South Carolina Septic Tank Installer License
Exam
Practice Exam: 200 Multiple-Choice Questions
Questions, Answers, and Rationales
1. Which South Carolina agency currently licenses onsite
wastewater (septic) contractors and administers Regulation
61-56?
A. The South Carolina Department of Environmental Services
(SCDES)
B. The South Carolina Department of Agriculture
C. The South Carolina Department of Transportation
D. The South Carolina Public Service Commission
Answer: A. The South Carolina Department of Environmental
Services (SCDES)
Rationale: SCDES licenses onsite wastewater contractors
and administers Regulation 61-56, Onsite Wastewater
Systems, following the restructuring of the former DHEC.
2. Which regulation governs onsite wastewater systems in
South Carolina?
A. Regulation 61-56
B. Regulation 61-58
C. Regulation 61-9
D. Regulation 72-300
Answer: A. Regulation 61-56
Rationale: Regulation 61-56, Onsite Wastewater Systems,
sets siting, design, installation, and licensing requirements for
septic systems.
,3. What minimum score is required to pass the first-time
SCDES septic licensing exam?
A. 90 percent
B. 80 percent
C. 60 percent
D. 70 percent
Answer: B. 80 percent
Rationale: SCDES requires a score of 80 percent or better on
the exam that tests knowledge of Regulation 61-56.
4. If an applicant fails the licensing exam, when may the
exam be retaken?
A. After 30 days
B. After 6 months
C. After 1 year
D. The next day
Answer: A. After 30 days
Rationale: SCDES allows an applicant who does not pass to
retake the exam after a 30-day waiting period.
5. How often must an onsite wastewater installer license be
renewed in South Carolina?
A. Every 5 years
B. Every year
C. Every 10 years
D. Only once at issuance
Answer: B. Every year
Rationale: Licenses to install or clean septic systems must be
renewed annually.
,6. Where do applicants arrange testing before submitting the
license application?
A. The Secretary of State's office
B. The county courthouse
C. The local SCDES office
D. A local hardware store
Answer: C. The local SCDES office
Rationale: Applicants contact their local SCDES office to
schedule the exam before applying through the online
ePermitting system.
7. How many tiers of onsite wastewater installer licenses
exist under Regulation 61-56?
A. Three
B. One
C. Five
D. Two
Answer: A. Three
Rationale: Regulation 61-56 establishes a three-tier installer
licensing structure that varies the scope of systems an
installer may install.
8. Which installer tier may install the Standard 610
specialized onsite wastewater systems?
A. None of the tiers
B. Tier 3
C. Tier 1
D. Tier 2 only
Answer: B. Tier 3
Rationale: Tier 3 installers may install all Tier 1 and 2
systems in addition to specialized systems permitted under
Standard 610.
, 9. Which requirement applies to a Tier 3 installer applicant?
A. Residency in the county for 20 years
B. Bond and insurance coverage related to septic installation
C. A four-year engineering degree
D. Ownership of a backhoe manufacturer
Answer: B. Bond and insurance coverage related to septic
installation
Rationale: Tier 3 applicants must be bonded and insured; the
bond must be a surety bond naming SCDES as obligee.
10. How much prior active installing experience in South
Carolina is needed for a Tier 3 license with no disciplinary
action?
A. Three years
B. One year
C. Ten years
D. Six months
Answer: A. Three years
Rationale: A Tier 3 applicant must have been actively
installing in South Carolina for three years with no pending or
prior disciplinary or enforcement action.
Exam
Practice Exam: 200 Multiple-Choice Questions
Questions, Answers, and Rationales
1. Which South Carolina agency currently licenses onsite
wastewater (septic) contractors and administers Regulation
61-56?
A. The South Carolina Department of Environmental Services
(SCDES)
B. The South Carolina Department of Agriculture
C. The South Carolina Department of Transportation
D. The South Carolina Public Service Commission
Answer: A. The South Carolina Department of Environmental
Services (SCDES)
Rationale: SCDES licenses onsite wastewater contractors
and administers Regulation 61-56, Onsite Wastewater
Systems, following the restructuring of the former DHEC.
2. Which regulation governs onsite wastewater systems in
South Carolina?
A. Regulation 61-56
B. Regulation 61-58
C. Regulation 61-9
D. Regulation 72-300
Answer: A. Regulation 61-56
Rationale: Regulation 61-56, Onsite Wastewater Systems,
sets siting, design, installation, and licensing requirements for
septic systems.
,3. What minimum score is required to pass the first-time
SCDES septic licensing exam?
A. 90 percent
B. 80 percent
C. 60 percent
D. 70 percent
Answer: B. 80 percent
Rationale: SCDES requires a score of 80 percent or better on
the exam that tests knowledge of Regulation 61-56.
4. If an applicant fails the licensing exam, when may the
exam be retaken?
A. After 30 days
B. After 6 months
C. After 1 year
D. The next day
Answer: A. After 30 days
Rationale: SCDES allows an applicant who does not pass to
retake the exam after a 30-day waiting period.
5. How often must an onsite wastewater installer license be
renewed in South Carolina?
A. Every 5 years
B. Every year
C. Every 10 years
D. Only once at issuance
Answer: B. Every year
Rationale: Licenses to install or clean septic systems must be
renewed annually.
,6. Where do applicants arrange testing before submitting the
license application?
A. The Secretary of State's office
B. The county courthouse
C. The local SCDES office
D. A local hardware store
Answer: C. The local SCDES office
Rationale: Applicants contact their local SCDES office to
schedule the exam before applying through the online
ePermitting system.
7. How many tiers of onsite wastewater installer licenses
exist under Regulation 61-56?
A. Three
B. One
C. Five
D. Two
Answer: A. Three
Rationale: Regulation 61-56 establishes a three-tier installer
licensing structure that varies the scope of systems an
installer may install.
8. Which installer tier may install the Standard 610
specialized onsite wastewater systems?
A. None of the tiers
B. Tier 3
C. Tier 1
D. Tier 2 only
Answer: B. Tier 3
Rationale: Tier 3 installers may install all Tier 1 and 2
systems in addition to specialized systems permitted under
Standard 610.
, 9. Which requirement applies to a Tier 3 installer applicant?
A. Residency in the county for 20 years
B. Bond and insurance coverage related to septic installation
C. A four-year engineering degree
D. Ownership of a backhoe manufacturer
Answer: B. Bond and insurance coverage related to septic
installation
Rationale: Tier 3 applicants must be bonded and insured; the
bond must be a surety bond naming SCDES as obligee.
10. How much prior active installing experience in South
Carolina is needed for a Tier 3 license with no disciplinary
action?
A. Three years
B. One year
C. Ten years
D. Six months
Answer: A. Three years
Rationale: A Tier 3 applicant must have been actively
installing in South Carolina for three years with no pending or
prior disciplinary or enforcement action.
