South Carolina Real Estate License Requirements

Step 1: Complete the 90-Hour SC Real Estate Salesperson Pre-License Courses

The 90-hour pre-license education requirement includes two courses:
1) 60-hour South Carolina Unit I Sales Course
2) 30-hour South Carolina Unit II: Advanced Real Estate Principles Course

Each course includes a final exam, which consists of 100 multiple-choice questions with a passing grade of 70%.

You will receive your Certificate of Completion for each course as soon as you pass each final exam.

It is important to note that you will be eligible to state the state exam after completing the 60-hour Unit I course.
The Commission only requires you to complete the 30-hour Unit II course prior to submitting your license application.

Step 2: Submit an Exam Application For Real Estate and Schedule Your State Exam

Once you complete the 60-hour South Carolina Unit I Sales course, you can then apply to take the state exam.

First, you must submit an Exam Application For Real Estate, either online or via mail.
The cost of the Exam Application For Real Estate is $25 (in the form of an Examination administration fee) and paid to the South Carolina Real Estate Commission.

As part of the application, you must submit the following supporting documents:

• A copy of your driver's license, state ID, or passport.
• A copy of your social security card.
• A notarized Verification of Lawful Presence form.
• A copy of your Certificate of Completion for the 60-hour South Carolina Unit I Sales course.
• A Criminal History Explanation Form, if applicable.

Once the South Carolina Real Estate Commission approves your exam application, they will email you an Examination Eligibility Letter, which will allow you to schedule your state exam.
Your Examination Eligibility Letter is valid for up to 1 year.If you do not pass the exam within 1 year, you must submit a new exam application to the Commission and receive a new Examination Eligibility Letter before you take the exam again.

The South Carolina real estate salespersons state exam must be taken through PSI.

You can schedule your exam online through PSI’s website, or by phone at (800)733-9267.

PSI offers the exam Monday through Saturday in Beaufort, Charleston, Columbia, Greenville, Myrtle Beach, and Charlotte, N.C.

The cost of the state exam is $63 per attempt and paid directly to PSI.

Students must pass the state exam within 5 years of completing the 60-hour Unit I Sales course.

Step 3: Pass the State Licensing Exam

The South Carolina state licensing exam is divided into a National portion and a State portion.

The National portion includes 80 multiple-choice questions, while the State portion includes 40 multiple-choice questions.

You must answer 56 out of the 80 questions (70%) correctly on the National portion and 28 out of the 40 questions (70%) correctly on the State portion in order to pass.

You must pass both portions of the exam in order to pass the overall exam.
If you do not pass one of the portions, you can retake only that portion for $55.

You are allowed 120 minutes for the National portion and 80 minutes for the State portion.

You will receive your exam results at the testing center right after you complete the exam.

Step 4: Get Your Fingerprints Taken

All applicants must get their fingerprints taken before their license application can be approved.

Your fingerprints will be used to conduct a background check by the State Law Enforcement Division (SLED) and the FBI.

The cost of the fingerprints varies per location, but the fee must be paid by the applicant.

Instructions on how to obtain your fingerprints will be emailed to you by the SC Real Estate Commission after your Exam Application For Real Estate application is received.

Step 5: Apply for Your South Carolina Real Estate Salespersons License

After passing the state exam, you will receive an Initial Salesperson license application from PSI.
You must submit your license application, along with the $50 license application fee, and a copy of your state exam score report.

You must also provide a copy of your Certificate of Completion for the 30-hour South Carolina Unit II: Advanced Real Estate Principles course.

Once your application is approved by the South Carolina Real Estate Commission, your license will be mailed to your managing broker, which will allow you to start practicing as a South Carolina real estate salesperson!