Real Estate License

How do I get my Real Estate License in South Carolina?

Licensure of real estate salesmen: To obtain a real estate sales license, you will be required to successfully complete 90 hours of training in over two courses called Unit I and Unit II, either in classroom, video streaming or online. For self-paced online courses, a proctored final exam is required before testing with PSI for the actual license.

A license candidate may sit for the state license exam given by PSI after completing the initial 60 hours of class, but may not receive a license until completing the final 30 hours of post licensing classes.

We recommend taking the 90 hours of training consecutively to minimize the time required before you can receive your sales license.

First you must complete an approved 60 hour first year sales course designed to prepare you for the licensing exam. After completing the First Year Sales Course, you would send your application to the LLR - Real Estate Commission, then complete the fingerprinting and background check. Once it's received by the Commission, they'll enter you into the the PSI system to make an appointment to take the state exam. Once you take the state exam and complete the 30 hours of Unit II and become affiliated with a company, you will be issued a real estate sales license, which is valid for two years.

A criminal background check is required for all initial applicants as well as current licensees due to renew after July 1, 2022. pursuant to SC Code Section 40-57-115. The law currently reads as follows:

SC Code 40-57-115. Criminal background checks required for initial applicants.

In addition to other requirements established by law and for the purpose of determining an applicant's eligibility for licensure as a salesman, broker, broker-in-charge, property manager, and property manager-in-charge, the commission shall require initial applicants to submit to a state criminal records check, by a source approved by the commission, and a national criminal records check. Costs of conducting a criminal records check must be borne by the applicant. The commission shall keep information received pursuant to this section confidential, except that information relied upon in denying licensure may be disclosed as necessary to support the administrative action.

Starting July 1, 2022, an additional social security number-based criminal background check is required for initial applicants and licensees due to renew. Initial applicants as well as existing licensees will be required to submit to a total of three criminal background checks: two (state and national) are fingerprint-based and one is social security number-based.

The state fingerprint-based criminal background check is conducted by the State Law Enforcement Division and the national fingerprint-based criminal records check is conducted by the FBI. INFORMATION ON OBTAINING THESE BACKGROUND CHECKS WILL BE PROVIDED TO YOU ONCE THE COMMISSION RECEIVES YOUR COMPLETED APPLICATION.

The Commission has approved SR&I to conduct the additional social security number-based criminal records check. After sending an application to the Commission, applicants can go to the SR&I website and request the social security number-based criminal records check. Upon completion of this report, it will be sent to the Commission.

YOU CANNOT TAKE YOUR LICENSE EXAMINATION UNTIL YOU HAVE COMPLETED THE BACKGROUND CHECK. YOU'LL SUBMIT YOUR CERTIFICATE OF COMPLETION FROM YOUR REAL ESTATE, BROKER OR PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CLASS WHEN YOU APPLY FOR THE LICENSE AND THE COMMISSION WILL SEND YOU THE LINK TO GET FINGERPRINTED AND YOUR BACKGROUND CHECK COMPLETED.