Become a Real Estate Agent in South Carolina (2026 Guide)

Ready to get your real estate license in South Carolina?

Becoming a Realtor is an incredible opportunity for entrepreneurs, with nearly limitless growth possibilities. While the thought of going through the licensing process may feel a little daunting at first, we’re going to walk you through the entire process and help you become a real estate agent in South Carolina.


Sell charming Craftsman bungalows like this when you become a real estate agent in South Carolina!

6 Steps to Get a Real Estate License in South Carolina

The South Carolina Real Estate Commission (SCREC) requires that, in order to become a licensed real estate agent in the state of South Carolina, you must be at least 18 years old, have a high school diploma or equivalent, and be lawfully present and able to work in the US. If you meet the basic requirements, you’ll just have to complete the following steps:

01 | Complete the 90-Hour Real Estate Pre-License Course

  • There are two sections to the course, the 60-hour Salesperson Pre-Licensing course must be taken prior to sitting for the SC state real estate exam. The 30-hour Advanced Real Estate Principles course can be done after passing the state exam but must be completed before applying to be a licensed real estate agent in South Carolina.

02 | Pass the Course Real Estate Exams

  • You’ll have to take a final exam for each of the two courses and receive a minimum score of 70%. The course examination will be proctored, but several real schools offer an online proctored exam, so you can take them from the comfort of your own home.

03 | Submit Your South Carolina Exam Application

  • Once you’ve passed both of the course final exams, you can apply to take your South Carolina Real Estate Salesperson (Associate) Examination. Just submit this application, along with a fee of $25.

04 | Complete a Criminal Background Check

05 | Pass the South Carolina Real Estate Exam

Once SCREC approves your exam application, you will receive an examination eligibility letter. This letter is valid for one year, so make sure you take the state exam prior to it expiring. PSI administers the South Carolina real estate salesperson licensing exam. Download the PSI Real Estate Candidate Handbook here.

06 | Select a Sponsoring Broker

  • In order to activate your license, you’ll need to select a broker. Keep reading below for tips on what to look for when picking the best real estate brokerage for newly licensed agents.

07 | Submit Final Licensing Application


How Long Does It Take to Get a Real Estate License?

Once you decide to become a real estate agent in South Carolina, you’re excited to get started ASAP selling homes, right? Before you leave your current job, it’s important to understand how long the licensing process can take in SC.  Here is what an average timeline looks like:

  • Complete your 90-hour pre-licensing real estate courses – 3 to 9 weeks
  • Schedule the real estate course exam(s) – 1 to 2 weeks
  • Apply / Schedule your state real estate exam scheduled – 1 to 2 weeks
  • Fingerprints and background check completed – 1 to 2 weeks
  • Interview and select a real estate brokerage – 1 to 2 weeks
  • Real estate commission to process your license application – 1 week

While this timeline may seem a little daunting, we have a few suggestions to expedite things. First, if you enroll in an online course (vs a classroom style), you’ll be able to learn at your own pace and get your hours in quickly. We would also recommend getting your background check done and interviewing brokerages while you are finishing up your real estate course, so you are ready to hang your license with a broker as soon you pass the state exam. 

If you get through your coursework quickly, it’s definitely possible to become a real estate agent in South Carolina in less than eight (8) weeks!


Woman trying to add up the cost to get a real estate license in South Carolina

Cost to Get a Real Estate License in South Carolina

There are several fees involved when working to become a real estate agent in South Carolina…

  • Pre-License Real Estate Course – $300 to $650
  • Exam Application Fee – $25
  • State Exam Fee – $63
  • Salesperson (Associate) License Application – $50
  • Background Check / Fingerprinting – $25 to $50
  • State exam prep courses or materials – $25 to $150 (optional)

** Total Cost to Get Your License = $463 to $838


More Costs to Expect as a New Agent

Getting a license is just the beginning! What many aspiring agents don’t always realize is that there are several other expenses to consider when becoming a real estate agent in South Carolina. Whether you’re building a new business and opening a hair salon, coffee shop, or your real estate empire, keep in mind there are always licensing and start-up costs involved.

Here are some of the most common expenses:

ExpenseEstimated Cost
Continuing education$100 to $250 every 2 years
South Carolina license renewal$45 every 2 years
REALTOR® association membershipVaries by location; see examples below
Multiple Listing Service (MLS)Approximately $150 to $175 quarterly
SentriLock or Supra eKey$100 to $150 annually
Brokerage joining fee$0 to $700; approximately $250 on average
Monthly brokerage fee$30 to $350 per month
Business cards and signageVaries
Marketing and advertisingVaries

South Carolina brokers generally complete 10 hours of continuing education during each two-year renewal cycle after their first licensing term. Renewals are due by June 30 of even-numbered years.

