The difference nobody else is telling you about

Tier 3 in South Carolina. Certified in Georgia.

South Carolina licenses septic installers in three tiers, and the differences are written into regulation, not marketing copy. Here is what ours means for your job.

Tier 3

Highest SC installer tier

Georgia

Certified installer

Bonded

Required at every renewal

Since 2009

16+ years

The short answer

South Carolina Regulation 61-56 tiers onsite wastewater installer licenses by scope. Tier 1 covers gravity systems only and cannot repair an existing system at all. Tier 2 adds pumps, grease traps, commercial and mounded systems. Tier 3 adds specialized Standard 610 engineered designs, requires three years of clean installation history plus proof of insurance and bond at every renewal, and permits the installer to self-inspect their own work. Carolina Septic holds Tier 3 in South Carolina and is certified in Georgia.

What each tier is legally allowed to do

	Tier 1	Tier 2	Tier 3
Conventional gravity systems	Yes	Yes	Yes
Repair an existing system	No	Yes	Yes
Pump systems and grease traps	No	Yes	Yes
Commercial and community systems	No	Yes	Yes
Mounded and elevated systems	No	Yes	Yes
Standard 610 engineered designs	No	No	Yes
Self-inspect own installation	Needs Department approval	Needs Department approval	Permitted
Insurance and bond required at renewal	Not at this tier	Not at this tier	Both, every cycle

Source: South Carolina Regulation 61-56. If you are getting quotes, it is worth asking every contractor which tier they hold, because it determines what they can legally build on your property.

Our licenses

South Carolina Tier 3 Installer

License No. 19-366-19001
Licensed to construct onsite wastewater systems by the South Carolina Department of Environmental Services under Regulation 61-56. Current through March 31, 2027.

South Carolina Septic Tank Cleaning

License No. 19-368-19003
Licensed by the South Carolina Department of Environmental Services to pump and clean septic systems and other sewage holding systems. Current through March 31, 2027.

Georgia Certified Installer

Certification No. 18876
Certified onsite sewage installer, Georgia Department of Public Health, Environmental Health Section. Current through February 28, 2028.

Why this matters more than it sounds

A rejected lot is not a dead lot

If your soil evaluation fails, the property needs an engineered design. In South Carolina, only a Tier 3 installer may legally install one. Hiring the wrong tier means starting over.

A Tier 1 contractor cannot repair your system

If you have an existing system and it needs work, a Tier 1 license does not cover it. That is regulation, not opinion.

Tier 3 is earned, not bought

It requires three years of documented clean installation history. It is not a form you fill in.

Self-inspection saves a week

On the South Carolina side, Tier 3 installers may inspect their own installations. On a build schedule that is real time saved.

Both states is rarer than it sounds

Very few CSRA operators are properly licensed in South Carolina and certified in Georgia. If your property or your project touches both, that matters.

Bonded and insured, verified annually

Not a slogan on a truck. It is a condition of holding the license.

Credential questions

What does Tier 3 certification actually mean?

It is the highest onsite wastewater installer tier in South Carolina. It permits everything the lower tiers do, plus specialized Standard 610 engineered system designs, and it allows the installer to self-inspect their own installations. It requires three years of clean installation history and proof of both insurance and bond at every renewal.

Can I verify a contractor license tier?

Yes, and you should. SCDES maintains records of licensed onsite wastewater professionals in South Carolina. Ask any contractor for their number and check it.

Does Georgia have the same tier system?

No. Georgia certifies installers without South Carolina three tier scope structure. That is one reason a contractor legally able to do a job on the Georgia side may not be able to do the equivalent job in South Carolina.

Are you insured and bonded?

Yes. Both are required to hold and renew a Tier 3 license in South Carolina, and they are verified at every renewal cycle.

How long have you been in business?

Since 2009. Sixteen-plus years working the CSRA, both sides of the river.

Why does a contractor need to be licensed in both states here?

Because the CSRA straddles the Savannah River. North Augusta and Aiken are South Carolina, Augusta, Evans, Martinez and Grovetown are Georgia, and the permitting, inspection and design rules differ in almost every respect.