How to get an Associate license in South Carolina

South Carolina licenses real estate agents statewide through the South Carolina Real Estate Commission.¹ For the Associate license you need at least 60 clock hours¹ of education, a passing score on the South Carolina associate examination (state and national portions)¹ and a criminal background check¹. The board lists $25 for the application¹. You renew every 2 years¹ and complete at least 10 hours of continuing education¹.

Last checked November 6, 2026 · 3 official sources

Who issues it

South Carolina Real Estate Commission

Training and experience

Training: at least 60 clock hours¹

Exam

South Carolina associate examination (state and national portions)¹

Fees the board lists

Application fee: $25¹

Renewal

Every 2 years¹, at least 10 hours of continuing education¹

From another state

Reciprocity agreements and Exam waiver¹ Details

On this page

South Carolina real estate agent licenses
Applies to every license level
Who needs an Associate license
Requirements for an Associate license
Renewal and continuing education
Moving to South Carolina with a license from another state
Broker
Broker-in-Charge
Property Manager
Property Manager-in-Charge
Laws and rules
Rule changes since January 2024
Common questions
Real estate agent licenses in other states

South Carolina real estate agent licenses

South Carolina issues 5 real estate agent credentials. Each has its own section below; the table shows what each one covers and its headline requirements.

License	What it covers	Training or experience	Exam	Application or license fee
Associate	A supervised licensee who has passed the associate exam and does broker activities for compensation under a broker-in-charge¹	Training 60 clock hours¹	Yes¹	$25¹
Broker	A supervised licensee who met broker education and experience and passed the broker exam; must work under a broker-in-charge¹	Training 60 clock hours¹ Prior licensure 5 years¹	Yes¹	$25¹
Broker-in-Charge	The sole broker designated to manage a brokerage firm and supervise all its licensees¹	Training 60 clock hours¹ Prior licensure 5 years¹	Yes¹	$25¹
Property Manager	Property management for others under a property manager-in-charge or broker-in-charge (PMIC: designated manager of a property management office)¹	Training 30 clock hours¹	Yes¹	$25¹
Property Manager-in-Charge	Property management for others under a property manager-in-charge or broker-in-charge (PMIC: designated manager of a property management office)¹	Training 7 clock hours¹	–	$250²

Applies to every license level

These rules are the same for several of the South Carolina real estate 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 5)

Requirements

High school diploma or GED: Required¹
Also required: Must give a physical contact address and keep residential, mailing, email and phone details current (update within 30 days)¹

How to apply

Finish the Commission-approved pre-licensing education for this license (or qualify through a listed degree).¹
Apply to take the exam on the Commission form and pay the $25 application and $10 credit report fees; the exam fee itself is paid to the test provider.¹
Complete the SLED and FBI fingerprint checks and the SSN-based criminal records check.¹
Apply for the license within one year of passing, with the license fee, under a licensed broker-in-charge or property manager-in-charge where required.¹

Renewal

How often: Every 2 years¹²
Approved courses: Commission-approved courses from approved providers and instructors; distance learning allowed if the provider holds ARELLO/IDECC or other approved certification¹
Late renewal: Late renewal fee: $25² (per month, July 1 through December 31)

From another state

Route: Reciprocity agreements
What the board says: South Carolina recognizes active out-of-state licensees only from jurisdictions that recognize SC licenses and have a reciprocity agreement with the Commission; agreements may waive education, experience or exams.¹
States on South Carolina's list: The pages cited here give no list of partner states for this route; the board's words above say who qualifies. Ask the board which states it has agreements with.
Conditions: Nonresidents need not keep an SC office if they keep an active office in their home state, and must file an irrevocable consent to suit¹
Fee: $10²

2. Every license level except Property Manager-in-Charge

Fees

Fee	Amount	Paid to	Notes
Application fee	$25¹	South Carolina Real Estate Commission	Not refundable
Examination Process 2. Credit Report	$10²	South Carolina Real Estate Commission	Exam applicants

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

The board's pages we cite do not list the exam fee.

3. Every license level except Property Manager and Property Manager-in-Charge

Requirements

Background check: Background check required¹
Fingerprints required¹
SLED + FBI fingerprint checks and an SSN-based check; costs paid by the applicant. A denied applicant may not reapply for 24 months unless the denial is overturned on appeal.¹

How to apply

Pass the exam within the 12-month eligibility period.¹

Renewal

When it expires: Biennial; about half of licensees renew in even years and half in odd years, matching the CE deadline¹
Continuing education: At least 10 hours each renewal period¹
If it expires: Practising on an unrenewed license is a misdemeanor (fine up to $500 and/or up to six months)¹
Fingerprint background check on every third renewal; missing CE or background check means renewal only to inactive status¹

