Article Summary: This article will help anyone looking for information pertaining to a real estate license in the state of South Carolina or anyone looking to become a real estate agent or realtor in South Carolina. Contents of this article may include information on real estate education, schools, training courses, continuing education, tests and exams, laws, license requirements, renewal information, forms and more..

The South Carolina Real Estate Commission, under the South Carolina Department of Labor Licensing & Regulation, handles all aspects of the real estate licensing within the state.  Their main office is in Columbia.

The requirements for a real estate salesperson license in South Carolina include being at least 18 years of age and having a high school diploma or equivalent. Applicants need to successfully complete at least 60-hours of approved real estate courses in real estate fundamentals. The applicant needs to pass the real estate exams and then apply for a provisional salesperson license within one year. A provisional salesperson needs to be sponsored by a broker-in-charge, and during the first year of licensure must complete an additional 30-hours of approved post-licensing courses.

The requirements for a real estate broker license in South Carolina include being at least 21 years of age and having a high school diploma or equivalent. Broker applicants need to successfully complete 150 hours of approved real estate courses, 90 hours of which may be the hours required for a salesman's license.  Broker applicants must have at least three years of active licensed experience within the past five years preceding application. The education courses may be waived if the applicant has a bachelor's degree with a major in real estate, or a law degree. After passing the real estate examinations, the applicant must apply for the broker license within one year.

Examinations are scheduled every Monday through Saturday in Beaufort, Charleston, Columbia, Greenville, Myrtle Beach, S.C., and in Charlotte, NC.  PSI is the examination provider.  The examination fee is $63.00.

Applicants for either the broker or salesperson license pay a $25.00 processing fee, plus $10.00 for a credit report. After passing the examination, the salesperson applicants pay a $25.00 license fee, and also pay $25.00 to upgrade from provisional status. After passing the exams, the broker applicant pays $250.00 for a two-year broker-in-charge license, or $125.00 for a two-year broker license.

When licenses are not renewed on time there is a $10 reinstatement fee, plus the licensee must successfully complete 8 hours of approved continuing education courses in order to activate the license.  The licensee must also take an addition 8 hours of continuing education courses before the next renewal date.

Real Estate Licensees are required to obtain eight hours of continuing education every two years. The eight hours shall include a minimum of two hours of instruction in current federal and state laws affecting brokers and salesmen (core courses).

South Carolina has reciprocity agreements with three states: North Carolina, Georgia and West Virginia. All licensed agents not from these states still need to meet the age, education, and experience requirements of South Carolina. However, they might be exempt from the general portion of the license exams.

You can locate the real estate forms and applications online.

Real estate careers are strengthened by membership in the many organizations that provide services for the professional agent. Those holding a real estate license usually join organizations like the South Carolina Association of Realtors, the National Association of Real Estate Brokers (NAREB), and the Association of Real Estate License Law Officials (ARELLO). The National Association of Realtors (NAR), the world's largest professional association, assists many in locating real estate jobs within the industry. These organizations are also excellent resources of real estate education and legislation proceedings.