South Carolina Septic Tank Installer License
Exam Prep: Practice Questions, Verified
Answers, & Rationales (2026)
Which South Carolina agency administers the onsite wastewater/septic system
installer licensing program?
A. South Carolina Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation
B. South Carolina Department of Environmental Services (SCDES)
C. South Carolina Department of Transportation
D. South Carolina Department of Commerce
Answer: B. South Carolina Department of Environmental Services (SCDES)
Rationale: SCDES administers South Carolina's onsite wastewater program,
including septic installer licensing, permitting, inspections, and regulatory
requirements.
What minimum score is required to pass the South Carolina septic system installer
licensing examination?
A. 70%
B. 75%
C. 80%
D. 85%
Answer: C. 80%
Rationale: SCDES requires an examination score of 80% or better for septic
system installer licensure.
The South Carolina installer examination primarily tests an applicant's knowledge
of which regulation?
,A. Regulation 61-5
B. Regulation 61-9
C. Regulation 61-56
D. Regulation 72-1
Answer: C. Regulation 61-56
Rationale: Regulation 61-56 establishes South Carolina requirements for onsite
wastewater systems and is a key regulatory reference for installer examination
preparation.
Which installer tier can install gravity-fed and fill-cap residential systems?
A. Tier 1
B. Tier 2
C. Tier 3
D. Unlicensed installer
Answer: A. Tier 1
Rationale: Tier 1 licensing covers the applicable gravity-fed and fill-cap
residential systems within the scope established by SCDES.
Which of the following is associated with the Tier 2 installer scope?
A. Only gravity-fed residential systems
B. Systems requiring pumps and certain commercial systems
C. Only municipal wastewater plants
D. Only drinking-water systems
Answer: B. Systems requiring pumps and certain commercial systems
Rationale: Tier 2 expands the installation scope beyond Tier 1 and includes
specified systems such as pump-requiring and commercial systems.
Which installer tier includes Standard 610 Specialized Onsite Wastewater
Systems?
A. Tier 1
B. Tier 2
,C. Tier 3
D. None of the tiers
Answer: C. Tier 3
Rationale: Tier 3 is the highest installer tier and includes Standard 610
Specialized Onsite Wastewater Systems in addition to the applicable Tier 1 and
Tier 2 scope.
How many continuing education hours are required for a Tier 1 installer during the
applicable two-year period?
A. 4 hours
B. 6 hours
C. 8 hours
D. 18 hours
Answer: C. 8 hours
Rationale: SCDES requires Tier 1 installers to complete 8 hours of continuing
education during each applicable two-year period.
How many continuing education hours are required for a Tier 2 installer during the
applicable two-year period?
A. 6 hours
B. 8 hours
C. 12 hours
D. 18 hours
Answer: C. 12 hours
Rationale: Tier 2 installers must complete 12 hours of continuing education during
the applicable two-year renewal period.
How many continuing education hours are required for a Tier 3 installer during the
applicable two-year period?
A. 8 hours
B. 10 hours
, C. 12 hours
D. 18 hours
Answer: D. 18 hours
Rationale: Tier 3 installers have the highest continuing education requirement,
with 18 hours required during the applicable two-year period.
Beginning July 1, 2025, septic installer CEUs are generally required on what
schedule?
A. Every year
B. Every two years
C. Every three years
D. Only once
Answer: B. Every two years
Rationale: SCDES requires the applicable number of continuing education hours
to be completed every two years for installer renewal.
Beginning March 1, 2026, which continuing education courses are generally
accepted for South Carolina septic installers?
A. Any course advertised online
B. Courses approved through the Department, subject to applicable transition
provisions
C. Only courses taken outside South Carolina
D. No continuing education courses
Answer: B. Courses approved through the Department, subject to applicable
transition provisions
Rationale: SCDES implemented updated CEU acceptance requirements in 2026
and generally requires applicable courses to be approved through the Department.
Which organization is identified by SCDES as having approved septic-system
continuing education courses?