Examples of South Carolina REALTOR® Association Dues

Association dues vary depending on your location, membership type, and the services included. Some associations bundle local, state, national, MLS, or lockbox fees together.

REALTOR® AssociationEstimated Dues
Coastal Carolinas Association of REALTORS®Approximately $720 annually
Greater Greenville Association of REALTORS®Approximately $1,100 annually
Hilton Head Area REALTORS®$250 application fee plus $700+ annually
Central Carolina REALTORS® AssociationContact the association for current dues
Charleston Trident Association of REALTORS®$195 application fee plus approximately $460 annually

Keep in mind that MLS access, electronic lockbox service, and application fees may be included in some association packages but charged separately by others. Your sponsoring brokerage can help you determine which memberships and services you’ll actually need.

Total Cost to Become a Real Estate Agent in South Carolina

When you combine your licensing expenses with the common costs of launching your business, you can expect to spend approximately $1,650 to $2,600.

This is a helpful planning range, but your actual startup cost will depend heavily on your brokerage, local association, MLS, and marketing choices. Monthly brokerage fees and optional marketing expenses can also increase your first-year total.

OTHER EXPENSES TO EXPECT IN YOUR FIRST YEAR >


Group of people learning how to get their real estate license

Find the Best Online + In-Person Real Estate Schools

To get your real estate license, you’ll have to attend a school that’s approved by the South Carolina Real Estate Commission. There are at least a dozen approved real estate schools throughout the state. Some are online, others in person, and a few do a combination of the two.

Here are a few of the most popular:

SEE OUR SC SCHOOL COMPARISON GUIDE >

When shopping for the best online real estate schools in South Carolina, you’ll want to compare pricing, but there are a few other things you will need to consider:

  • Do they share their “pass rate”? This will tell you what percentage of their students passed the state exam on the first try.
  • Does the school offer any guarantees if you don’t pass? For example, one school will pay the fee for you to retake the state exam.
  • Are practice tests given to the students or is there any additional charge?
  • Do they offer a separate exam prep course or a weekend cram course?

How to Select a South Carolina Real Estate Broker

In South Carolina, you must affiliate with a real estate brokerage in order actively help home buyers and sellers. This is often referred to as the “sponsoring broker” or “managing broker.” Picking the right brokerage to work with can be key to your success as a newly licensed agent.

When researching and meeting with different brokerages, keep in mind that many are independently owned franchises. So one Better Homes and Gardens or Keller Williams office could be completely different from another that’s just 10 minutes away. The culture, training, support team, and sometimes even the fees and commission splits can vary from franchise to franchise.

We also highly recommend looking into virtual or cloud-based brokers. Several are perfect for new agents, especially those that are starting as part-time agents. You often have support after traditional business hours, live classes are recorded so you can learn at your own pace.

IMPORTANT QUESTIONS TO ASK WHEN INTERVIEWING BROKERS >>
PRO TIP: Don’t worry about commission splits, focus on SUPPORT.

While many newly licensed agents are looking for the best commission splits when shopping for brokers, we would highly recommend that you make that #2 or #3 on your list. The most important thing you should look for in a brokerage is how they support brand new real estate agents. Do they have a formal training program? Will you have at least 3 people you can reach out to if you have questions? Are they available outside traditional business hours? Do they have mentors – and what exactly will the mentors do to assist you?



Common questions about getting a real estate license

Becoming a SC Real Estate Agent: Frequently Asked Questions

How is South Carolina’s 90-hour pre-licensing education split, and can I do it online?

Yes, you can complete all 90 hours online, but it is split into two required modules:
– 60-Hour Unit I: Real Estate Principles and Practices (covers core law, contracts, agency, and finance).
– 30-Hour Unit II: Advanced Real Estate Principles (covers practical applications, disclosure, ethics, and fair housing).

Under South Carolina Real Estate Commission (SCREC) rules, you must complete Unit I before you can submit an exam application to the state. Most modern online schools bundle Unit I and Unit II together in a single package, allowing you to move through self-paced modules on desktop or mobile web browsers.

How hard is the SC the state real estate exam?

If you ask a dozen real estate agents, at least half would describe the South Carolina real estate licensing exam as “not easy.”  The salesperson examination consists of 110 questions; 80 national and 30 state-specific questions.  All questions are multiple-choice, and you’ll have three (3) hours to complete the licensing exam.

What makes the state section of the South Carolina real estate exam so difficult?

