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(SC) SOUTH CAROLINA SWIMMING POOL EXAM QUESTIONS LATEST
VERSION 2026 - 2027
(SC) South Carolina Swimming Pool Exam
EXAM QUESTIONS
SECTION 1: LICENSING AND ADMINISTRATION (Questions 1–30)
Question 1
Which South Carolina state agency is primarily responsible for enforcing public pool
safety regulations through inspection and permitting?
A) Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism
B) Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation
C) Department of Health and Environmental Control
D) Department of Education
Answer: C
Rationale: The SC Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC), now
known as the Department of Environmental Services (DES) for many functions,
oversees public health matters including the inspection and regulation of swimming
pools for safety and sanitation.
Question 2
What is the primary purpose of South Carolina Regulation 61-51 as it applies to
swimming pools?
A) To set standards for pool chemical sales
B) To regulate the permitting, construction, and operation of public swimming pools
C) To establish lifeguard swimsuit requirements
D) To determine pool deck tile colors
Answer: B
Rationale: Regulation 61-51 is the state-wide rule that sets standards for the
permitting, construction, and operation of public swimming pools in South Carolina. It
is a core reference for the examination.
Question 3
What is the minimum passing score required to successfully complete the PSI
Swimming Pools examination in South Carolina?
A) 60%
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B) 65%
C) 70%
D) 75%
Answer: C
Rationale: South Carolina requires passing the SC Pool Contractor License Exam with a
minimum score of 70%. The application fee is $100, and results are provided same-day.
Question 4
What is the minimum total documented experience required for a Primary Qualifying
Party (PQP) applying for the Swimming Pools classification?
A) 2 years
B) 3 years
C) 4 years
D) 5 years
Answer: C
Rationale: Applicants must demonstrate 4 years of documented experience in pool
construction or a combination of related education and field experience, with at least 2
of those years in a supervisory capacity.
Question 5
What is the minimum general liability insurance coverage required for licensure
maintenance in South Carolina?
A) $100,000 per occurrence
B) $200,000 per occurrence
C) $300,000 per occurrence
D) $500,000 per occurrence
Answer: C
Rationale: General liability insurance with a minimum coverage of $300,000 per
occurrence is required for licensure maintenance.
Question 6
How many continuing education hours are required per renewal cycle for a South
Carolina swimming pool contractor license?
A) 4 hours
B) 6 hours
C) 8 hours
D) 10 hours
Answer: C
Rationale: Licenses must be renewed biennially, and 8 hours of continuing education
per renewal cycle is mandated to maintain active status.
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Question 7
What is the minimum surety bond amount set by the CLB for residential specialty
contractors?
A) $5,000
B) $10,000
C) $15,000
D) $25,000
Answer: C
Rationale: The minimum bond amount set by the CLB is $15,000 for residential
specialty contractors, though the exact figure is subject to periodic CLB rule revision.
Question 8
Which two examinations must a Primary Qualifying Party pass to obtain a Swimming
Pools classification?
A) PSI Swimming Pools exam and OSHA Safety exam
B) PSI Swimming Pools exam and SC Business Management and Law exam
C) NEC Article 680 exam and ISPSC exam
D) SC Regulation 61-51 exam and hydraulics exam
Answer: B
Rationale: To apply for licensure, the PQP must pass the PSI Swimming Pools exam and
the Business Management and Law for Commercial Contractor's exam.
Question 9
What is the statutory cost threshold above which a General Contractor license with
Swimming Pools classification is required?
A) $5,000
B) $10,000
C) $15,000
D) $25,000
Answer: B
Rationale: A General Contractor License with the Swimming Pools classification is
required to construct, service, or repair any residential pool when the total cost of
construction meets the statutory cost threshold for licensure, which is $10,000.
Question 10
Who is the Operator of Record (POR) for a public pool in South Carolina?
A) The owner who designs the pool layout
B) The contractor who installs pool lighting
C) The certified individual responsible for daily operation logs and compliance
D) The marketing manager for the facility
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Answer: C
Rationale: The POR is the certified individual responsible for maintaining daily
operation logs, conducting inspections, and ensuring overall regulatory compliance for
the public pool.
Question 11
What is the primary role of a certified pool operator in South Carolina?
A) Designing new pool layouts
B) Marketing pool services to the public
C) Ensuring water safety and regulatory compliance
D) Manufacturing pool filtration equipment
Answer: C
Rationale: The primary role of a pool operator is to maintain safe and clean water while
ensuring that all operations comply with state regulations for the safety of the public.
Question 12
How many mandatory inspections must a public pool undergo each week by a certified
operator?
A) One
B) Two
C) Three
D) Five
Answer: C
Rationale: SC Regulation 61-51 requires that a public pool be inspected a minimum of
three times per week to ensure ongoing safety and compliance.
Question 13
Which agency administers the South Carolina Contractor's Licensing Board that
governs pool contractor licensing?
A) Department of Health and Environmental Control
B) Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation
C) Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism
D) Department of Commerce
Answer: B
Rationale: The South Carolina Contractor's Licensing Board (CLB) is administered
under the South Carolina Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation (LLR), which
sets the primary qualification standards for specialty contractors.
Question 14
What is the minimum age requirement to obtain a South Carolina swimming pool
contractor license?
