South Carolina Septic Tank Contractor
Licensing Exam 2026/2027 Actual Exam
Format Questions & Answers with
Rationales 100% Verified – Graded A+
Q01 According to South Carolina law, what is the minimum required separation distance
between a septic tank and a private water well?
Answer: 100 feet
Rationale: S.C. Code Ann. Regs. 61-56 § 801.1 requires a minimum horizontal separation of
100 feet between a septic tank (or drain field) and any private water supply well.
Q02 What is the minimum vertical separation distance required between the bottom of the
absorption trench and a seasonal high water table in conventional septic systems?
Answer: 12 inches
Rationale: Regulation 61-56 § 802.4 states that there must be at least 12 inches of naturally
occurring soil between the bottom of the trench and the seasonal high water table for
conventional systems.
Q03 A septic tank contractor installs a septic tank with a liquid capacity of 1,000 gallons.
According to SCDHEC, what is the minimum required liquid capacity for a 4-bedroom house?
Answer: 1,000 gallons
Rationale: Table 1 in Regulation 61-56 requires a minimum septic tank capacity of 1,000
gallons for a 4-bedroom residence (or up to 5 equivalent dwelling units).
Q04 Which of the following materials is NOT approved for use as a septic tank lid?
, Answer: Wood
Rationale: Regulation 61-56 § 301.3 requires septic tank lids to be made of concrete, fiberglass,
or other approved non-corrosive material. Wood is not permitted.
Q05 What is the maximum slope allowed for a conventional absorption trench system in South
Carolina?
Answer: 15 percent
Rationale: SCDHEC Regulation 61-56 § 802.2 limits the slope of conventional trenches to 15%
(approximately 8.5 degrees) to prevent uneven effluent distribution.
Q06 When performing a percolation test, how many test holes must be dug per proposed drain
field area?
Answer: At least three
Rationale: Section 501.2 of Regulation 61-56 requires a minimum of three percolation test holes
per proposed drain field site.
Q07 What is the minimum horizontal separation distance required between a septic tank and the
property line?
Answer: 10 feet
Rationale: Regulation 61-56 § 801.1 mandates a minimum of 10 feet between any part of the
septic system (tank or drain field) and the property line.
Q08 Which type of soil has the highest loading rate (best permeability) for conventional septic
drain fields?
Answer: Sandy loam
Rationale: According to Table 3 in Regulation 61-56, sandy loam soils allow the highest
effluent loading rate (up to 0.8–1.2 gal/ft²/day) because of good permeability.
Licensing Exam 2026/2027 Actual Exam
Format Questions & Answers with
Rationales 100% Verified – Graded A+
Q01 According to South Carolina law, what is the minimum required separation distance
between a septic tank and a private water well?
Answer: 100 feet
Rationale: S.C. Code Ann. Regs. 61-56 § 801.1 requires a minimum horizontal separation of
100 feet between a septic tank (or drain field) and any private water supply well.
Q02 What is the minimum vertical separation distance required between the bottom of the
absorption trench and a seasonal high water table in conventional septic systems?
Answer: 12 inches
Rationale: Regulation 61-56 § 802.4 states that there must be at least 12 inches of naturally
occurring soil between the bottom of the trench and the seasonal high water table for
conventional systems.
Q03 A septic tank contractor installs a septic tank with a liquid capacity of 1,000 gallons.
According to SCDHEC, what is the minimum required liquid capacity for a 4-bedroom house?
Answer: 1,000 gallons
Rationale: Table 1 in Regulation 61-56 requires a minimum septic tank capacity of 1,000
gallons for a 4-bedroom residence (or up to 5 equivalent dwelling units).
Q04 Which of the following materials is NOT approved for use as a septic tank lid?
, Answer: Wood
Rationale: Regulation 61-56 § 301.3 requires septic tank lids to be made of concrete, fiberglass,
or other approved non-corrosive material. Wood is not permitted.
Q05 What is the maximum slope allowed for a conventional absorption trench system in South
Carolina?
Answer: 15 percent
Rationale: SCDHEC Regulation 61-56 § 802.2 limits the slope of conventional trenches to 15%
(approximately 8.5 degrees) to prevent uneven effluent distribution.
Q06 When performing a percolation test, how many test holes must be dug per proposed drain
field area?
Answer: At least three
Rationale: Section 501.2 of Regulation 61-56 requires a minimum of three percolation test holes
per proposed drain field site.
Q07 What is the minimum horizontal separation distance required between a septic tank and the
property line?
Answer: 10 feet
Rationale: Regulation 61-56 § 801.1 mandates a minimum of 10 feet between any part of the
septic system (tank or drain field) and the property line.
Q08 Which type of soil has the highest loading rate (best permeability) for conventional septic
drain fields?
Answer: Sandy loam
Rationale: According to Table 3 in Regulation 61-56, sandy loam soils allow the highest
effluent loading rate (up to 0.8–1.2 gal/ft²/day) because of good permeability.