4. Every license level except Associate and Property Manager

Requirements

Minimum age: 21 years old¹

5. Associate and Broker

Requirements

Also required: Must be licensed under one broker-in-charge¹

Renewal

Required topics: At least 4 of the 10 hours in mandated topics; the core course is 4 hours on current federal and state real estate law¹
Exemptions: Associates who complete a post-licensing course or take a broker course are exempt for that renewal period¹
Inactive licensees¹
Age 65+ with 25+ years SC licensure: full CE waiver on application¹
25+ years SC licensure: partial waiver (only the 4-hour core course each cycle)¹
Nonresidents who meet their home jurisdiction CE, with Commission approval¹
Up to 4 elective hours may be carried forward¹

6. Associate and Property Manager

Requirements

Minimum age: 18 years old¹

7. Broker and Broker-in-Charge

Requirements

Education or training: At least 60 clock hours¹
Commission-approved broker courses: Unit III A Broker Management (30 hours) and Unit III B Brokerage Principles (30 hours)¹
Who may teach it: Commission-approved courses from approved providers and instructors; distance learning allowed if the provider holds ARELLO/IDECC or other approved certification¹
Alternative: JD or bachelor of law degree, or a bachelor or master degree with a real estate major¹
Prior licensure: At least 5 years¹
Active associate licensure for five years within the past seven years¹
License you must hold first: Associate license¹
Exam: South Carolina broker examination (state and national portions)¹
National portion¹
State portion¹
Retakes: Failing applicants may reapply for exam eligibility if qualifying courses were completed fewer than three years before applying¹
Exam waived: Holders of an active out-of-state real estate license (or one expired not more than six months) take only the state portion; education still required¹

From another state

Route: Exam waiver
What the board says: Anyone holding an active license in another state (or one expired six months or less) takes only the SC state portion of the exam; education rules still apply.¹

8. Property Manager and Property Manager-in-Charge

What it covers

Property management for others under a property manager-in-charge or broker-in-charge (PMIC: designated manager of a property management office)¹

Requirements

Background check: Background check required¹
Fingerprints required¹
SLED and FBI fingerprint-based checks plus an SSN-based criminal records check, for initial applicants and renewals; costs paid by the applicant¹
Also required: Background check on every third renewal; missing it means renewal only to inactive status¹

How to apply

Pass the applicable property manager exam within the eligibility period.¹

Renewal

When it expires: Biennial (Reg. 10-37 lists the property manager / property manager-in-charge license fees as biennial)²
If it expires: Practising on an unrenewed license is a misdemeanor (fine up to $500 and/or up to six months)¹

Who needs an Associate license

A supervised licensee who has passed the associate exam and does broker activities for compensation under a broker-in-charge¹

Other rules on who may do this work:

Owners selling, leasing or renting their own identical legal interest¹
Attorneys acting for a client/owner¹
Government agencies and employees; registered foresters (timber sales); court-appointed receivers and trustees¹

Requirements for an Associate license

More rules for this license are shared with other levels: group 1, group 2, group 3, group 5 and group 6 under Applies to every license level.

Education or training: At least 60 clock hours¹
Fundamentals of real estate principles and practices (classroom), within five years before applying¹
Who may teach it: Commission-approved courses from approved providers and instructors; distance learning allowed if the provider holds ARELLO/IDECC or other approved certification¹
Alternative: JD or bachelor of law degree, or a bachelor or master degree with a real estate major, or another Commission-approved course of study¹
Education or training: At least 30 clock hours¹
Advanced real estate principles (classroom); the exam may be taken before these 30 hours are done¹
Who may teach it: Commission-approved courses from approved providers and instructors; distance learning allowed if the provider holds ARELLO/IDECC or other approved certification¹
Exam: South Carolina associate examination (state and national portions)¹
National portion¹
State portion¹
Retakes: Failing applicants may reapply for exam eligibility if qualifying courses were completed fewer than three years before applying¹
Exam waived: Holders of an active out-of-state real estate license (or one expired not more than six months) take only the state portion; education still required¹

Renewal and continuing education

Renewal fee: $45² (Associate (active or inactive))

Renewal planner

Enter the expiration date printed on your South Carolina Associate license. The count is worked out on your device from today's date; nothing is sent anywhere.

Expiration date

Moving to South Carolina with a license from another state

These are the routes the South Carolina Real Estate Commission publishes for the Associate license.

Route: Exam waiver
What the board says: Anyone holding an active license in another state (or one expired six months or less) takes only the SC state portion of the exam; education rules still apply.¹
Fee: $50²

Broker

A supervised licensee who met broker education and experience and passed the broker exam; must work under a broker-in-charge¹

Fees

Fee	Amount	Paid to	Notes
Initial license fee	$125²	South Carolina Real Estate Commission	New broker license

Renewal

Renewal fee: $55² (Broker (active or inactive))

More rules for this license are shared with other levels: group 1, group 2, group 3, group 4, group 5 and group 7 under Applies to every license level.