The South Carolina PSI licensing exam contains 120 total questions (80 National and 30–40 SC State questions). To pass, you must score at least 70% on each section independently (56/80 National and 28/40 State). The state portion trips up test-takers because it focuses heavily on SC License Law, SCREC disciplinary powers, trust account management, coastal zone property considerations, and local agency rules (such as the mandatory Meaning of Agency disclosure). Using an exam prep tool with South Carolina-specific state practice banks is vital for passing on your first attempt.

What if I fail the South Carolina real estate exam?

It’s not uncommon for people not to pass the exam on the first try. They make it fairly simple for you to retake the exam, you just need to wait 24 hours before scheduling your next attempt.  You have an unlimited number of opportunities to test within a one-year period. The cost is $63 for each attempt to retake the state exam.

When should I apply to the South Carolina Real Estate Commission (SCREC) to take the exam?

Submit your exam application right after completing Unit I (60 hours). Unlike states where your school automatically registers you with the testing center, South Carolina requires you to submit an official exam application and complete a fingerprint background check directly with SCREC first. Background checks can take up to several weeks to process. Once SCREC approves your application, they notify PSI, which then issues your authorization to schedule the test. Applying the moment you finish Unit I minimizes downtime while you finish Unit II and review study materials.

How long do I have to activate my license with a Broker-in-Charge after passing the South Carolina exam?

You have exactly 1 year from the date you pass your PSI exam to submit your final Salesperson License Application and affiliate with a licensed Broker-in-Charge (BIC). In South Carolina, you cannot practice real estate or hold an active license independently; you must work under the supervision of an active BIC. If you do not submit your final application and BIC sponsorship within the 1-year window, your passing exam scores expire.

How do I become a real estate broker in South Carolina?

In order to become a real estate broker in South Carolina, you must have a minimum of five years of active licensed real estate experience and be at least 21 years old. (This requirement increased from 3 to 5 years under the Commission’s May 2024 Practice Act revisions.) Additionally, you will have another 60 hours of training that includes the Broker IIIA and IIIB pre-licensing courses. You’ll also have to apply and pass the South Carolina real estate broker exam. The exam fee is $63 and the broker license fee is $125. 

Can I get a South Carolina real estate license if I have a felony or misdemeanor?

Having a criminal record doesn’t automatically disqualify you. As part of your application, you’ll complete both a fingerprint-based (SLED and FBI) background check and a Social Security Number check, and SCREC reviews each situation individually rather than applying a fixed list of disqualifying offenses. If you have concerns about your background, it’s worth contacting SCREC directly before investing in the 90-hour course.

I have a real estate license in another state. Does South Carolina offer reciprocity?

Yes, with two states currently: North Carolina and Georgia. Georgia gets the better deal — if you hold an active Georgia salesperson license, you can transfer directly to a South Carolina license without taking the state exam or any additional coursework. North Carolina licensees have a bit more to do: you’ll need to show proof of either North Carolina’s 90-hour post-license education or South Carolina’s own 90-hour pre-license education, and you’ll still need to pass the South Carolina-specific portion of the exam. If you’re licensed somewhere else, SCREC may still recognize your license and waive some education requirements, but you’ll need to pass the South Carolina portion of the exam regardless. Contact SCREC directly to confirm what applies to your specific state.

How much do real estate agents make in South Carolina?

The annual earnings for real estate agents in South Carolina are going to vary greatly from person to person and location to location. ZipRecruiter reports that SC agents make an average between $36K and $100K annually. Indeed.com reports that agents with 1-2 years experience make $90K on average and those with 10+ years experience average $118K+.

Your earnings are going to vary dramatically depending on where you live and work. Your location, level of experience, and broker splits are going to play a big role in how much you can make as a real estate agent in South Carolina.

Is Getting a SC Real Estate License Worth It?

Becoming a real estate agent in South Carolina is generally worth the investment if you have a business plan and 3 to 6 months of living expenses saved to bridge the gap until your first commission check. With startup costs for education, state fees, and initial MLS dues, the financial barrier to entry is relatively low. Because median home prices hover around $320,000–$340,000, earning a standard 2.5% to 3% commission on a single sale yields roughly $8,000 to $10,000 in gross commission—meaning closing just one transaction pays off your entire first-year investment.

The career is especially promising due to heavy inbound migration into major hubs like Charleston, Greenville, and the Grand Strand (Myrtle Beach).

However, it isn’t a quick-fix side hustle. Because real estate is 100% commission-based and requires ongoing desk and marketing fees regardless of sales, it is only worth it if you have the discipline, capital, and local network to actively build a client pipeline.