South Carolina Real Estate License Requirements

Get your South Carolina real estate license with our comprehensive preparation guide. Understand licensing requirements, exam details, and necessary documentation for both sales associates and brokers.

What you need to get your real estate license in South Carolina

Salesperson:

• Be at least 18 years of age.
• You must have a high school diploma.
• A broker must sponsor you.
• Proof of completion of 60 hours of pre-license education.
• Complete and submit the application online.
• You must go through a background check.
• Pass the real estate examination.
• Fees: 
  • Examination Fees:
    • One Portion: $55
    • Both Portions: $63
  • License (Initial $25 + $50 after passing the exam)

Brokers:

• Be at least 21 years of age.
• At least five years of active licensure as a South Carolina associate within the past seven years.
• Successfully complete the Commission-approved Unit III A Broker Management course and Unit III B Brokerage Principles course, totaling 60 hours of instruction.
• Complete and submit the application online.
• You must go through a background check.
• Pass the real estate examination.
• Fees: 
  • Examination Fees:
    • One Portion: $55
    • Both Portions: $63
  • License ($25 + $250 after passing the exam for a broker in charge or $125 for a broker).

What is the passing score for the South Carolina real estate license exam?

The salesperson exam consists of 80 national questions and 40 state-specific questions. To pass, the candidate must answer 56 national questions correctly and 28 state questions correctly.

The broker exam comprises 75 national questions and 35 state-specific questions. A candidate must answer 60 national questions and 25 state questions correctly to pass.

You will receive your score immediately after you complete your exam.

What is the time limit for the South Carolina real estate exam?

For the salesperson and broker exam, you are allowed a total of 180 minutes.

What to bring for the state of South Carolina real estate license exam?

• One form of a valid (non-expired) signature bearing identification to the test site.
  • Required Identification (with photo) may be:
    • State issued driver’s license.
    • State issued identification card.
    • US Government Issued Passport.
    • US Government Issued Military Identification Card.
    • US Government Issued Alien Registration Card.
    • Canadian Government Issued ID.
• A basic (non-scientific) calculator is also permitted.

What is the format of the exam?

The exam is administered on a computer and consists of multiple-choice questions.

What is the exam content?

The national portion of the salesperson and broker real estate exams contains the following topics:

• Property Ownership.
• Land Use Controls.
• Property Disclosures.
• Valuation.
• Financing.
• Contracts.
• Agency.
• Transfer of Title.
• Property Management.
• Practice of Real Estate.
• Real Estate Calculations.

The state portion of the salesperson and broker real estate exams contains the following topics

• South Carolina Real Estate Commission and Licensing Obligations.
• Legislation Regulating Licensee Activities.
• Agency and Non-agency Relationships and Related Issues in South Carolina.
• Other South Carolina Statutes and Topics.
• Closing Information.

Sources

• South Carolina Real Estate Commission Information Bulletin
• PSI Examination Online 
• South Carolina Real Estate Commission