Broker-in-Charge

The sole broker designated to manage a brokerage firm and supervise all its licensees¹

Requirements

Business requirements: Must own part of the company or be actively engaged in operating and managing it¹

Fees

Fee	Amount	Paid to	Notes
Initial license fee	$250²	South Carolina Real Estate Commission	New broker-in-charge license
Change of License Status: BIC/PMIC to Broker/Property Manager	$10²	South Carolina Real Estate Commission	Stepping down from BIC to broker

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

Renewal fee: $75² (Broker-in-charge)
Required topics: At least 4 of the 10 hours in mandated topics; the core course is 4 hours on current federal and state real estate law¹
4 hours in advanced topics for brokers-in-charge (the mandated BIC course is 4 continuous hours)³
Exemptions: Associates who complete a post-licensing course or take a broker course are exempt for that renewal period¹
Inactive licensees¹
Age 65+ with 25+ years SC licensure: full CE waiver on application¹
25+ years SC licensure: partial waiver (only the 4-hour core course each cycle)¹
Nonresidents who meet their home jurisdiction CE, with Commission approval¹
Up to 4 elective hours may be carried forward¹
BICs with a partial waiver still take the 4-hour core and the 4-hour BIC course each cycle¹

More rules for this license are shared with other levels: group 1, group 2, group 3, group 4 and group 7 under Applies to every license level.

Property Manager

Requirements

Education or training: At least 30 clock hours¹
Property management principles and practices (classroom)¹
Who may teach it: Commission-approved courses from approved providers and instructors; distance learning allowed if the provider holds ARELLO/IDECC or other approved certification¹
Alternative: JD or bachelor of law degree, or a bachelor or master degree with a real estate or housing major, or another Commission-approved course of study¹
Exam: South Carolina property manager examination¹

Fees

Fee	Amount	Paid to	Notes
Initial license fee	$125²	South Carolina Real Estate Commission	New property manager license

Renewal

Renewal fee: $55² (Property manager (active or inactive))

More rules for this license are shared with other levels: group 1, group 2, group 6 and group 8 under Applies to every license level.

Property Manager-in-Charge

Requirements

Education or training: At least 7 clock hours¹
Commission-approved property management accounting and record-keeping¹
Who may teach it: Commission-approved courses from approved providers and instructors; distance learning allowed if the provider holds ARELLO/IDECC or other approved certification¹
Experience: Must already hold an active property manager license¹
License you must hold first: Property Manager (active)¹

Fees

Fee	Amount	Paid to	Notes
Initial license fee	$250²	South Carolina Real Estate Commission	New property manager-in-charge license
Change of License Status: BIC/PMIC to Broker/Property Manager	$10²	South Carolina Real Estate Commission	Stepping down from PMIC to property manager

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

Renewal fee: $75² (Property manager-in-charge)

More rules for this license are shared with other levels: group 1, group 4 and group 8 under Applies to every license level.

Laws and rules

The requirements above come from these laws and board rules.

Rule changes since January 2024

May 8, 2025: 2025 Act No. 27 added a CE exemption for nonresidents meeting home-state CE and a renewal route for expired licensees aged 65+ with 25+ years.¹
May 21, 2024: 2024 Act No. 204 renamed the "salesperson" license "associate" and rewrote the licensing, education and renewal sections.¹

Common questions

How long does it take to get an Associate license in South Carolina?

The rules set at least 60 clock hours¹ before you can be licensed. The board does not publish how long it takes to process an application.

Can I transfer my real estate agent license to South Carolina?

The South Carolina Real Estate Commission publishes these routes for the Associate license: reciprocity agreements¹ and exam waiver¹. Conditions and forms.

How often do you renew an Associate license in South Carolina?

Every 2 years¹. Continuing education: at least 10 hours¹. The renewal fee is $45².

Real estate agent licenses in other states

Sources

Every number and rule above links to one of these official pages. Select a footnote number to read the board's own words.

S.C. Code Title 40, Chapter 57 Real Estate Brokers, Associates, and Property ManagersSouth Carolina Legislature (Legislative Services Agency), Code of Laws Title 40 Chapter 57Checked November 6, 2026
S.C. Code of Regulations Chapter 10 - LLR fee schedulesSouth Carolina LegislatureChecked November 7, 2026
S.C. Code of Regulations Chapter 105, South Carolina Real Estate CommissionSouth Carolina Legislature (Legislative Services Agency), Code of Regulations Chapter 105 (S.C. Real Estate Commission)Checked November 6, 2026