Within one year of passing your exam, you need to line up sponsorship from a broker-in-charge (BIC) and submit your license application — along with your Unit II certificate, which isn't required before the exam, only before this final application.

Only after the Commission confirms it has received your exam application — don't start it before then. South Carolina actually requires three separate checks: a state fingerprint check through SLED, a national fingerprint check through the FBI, and a Social Security number-based check. Most candidates clear in 2–4 weeks.

Not through a fixed list of reciprocal states — South Carolina evaluates every out-of-state application individually. You'll generally need to be in good standing in your home state and still pass the South Carolina-specific portion of the exam.

This is the quirk that trips people up most: the 60-hour Unit I course is all you need to become eligible for the exam, but the 30-hour Unit II course has to be completed before you submit your actual license application. You can take Unit II anytime before then — including while you're waiting on exam results.

You don't need one to take the exam, but you do need one to submit your license application — a broker-in-charge (BIC) has to sponsor you within a year of passing, or you'll need to reapply for exam eligibility.

70% on each portion, passed separately: at least 56 of 80 questions on the national section and 21 of 30 on the South Carolina-specific section.

Total costs typically run $500–$1,000, covering your 90-hour education (both units), the $63 PSI exam fee, and background check fees across all three required checks.