"Important Note: Approximately half of the licensee population renews every year, so that means you're either on the even numbered years rotation (the one we're talking about in this post) OR you're on the odd numbered years rotation and will renew by June 30th 2027. These new courses will still be relevant for you, too."
What Changed for the 2026-2028 Cycle?
2026-2028 Game Plan for South Carolina Continuing Education:
The new South Carolina real estate continuing education cycle began July 1, 2026, and the renewal deadline is June 30, 2028. That gives you plenty of runway, but it also makes this the perfect time to plan.
Important Note: Approximately half of the licensee population renews every year, so you're either on the even numbered years rotation (the one covered in this post) OR the odd numbered rotation and will renew by June 30th 2027. These new courses will still be relevant for you, too.
Think of CE as a two-year professional marathon, not a last-minute sprint. Get familiar with the new core course now and you can avoid the April-to-June 2028 rush.
What Changed for the 2026-2028 Cycle?
For this cycle, the mandatory four-hour course is the 2026-2028 core, offered as SC Residential Core 2026-2028 or SC Commercial Core 2026-2028. The current core is titled "Highways and Byways of the SC Real Estate Commission." Choose the version that best matches your practice.
Active associates and brokers need 10 total CE hours: 4 hours of the mandatory core plus 6 hours of electives. Active Broker-in-Charge licensees need the same 10-hour total, but as the 4-hour BIC course, the 4-hour core, and 2 hours of electives.
Confirm your courses are approved for your license and this cycle. See the South Carolina Real Estate Commission CE page.
Your Deadline and Reporting Checklist
CE must be completed before you submit your renewal. The renewal window for this cycle is April through June 2028. Use this plan:
Check your license status.
Confirm whether you are active and whether your license type requires CE.
Choose the right core
for your practice, plus any electives. BICs also complete the required BIC course.
Check CE Broker.
Providers report hours within
14 days
. Activate a
and verify your hours appear.
Submit your renewal only after CE is complete.
Do not send completion certificates to the Commission office. The Commission does not accept or store them. After renewals close, it conducts a random CE audit and will contact selected licensees.
Which Licensees Need CE?
Active associates and brokers:
10 hours, including the 4-hour core.
Active BICs:
4-hour BIC course, 4-hour core, and 2 elective hours.
Property Managers, PMICs, and Timeshare Salespersons:
CE is not required.
Inactive licensees:
CE is not required until you reactivate.
Exemptions must be reported through CE Broker each cycle and are not effective until the Commission confirms them. Pathways include: full exemption (25+ years of SC licensure and age 65+); partial exemption (25+ years of licensure, still requires the 4-hour core); active-duty military (upload orders to CE Broker); Georgia residents licensed in SC (reciprocity exemption via CE Broker); and associates who complete Broker IIIA and IIIB (exempt for the renewal period in which the courses were taken).
Don't Leave Your License Exposed
If you are not renewed by June 30, 2028, your license becomes lapsed under S.C. Code 40-57-110(D), and a lapsed licensee may not practice real estate or property management. You generally have 24 months from expiration to reinstate: submit the application through the LLR Licensee Portal with proof of completed CE, then pay the renewal fee plus a $15 per month reinstatement fee. If not reinstated in 24 months, the license is canceled and you must reapply from scratch.
Renewal fees: $45 associate, $55 broker, $75 per office for a BIC. Background checks are not required this cycle. Details: the renewal and reinstatement FAQ.
Make the Hours Fit Your Life
Start now while the calendar is quiet, and choose electives that support your work instead of grabbing whatever is left in spring 2028. Real Estate School of South Carolina's CE courses are available in in-person, live virtual, and self-paced online formats, with payment options to pay in full or over time at checkout.
Founded in 1977 by Col. Charles "Charlie" Browne, we are South Carolina's oldest family-owned real estate school in continuous operation, now led by Melissa Sprouse Browne. Our instructors include attorneys, veterans, and experienced brokers who bring practical perspectives to every format.
The cycle has just begun. Set your plan now, complete your hours on your schedule, and make the 2028 renewal a straightforward finish, not a springtime scramble.
We know real estate. Let us teach you.
