Most contractors say 'licensed and insured' and leave it there. Here's the specific detail, because in this trade the licence class determines what's legal.
Carolina Septic holds Tier 3 installer certification in both South Carolina and Georgia. In South Carolina, Tier 3 is the highest of three classes and the only one permitted to install Standard 610 engineered systems. It requires three years of clean installation history plus proof of both insurance and bond at every renewal. We also hold pumper licensing, which is a separate requirement from installer licensing.
South Carolina Regulation 61-56 tiers septic installer licences. This isn't a badge, it's a legal scope of work.
| Tier | What they may legally do |
|---|---|
| Tier 1 | All gravity-fed residential onsite wastewater systems. Cannot repair existing systems. |
| Tier 2 | Tier 1 scope plus systems with pumps, grease traps, curtain drains, elevated infiltration, mounded systems, and all commercial, large and community systems. May repair existing systems. Cannot work on Standard 610 designs. |
| Tier 3 What we hold | Tier 1 and Tier 2 scope plus specialized Standard 610 engineered designs. May repair existing systems. May self-inspect its own installations. |
When the tiers were introduced on 1 July 2022, licensed master contractors became Tier 3 and licensed non-master installers became Tier 2.
A common misunderstanding: an installer licence does not permit you to pump. South Carolina requires a separate licence to clean onsite wastewater systems, self-contained toilets and other sewage holding systems, and to haul and dispose of septage. It involves its own competency examination, and applications must list approved disposal facilities and vehicle storage locations. SCDES may inspect all pumping and transport equipment.
A full-service South Carolina septic company therefore holds two SCDES licences. We do.
Georgia works differently again. It certifies both the company and the individual contractor, and out-of-state certifications are not recognised. Individual contractors must be employed by a certified company in good standing and pass an exam. Continuing education runs eight CEUs per renewal period for installers and six for pumpers. Company certifications expire on 28 February of even-numbered years on a two-year cycle. Pumping companies must additionally hold a current County Septage Removal Permit.
Not just us. If you're getting bids, these five questions separate the serious from the rest.
If they're vague, that's your answer. Tier 1 cannot legally repair an existing system.
Installing and pumping are different licences. Some companies hold one and subcontract the other without telling you.
A South Carolina licence is worth nothing across the river. Georgia does not recognise it.
Tier 3 requires both continuously. Any contractor should be able to produce these without hesitation.
In Georgia the county inspects before backfill, always. In South Carolina, Tier 3 may self-inspect. If a contractor is vague about this step, ask harder.
Tell us about the property and what it's doing. We'll come look, tell you straight what it needs, and give you a number you can plan around.