Real estate license requirements in South Carolina
South Carolina’s current exam terminology calls the entry-level license a “Real Estate Associate,” even though the underlying state code chapter is still titled around “Salesmen” — and a couple of this state’s fee figures simply weren’t confirmable from a primary source this session.
Education
South Carolina requires 90 total hours of pre-licensing education, split into two units, before you’re eligible to sit for the exam. Applicants who hold a law degree or a bachelor’s degree in real estate are exempt from the pre-license coursework.
| Course | Hours |
|---|---|
| Unit I — Fundamentals | 60 |
| Unit II — Advanced Principles | 30 |
| Total | 90 |
This 90-hour figure comes with moderate confidence — the South Carolina Labor, Licensing and Regulation (LLR) site was unreachable during this research pass, so it’s corroborated from secondary sources rather than a direct LLR read.
What South Carolina calls your first license
This one has a genuine naming quirk. The current PSI/South Carolina Real Estate Commission (SCREC) candidate bulletin uses “Real Estate Associate” as the license title — that’s the term you’ll see on your exam paperwork and should use going forward. But the underlying law, South Carolina Code Title 40, Chapter 57, is still titled around “Salesmen” — the statute’s chapter heading hasn’t caught up with the modernized exam terminology. If you see “salesman” or “salesperson” referenced in older South Carolina material, it’s the same license as today’s “Real Estate Associate.”
The licensing exam
South Carolina contracts with PSI. The Real Estate Associate exam has an 80-question national portion (120 minutes) and a 40-question state portion (80 minutes), for 120 questions and 200 minutes total — this structure is confirmed directly against the PSI/SCREC candidate bulletin. We could not confirm the passing score from the bulletin pages we could read; some secondary sources cite 70% per section, but treat that as unverified. The commonly-cited $63 exam fee is also secondary-sourced only — we weren’t able to locate it in the bulletin pages available this session.
| Portion | Items | Time |
|---|---|---|
| National | 80 questions | 120 min |
| South Carolina state law | 40 questions | 80 min |
| Total sitting | 120 questions | 200 min |
South Carolina's application fee and exam fee couldn't be confirmed from a primary source this session, and the LLR site was unreachable throughout our research. Before you commit to a course schedule or exam date, call or check with SCREC for current, exact figures rather than relying on any single number you find online.
Fees
| Fee | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Application/license fee | Not confirmed | No dollar figure found from LLR this session — contact SCREC directly |
| Exam fee | ~$63 | PSI — secondary-sourced only, not found in the bulletin pages read |
| Background check | ~$80 | SLED + FBI fingerprint check via IdentoGO — one industry source, not confirmed via .gov |
We’re being direct about the gaps here: South Carolina’s application/license fee remains unresolved across multiple research passes, and llr.sc.gov was completely unreachable during this session. Don’t budget off any single figure you find online — confirm current fees with SCREC before you pay. (SLED’s separate CATCH public-records lookup, around $25 plus a $1 convenience fee, is a different, unrelated service — don’t confuse it with your licensing background check.)
How to apply, step by step
The core sequence is standard, though we recommend confirming fees with SCREC before each paid step.
Unless you qualify for the law-degree or real-estate-major exemption.
Several South Carolina fee figures aren't independently confirmed — verify before you commit to paying.
National (80 questions/120 min) and state (40 questions/80 min) portions.
Via IdentoGO.
Along with the required fee.
To activate your Real Estate Associate license.
After you’re licensed: staying current
South Carolina requires 30 hours of postlicensing instruction in advanced real estate principles and practices within one year of initial licensure, under South Carolina Code §40-57-100(A)(1). This citation comes from search-synthesis rather than a direct statute read this session, so confirm the exact requirement and any deadlines with SCREC.
Reciprocity
South Carolina has had full reciprocity with Georgia since 1991 — no exam or education required if you hold an active Georgia license. The arrangement with North Carolina was revised effective January 26, 2024: North Carolina agents now need only pass the South Carolina state exam portion, rather than completing South Carolina’s full education requirement.
Common questions
Is South Carolina's license called “Associate” or “Salesman”?
Both terms describe the same license. “Real Estate Associate” is the current term used in the PSI/SCREC exam bulletin and is the one to use going forward. The underlying statute, South Carolina Code Title 40, Chapter 57, is still titled around “Salesmen” — that’s a naming lag in the law, not a different license.
How much does it cost to get licensed in South Carolina?
We can’t give you a confirmed total. The application/license fee wasn’t found from a primary LLR source this session, and the ~$63 exam fee and ~$80 background-check figure are both secondary-sourced. Contact SCREC directly for current numbers before you budget.
Am I exempt from the 90-hour pre-licensing course?
If you hold a law degree or a bachelor’s degree in real estate, South Carolina exempts you from the pre-license coursework — confirm your specific eligibility with SCREC.
Does a Georgia or North Carolina license help me in South Carolina?
Georgia licensees get full reciprocity — no South Carolina exam or education required. North Carolina licensees, under the agreement revised January 26, 2024, need only pass South Carolina’s state exam portion rather than repeat the full education requirement.
Why can't this page give an exact application fee?
South Carolina’s LLR website was completely unreachable throughout this research session, and no primary source with a dollar figure for the application/license fee turned up across multiple passes. Rather than publish a guessed number, we’re telling you directly: check with SCREC for the current fee.
Next step
South Carolina Real Estate Commission — https://llr.sc.gov/re/
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