License guide
How to get a South Carolina real estate license
South Carolina licenses real estate professionals through the South Carolina Real Estate Commission (SC LLR). Here is the path in plain steps, checked against the official sources in October 2026.
Step by step
Meet the basics
You must be at least 18 and have a high school diploma or a recognized equivalency certificate. South Carolina runs a criminal background check.
Take 90 hours of instruction
Complete 60 hours of fundamentals of real estate principles and practices and 30 hours of advanced principles, within 5 years before you apply. You may take the exam before finishing the 30 advanced hours. A law degree or a real estate degree can qualify instead.
Pass both exam portions
Pass the state and national portions within your 12-month eligibility period. If you hold an active license in another state, you take only the state portion.
Apply within 1 year under a broker-in-charge
Apply for the license within 1 year of passing, or you retake the exam. Every active associate is licensed under a broker-in-charge.
Keeping your license
- 10 hours of CE every 2 years, including at least 4 hours on mandated topics. CE must be done before you renew.
- Providers report hours to CE Broker within 14 days; the commission audits after renewals close.
- A criminal background check is part of every third renewal.
Questions
Do I need a website on day one?
No, but a simple page with your photo, brokerage and contact info helps clients find you. Property Landing Pages has a free plan with one listing page and an agent site.
Official sources
This guide is general information, not legal advice. Rules change, so always confirm with the official source before you pay or file anything.
Agent directory and local offices
City guides
- Aiken
- Anderson
- Beaufort
- Bluffton
- Boiling Springs
- Camden
- Chapin
- Charleston
- Columbia
- Conway
- Elgin
- Florence
- Fort Mill
- Greenville
- Hartsville
- Hilton Head Island
- Irmo
- Lexington
- Mount Pleasant
- Murrells Inlet
- Myrtle Beach
- North Myrtle Beach
- Pawleys Island
- Six Mile
- Spartanburg
- Summerville
- Sumter
- Travelers Rest
- Walterboro
- West Columbia
More guides: How to get a South Dakota real estate license · How to get a Tennessee real estate license · How to get a Texas real estate license · How to get a Rhode Island real estate license · How to get a Pennsylvania real estate license · All guides
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