South Carolina Licensing Requirements and Education
South Carolina sets staged pre-license and post-license education plus examination and continuing-education requirements. This chapter summarizes the path to and maintenance of a South Carolina license.
Pre-License Education and Exam
An applicant must complete the 60-hour Unit I pre-license course before taking the South Carolina salesperson examination (S.C. Code Ann. § 40-57-320(A)(1)(a), as rewritten by 2024 Act No. 204; checked 2026-09-09). The candidate must pass the exam, which covers national and South Carolina-specific content, and meet eligibility requirements before licensure.
Post-License Education
After becoming licensed, a South Carolina salesperson must complete the 30-hour Unit II advanced course, which is PRE-LICENSURE and not post-licensing: S.C. Code § 40-57-320(A)(1) requires the 30 hours within five years BEFORE the application, though the examination may be sat first. South Carolina has no post-licensing education requirement (checked 2026-09-09). Together with Unit I, this brings the education total to 90 hours. The post-license requirement ensures new licensees build practical knowledge early in their careers.
Affiliation, Continuing Education, and Renewal
A new salesperson must be affiliated with a broker-in-charge for the license to be active. Licenses renew on a set cycle, and licensees must complete Commission-approved continuing education, including any required core topics, before renewing. Allowing a license to lapse can require reinstatement steps before practice resumes.
State-specific details
State exam facts
- State regulator
- South Carolina Real Estate Commission (LLR)
- Exam vendor
- PSI
- Prelicensing education
- 90 hours (60-hour Unit I + 30-hour Unit II Advanced Principles)
How many prelicensing hours does South Carolina require to become a real estate agent?
South Carolina requires 90 hours: a 60-hour Unit I salesperson course (required before the exam) plus a 30-hour Unit II Advanced Real Estate Principles course (required before license application).
Who licenses real estate agents in South Carolina?
The South Carolina Real Estate Commission, within the Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation (LLR), licenses salespersons and brokers. The Commission uses PSI to deliver the exam.
How is the South Carolina salesperson exam structured?
The South Carolina salesperson exam is delivered by PSI with a national portion and a South Carolina state portion, scored separately; you must pass both. Confirm the current scored-question counts in the PSI Candidate Information Bulletin.
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