South Carolina Real Estate License Requirements

Learn about the South Carolina education requirements for licensing and renewal.

Licensing Board/Commission: South Carolina Department of Labor, Licensing, and Regulation – South Carolina Real Estate Commission

South Carolina Real Estate Education Requirements:

  • South Carolina real estate salesperson license: 90 hours of pre-licensing education (60-hour unit I sales course and 30-hour unit II advanced real estate principles course) Note: Those with a law degree or a four-year baccalaureate degree from a higher education institution with a major in real estate do not have to take these prelicense courses.
  • South Carolina real estate broker license: 60 additional hours

Many students take advantage of exam prep tailored for their state, to give them a higher chance of passing.

South Carolina State Reciprocity:

Real estate commissions and boards across the country are adopting policies for a real estate agent in one state to more easily become licensed in another state.

South Carolina currently has reciprocal agreements with Georgia and West Virginia. Applicants from these states must:

  • Be a resident of the reciprocal state from which they are applying
  • Have taken the written exam in the reciprocal state from which they are applying
  • Maintain an active license in the reciprocal state from which they are applying
  • Upload a certification of licensure from the real estate regulatory authority where any current or previous license was held within the last five years

A nonresident broker license may not be granted to an applicant unless that applicant is affiliated with a resident or nonresident broker in charge licensed by the South Carolina real estate commission. A nonresident broker has the option of applying for a Broker in Charge designation by supplying the name of the real estate company they will operate and the location of the company. If a nonresident licensee who receives a South Carolina license by reciprocity becomes a resident, they need to notify the Real Estate Commission of a change in residency within 60 days of the change of address.

For more information on reciprocity, view our complete guide.

South Carolina Real Estate Continuing Education (CE) and License Renewal Requirements:

  • Real estate professionals in South Carolina must renew their real estate licenses every two years by June 30
  • – In order to renew as active, Salesperson and Broker licensees who are not exempt from completing South Carolina Continuing Education (CE) must have completed ten (10) hours of CE. Four (4) of these hours must include the core course, and the additional six hours may be comprised of electives.
  • – The 4-hour core course for this renewal cycle is The 3 P’s