How to get a Resident producer license in South Carolina

South Carolina insurance agent licenses

South Carolina issues 3 insurance agent credentials. Each has its own section below; the table shows what each one covers and its headline requirements.

Applies to every license level

These rules are the same for several of the South Carolina insurance agent licenses on this page, so they are shown once here, with the licenses they apply to. Each license's own section lists only what differs.

1. Every license level (all 3)

How to apply

Apply online

nipr.com²⁴

Renewal

How often

Every 2 years³⁴

Renew online

nipr.com³⁴

2. Every license level except Agency license

What it covers

A person may not sell, solicit, or negotiate insurance in South Carolina for any line unless licensed for that line of authority; lines are life, accident and health, property, casualty, variable life and variable annuity, personal lines, limited lines and other lines permitted by law.¹

Fees

Each line is a separate charge as the board lists it. The board does not publish a combined total, so none is shown here.

Renewal

When it expires

Renew every two years by the end of your birth month; born in an even year renews in even years, odd year in odd years.¹

Renewal fee

$25³

From another state

Military service members, veterans and spouses: A producer unable to renew because of active military service (or another extenuating circumstance such as long-term disability) may ask for a waiver of renewal procedures, exams, fines or sanctions. A temporary license may also go to the designee of a producer entering active service.¹

Who needs a Resident producer license

Work that does not need this license:

• Insurer officers, directors and employees who receive no commission and whose work is administrative, underwriting/claims, or technical support to licensed producers do not need a producer license.¹

Requirements for a Resident producer license

More rules for this license are shared with other levels: group 1 and group 2 under Applies to every license level.

Minimum age

18 years old¹

Exam

South Carolina insurance producer licensing examination for each line of authority applied for, given by Pearson VUE²
Given by: Pearson VUE²
When you can take it: Pass the exam before applying; exam score reports expire 12 months after issue.²
Covers the lines of authority applied for, producer duties and responsibilities, and South Carolina insurance law and regulations¹
Retakes: A candidate who fails or misses the exam must re-register and pay all fees again before being rescheduled.¹
Exam waived: No exam for lines already held in another state if currently licensed there, or if applying within 90 days after cancelling the previous home-state license.¹

Background check

Background check required¹
Fingerprints required⁵
SLED (state) and FBI (national) fingerprint checks; after you apply, SCDOI emails instructions for an IdentoGo fingerprint appointment. Fingerprints are not repeated at renewal while the license stays active.²

Residency or citizenship

Resident license is for South Carolina residents; a producer licensed elsewhere who moves here must apply within 90 days of establishing legal residence.¹

Also required

Variable life/variable annuity line: must hold the life line and pass FINRA Series 6 or 7; give a CRD number.⁶

Also required

Pre-need producers take only the life exam and submit an SC funeral director license and a letter of employment from an SC funeral home.²

Also required

Producers must be appointed by each insurer they represent (appointment fees apply).⁶

How much a Resident producer license costs

The board's pages we cite do not list the exam fee; check it with the exam provider, Pearson VUE², when you schedule.

How to apply

1. Schedule and pass the Pearson VUE exam for each line of authority you want (score reports are valid 12 months).² home.pearsonvue.com⁶
2. Apply online through NIPR and pay the $25 license fee plus NIPR's processing fee. Paper applications are accepted only in certain situations.² nipr.com²
3. Wait for the SCDOI email with fingerprint instructions, then get fingerprinted at IdentoGo for the SLED and FBI checks.⁵
4. Get appointed by each insurer you will sell for.⁶

Application form

doi.sc.gov⁷

Renewal and continuing education

Continuing education

At least 24 hours each renewal period³

Required topics

3 hours ethics³
8 hours in each line of authority held; remaining hours in any line⁸
Long-term care sellers: 8 hours LTC product training before selling, then 4 hours every two years (proof to the insurer)⁶

Approved courses

Courses must be approved by SCDOI (check the approved course list); courses from unapproved sponsors or instructors are declined. A completed course cannot be repeated for credit within two years. Up to 18 excess hours may be carried forward.⁸

Exemptions

Licensed in South Carolina 25+ years and aged 65+: exempt (online exemption application required)¹
Limited lines producers are exempt¹
Designation coursework (CLU, CFP, CPCU, CIC and others listed) can count toward the 24 hours¹

Late renewal

Late renewal fee: $50⁹ (reinstatement within 6 months after the CE compliance deadline)

If it expires

Missing the CE deadline puts the license in expired status the next day; you have six months to finish hours and pay the $50 fee. After six months the license and appointments cancel and you must re-test, re-fingerprint and re-apply.⁹

Moving to South Carolina with a license from another state

These are the routes SCDOI publishes for the Resident producer license. The other insurance agent licenses have their own routes in their sections below.

Non-resident producer

Requirements

Exam

Not required¹

Background check

Background check required¹
No fingerprints required³

Residency or citizenship

Must be a licensed resident producer of another (home) state.⁶

How to apply

1. Hold an active resident producer license in your home state.⁶
2. Apply on NIPR and pay the $25 license fee plus NIPR's processing fee.⁶ nipr.com²
3. Get appointed by each insurer you will represent.⁶

Renewal

If it expires

Missing the birth-month deadline makes the non-resident license lapse; no insurance business may be done while lapsed.³

From another state

More rules for this license are shared with other levels: group 1 and group 2 under Applies to every license level.

Agency license

An agency (business entity) acting as an insurance producer needs an agency license and must designate a licensed producer responsible for compliance. A sole proprietorship run under one producer's own name with no other owners does not need one.¹

Requirements

Business requirements

Designate a licensed producer (DRLP) responsible for compliance¹

Business requirements

Have at least one SC licensed and appointed producer assigned to the agency⁴

Business requirements

Foreign corporations and other entities must register with the SC Secretary of State⁴

Business requirements

One license per agency; branch offices need separate licenses only if they have a different FEIN⁴

Fees

How to apply

1. Make sure at least one SC-licensed producer will be assigned to the agency (and register foreign entities with the SC Secretary of State).⁴
2. Apply online on NIPR and pay the $40 fee. Non-SC agencies whose license cannot be verified on SPLD must send home-state certification.⁴ nipr.com⁴

Renewal

When it expires

Renew in January of even-numbered years on NIPR.⁴

Renewal fee

$40¹

If it expires

An agency keeps its license only while it pays the license fee and has at least one licensed and appointed producer assigned; business transacted with a lapsed or canceled license is unauthorized.⁴

From another state

More rules for this license are shared with other levels: group 1 under Applies to every license level.

Check a license or report a problem

Before you hire an insurance agent in South Carolina, you can confirm the license is current on the board's own search.

Look up a license

sbs.naic.org⁶

File a complaint

sbs.naic.org²

Laws and rules

The requirements above come from these laws and board rules.

• S.C. Code Ann. Title 38, Chapter 43 (Agents, Brokers, Consultants, and Adjusters), incl. §§ 38-43-20, -70, -75, -80, -100, -101, -102, -106, -110

Common questions

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