(SC) SOUTH CAROLINA SWIMMING POOL EXAM QUESTIONS LATEST
VERSION 2026 - 2027
(SC) South Carolina Swimming Pool Exam
EXAM QUESTIONS
SECTION 1: LICENSING AND ADMINISTRATION (Questions 1–30)
Question 1
Which South Carolina state agency is primarily responsible for enforcing public pool
safety regulations through inspection and permitting?
A) Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism
B) Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation
C) Department of Health and Environmental Control
D) Department of Education
Answer: C
Rationale: The SC Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC), now
known as the Department of Environmental Services (DES) for many functions,
oversees public health matters including the inspection and regulation of swimming
pools for safety and sanitation.
Question 2
What is the primary purpose of South Carolina Regulation 61-51 as it applies to
swimming pools?
A) To set standards for pool chemical sales
B) To regulate the permitting, construction, and operation of public swimming pools
C) To establish lifeguard swimsuit requirements
D) To determine pool deck tile colors
Answer: B
Rationale: Regulation 61-51 is the state-wide rule that sets standards for the
permitting, construction, and operation of public swimming pools in South Carolina. It
is a core reference for the examination.
Question 3
What is the minimum passing score required to successfully complete the PSI
Swimming Pools examination in South Carolina?
A) 60%
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B) 65%
C) 70%
D) 75%
Answer: C
Rationale: South Carolina requires passing the SC Pool Contractor License Exam with a
minimum score of 70%. The application fee is $100, and results are provided same-day.
Question 4
What is the minimum total documented experience required for a Primary Qualifying
Party (PQP) applying for the Swimming Pools classification?
A) 2 years
B) 3 years
C) 4 years
D) 5 years
Answer: C
Rationale: Applicants must demonstrate 4 years of documented experience in pool
construction or a combination of related education and field experience, with at least 2
of those years in a supervisory capacity.
Question 5
What is the minimum general liability insurance coverage required for licensure
maintenance in South Carolina?
A) $100,000 per occurrence
B) $200,000 per occurrence
C) $300,000 per occurrence
D) $500,000 per occurrence
Answer: C
Rationale: General liability insurance with a minimum coverage of $300,000 per
occurrence is required for licensure maintenance.
Question 6
How many continuing education hours are required per renewal cycle for a South
Carolina swimming pool contractor license?
A) 4 hours
B) 6 hours
C) 8 hours
D) 10 hours
Answer: C
Rationale: Licenses must be renewed biennially, and 8 hours of continuing education
per renewal cycle is mandated to maintain active status.
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Question 7
What is the minimum surety bond amount set by the CLB for residential specialty
contractors?
A) $5,000
B) $10,000
C) $15,000
D) $25,000
Answer: C
Rationale: The minimum bond amount set by the CLB is $15,000 for residential
specialty contractors, though the exact figure is subject to periodic CLB rule revision.
Question 8
Which two examinations must a Primary Qualifying Party pass to obtain a Swimming
Pools classification?
A) PSI Swimming Pools exam and OSHA Safety exam
B) PSI Swimming Pools exam and SC Business Management and Law exam
C) NEC Article 680 exam and ISPSC exam
D) SC Regulation 61-51 exam and hydraulics exam
Answer: B
Rationale: To apply for licensure, the PQP must pass the PSI Swimming Pools exam and
the Business Management and Law for Commercial Contractor's exam.
Question 9
What is the statutory cost threshold above which a General Contractor license with
Swimming Pools classification is required?
A) $5,000
B) $10,000
C) $15,000
D) $25,000
Answer: B
Rationale: A General Contractor License with the Swimming Pools classification is
required to construct, service, or repair any residential pool when the total cost of
construction meets the statutory cost threshold for licensure, which is $10,000.
Question 10
Who is the Operator of Record (POR) for a public pool in South Carolina?
A) The owner who designs the pool layout
B) The contractor who installs pool lighting
C) The certified individual responsible for daily operation logs and compliance
D) The marketing manager for the facility
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Answer: C
Rationale: The POR is the certified individual responsible for maintaining daily
operation logs, conducting inspections, and ensuring overall regulatory compliance for
the public pool.
Question 11
What is the primary role of a certified pool operator in South Carolina?
A) Designing new pool layouts
B) Marketing pool services to the public
C) Ensuring water safety and regulatory compliance
D) Manufacturing pool filtration equipment
Answer: C
Rationale: The primary role of a pool operator is to maintain safe and clean water while
ensuring that all operations comply with state regulations for the safety of the public.
Question 12
How many mandatory inspections must a public pool undergo each week by a certified
operator?
A) One
B) Two
C) Three
D) Five
Answer: C
Rationale: SC Regulation 61-51 requires that a public pool be inspected a minimum of
three times per week to ensure ongoing safety and compliance.
Question 13
Which agency administers the South Carolina Contractor's Licensing Board that
governs pool contractor licensing?
A) Department of Health and Environmental Control
B) Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation
C) Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism
D) Department of Commerce
Answer: B
Rationale: The South Carolina Contractor's Licensing Board (CLB) is administered
under the South Carolina Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation (LLR), which
sets the primary qualification standards for specialty contractors.
Question 14
What is the minimum age requirement to obtain a South Carolina swimming pool
contractor license?