A. South Carolina Onsite Wastewater Association (SCOWA)
B. South Carolina Highway Patrol
Exam Prep: Practice Questions, Verified
Answers, & Rationales (2026)
Which South Carolina agency administers the onsite wastewater/septic system
installer licensing program?
A. South Carolina Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation
B. South Carolina Department of Environmental Services (SCDES)
C. South Carolina Department of Transportation
D. South Carolina Department of Commerce
Answer: B. South Carolina Department of Environmental Services (SCDES)
Rationale: SCDES administers South Carolina's onsite wastewater program,
including septic installer licensing, permitting, inspections, and regulatory
requirements.
What minimum score is required to pass the South Carolina septic system installer
licensing examination?
A. 70%
B. 75%
C. 80%
D. 85%
Answer: C. 80%
Rationale: SCDES requires an examination score of 80% or better for septic
system installer licensure.
The South Carolina installer examination primarily tests an applicant's knowledge
of which regulation?
,A. Regulation 61-5
B. Regulation 61-9
C. Regulation 61-56
D. Regulation 72-1
Answer: C. Regulation 61-56
Rationale: Regulation 61-56 establishes South Carolina requirements for onsite
wastewater systems and is a key regulatory reference for installer examination
preparation.
Which installer tier can install gravity-fed and fill-cap residential systems?
A. Tier 1
B. Tier 2
C. Tier 3
D. Unlicensed installer
Answer: A. Tier 1
Rationale: Tier 1 licensing covers the applicable gravity-fed and fill-cap
residential systems within the scope established by SCDES.
Which of the following is associated with the Tier 2 installer scope?
A. Only gravity-fed residential systems
B. Systems requiring pumps and certain commercial systems
C. Only municipal wastewater plants
D. Only drinking-water systems
Answer: B. Systems requiring pumps and certain commercial systems
Rationale: Tier 2 expands the installation scope beyond Tier 1 and includes
specified systems such as pump-requiring and commercial systems.
Which installer tier includes Standard 610 Specialized Onsite Wastewater
Systems?
A. Tier 1
B. Tier 2
,C. Tier 3
D. None of the tiers
Answer: C. Tier 3
Rationale: Tier 3 is the highest installer tier and includes Standard 610
Specialized Onsite Wastewater Systems in addition to the applicable Tier 1 and
Tier 2 scope.
How many continuing education hours are required for a Tier 1 installer during the
applicable two-year period?
A. 4 hours
B. 6 hours
C. 8 hours
D. 18 hours
Answer: C. 8 hours
Rationale: SCDES requires Tier 1 installers to complete 8 hours of continuing
education during each applicable two-year period.
How many continuing education hours are required for a Tier 2 installer during the
applicable two-year period?
A. 6 hours
B. 8 hours
C. 12 hours
D. 18 hours
Answer: C. 12 hours
Rationale: Tier 2 installers must complete 12 hours of continuing education during
the applicable two-year renewal period.
How many continuing education hours are required for a Tier 3 installer during the
applicable two-year period?
A. 8 hours
B. 10 hours
, C. 12 hours
D. 18 hours
Answer: D. 18 hours
Rationale: Tier 3 installers have the highest continuing education requirement,
with 18 hours required during the applicable two-year period.
Beginning July 1, 2025, septic installer CEUs are generally required on what
schedule?
A. Every year
B. Every two years
C. Every three years
D. Only once
Answer: B. Every two years
Rationale: SCDES requires the applicable number of continuing education hours
to be completed every two years for installer renewal.
Beginning March 1, 2026, which continuing education courses are generally
accepted for South Carolina septic installers?
A. Any course advertised online
B. Courses approved through the Department, subject to applicable transition
provisions
C. Only courses taken outside South Carolina
D. No continuing education courses
Answer: B. Courses approved through the Department, subject to applicable
transition provisions
Rationale: SCDES implemented updated CEU acceptance requirements in 2026
and generally requires applicable courses to be approved through the Department.
Which organization is identified by SCDES as having approved septic-system
continuing education courses?
A. South Carolina Onsite Wastewater Association (SCOWA)
B. South Carolina Highway Patrol
