soils (a, b, d), per Regulation 61-56. Sandy soil (c) or small lots (e) don’t
always require PSCs.
8. MCQ: What form must a PSC submit for soil evaluation?
a. D-3978
b.D-1774
c. D-4432
d. D-1740
Rationale: The Site and Soil Evaluation Form (D-1774)(b) is required for PSC soil
evaluations, per SCDES standards. Other forms (a, c, d) are for different purposes.
Installation Techniques
Case Study 3: Residential Septic Installation
A Tier 3 contractor is installing a septic system for a 4-bedroom home.
9. M CQ: What must the installer do before covering thesystem?
a. Use the system immediately
b.Schedule a final inspection with SCDES
c. Submit a permit renewal
d. Pump the tank
Rationale: A final inspection (b) is required beforecovering, per Regulation 61-56. Using
the system (a), renewing permits (c), or pumping (d) are premature.
10.SATA: Which components must be checked during finalinspection? (Select all that
apply.)
a.Trench depth
b.Tank orientation
c.Drainfield length
d. House paint color
e.System location
Rationale: Trench depth, tank orientation, drainfieldlength, and system location (a, b, c,
e) are inspected to ensure compliance, per Regulation 61-56. House paint (d) is
irrelevant.
11.MCQ: What happens if a DHEC inspector is late for a scheduled inspection?
a. Installation is canceled
b.Installer may perform a self-inspection
📄 DOWNLOAD PDF
outh Carolina Septic Tank Contractor Licensing
S
Exam 2025 – actual Exam Format Questions &
Answers with Rationales | 100% Verified | Graded A+
Student Name:_________________________
Date:_______________
Time Limit:100 minutes
Total Questions: 85
Instructions
● T his exam contains 85 questions: 60 multiple-choice (MCQ) and 25 select-all-that-apply
(SATA), covering site evaluation, installation techniques, SCDES regulations, and tank
sizing/distribution.
● Read each question carefully and select the best answer(s).
● Ensure all answers are marked clearly.
● A score of 80% or higher is required to pass, per Regulation 61-56.
● No external resources are permitted unless specified.
Site Evaluation
Case Study 1: Residential Lot Assessment
A contractor is evaluating a lot for a 3-bedroom home above the South Carolina Fall Line.
1. M
CQ: What is the primary consideration for site suitability?
a. Proximity to the house foundation
b.Soil texture and drainage
c. Lot size only
d. Vegetation cover
Rationale: Soil texture and drainage (b) determine wastewater treatment and absorption,
per Regulation 61-56. Proximity (a), lot size alone (c), and vegetation (d) are secondary.
, 2
2. S ATA: Which factors must be assessed during a site evaluation? (Select all that apply.)
a.Soil type
b.Slope of the lot
c.Proximity to wells
d. House color
e.Seasonal saturation zone
Rationale: Soil type, slope, well proximity, and seasonalsaturation (a, b, c, e) are critical
for septic system suitability, per Regulation 61-56. House color (d) is irrelevant.
3. MCQ: Why are backhoe pits required above the FallLine?
a. To reduce evaluation time
b.To assess rock obstructions
c. To lower costs
d. To simplify permitting
Rationale: Backhoe pits (b) are required above theFall Line due to potential rock
obstructions, per SCDES guidelines. They don’t reduce time (a), lower costs (c), or
simplify permitting (d).
4. SATA: Which tools are appropriate for soil evaluation?(Select all that apply.)
a.Hand auger
b.Backhoe pits
c. Metal detector
d.Soil probe
e. pH meter
Rationale: Hand auger, backhoe pits, and soil probe(a, b, d) assess soil texture and
depth, per SCDES standards. Metal detectors (c) and pH meters (e) are not standard.
5. MCQ: A site has high clay content. What is the impacton septic design?
a. Smaller drainfield required
b.Larger drainfield required
c. No impact on design
d. Alternative system prohibited
Rationale: High clay content (b) requires a largerdrainfield due to slower wastewater
absorption, per Regulation 61-56. Smaller drainfields (a), no impact (c), or prohibiting
alternatives (d) are incorrect.
Case Study 2: Commercial Lot Assessment
A contractor evaluates a lot for a restaurant with a septic system.
6. M
CQ: What is the minimum distance from a well for a commercial septic system?
a. 50 feet
b.100 feet
c. 75 feet
d. 25 feet
Rationale: Commercial systems require a 100-foot setback from wells (b), per
Regulation 61-56, due to higher flow rates. Other distances (a, c, d) are insufficient.
, 3
7. S ATA: Which site conditions require a Professional Soil Classifier (PSC)? (Select all that
apply.)
a.Site fails conventional system evaluation
b.Subdivision with 10+ lots
c. Sandy soil only
d.Complex soil conditions
e. Small residential lot
Rationale: PSCs are required for failed conventionalevaluations, subdivisions with 10+
lots, or complex soils (a, b, d), per Regulation 61-56. Sandy soil (c) or small lots (e) don’t
always require PSCs.
8. MCQ: What form must a PSC submit for soil evaluation?
a. D-3978
b.D-1774
c. D-4432
d. D-1740
Rationale: The Site and Soil Evaluation Form (D-1774)(b) is required for PSC soil
evaluations, per SCDES standards. Other forms (a, c, d) are for different purposes.
Installation Techniques
Case Study 3: Residential Septic Installation
A Tier 3 contractor is installing a septic system for a 4-bedroom home.
9. M CQ: What must the installer do before covering thesystem?
a. Use the system immediately
b.Schedule a final inspection with SCDES
c. Submit a permit renewal
d. Pump the tank
Rationale: A final inspection (b) is required beforecovering, per Regulation 61-56. Using
the system (a), renewing permits (c), or pumping (d) are premature.
10.SATA: Which components must be checked during finalinspection? (Select all that
apply.)
a.Trench depth
b.Tank orientation
c.Drainfield length
d. House paint color
e.System location
Rationale: Trench depth, tank orientation, drainfieldlength, and system location (a, b, c,
e) are inspected to ensure compliance, per Regulation 61-56. House paint (d) is
irrelevant.
11.MCQ: What happens if a DHEC inspector is late for a scheduled inspection?
a. Installation is canceled
b.Installer may perform a self-inspection
