Best Real Estate Courses & Schools in South Carolina (2026)

South Carolina requires 90 hours split into two courses: a 60-hour Salesperson Pre-Licensing course (required before you can sit for the state exam) and a 30-hour Advanced Real Estate Principles course (can be completed after passing the exam, but must be done before you apply for your license).

Studying online at your own pace, most students finish the 90 hours of coursework in 3 to 9 weeks. Add time for your exam application, fingerprinting, and finding a sponsoring broker, and it’s genuinely possible to be licensed in as little as 8 weeks, though most agents take closer to 2 to 4 months.

Most agents describe it as challenging. The exam has 110 questions — 80 national and 30 South Carolina-specific — and you’ll need a minimum score of 70% to pass, all within a 3-hour window.

You can retake it — you’ll just need to wait 24 hours before scheduling your next attempt and pay the $63 fee again. You get unlimited attempts within a one-year eligibility window.

You have unlimited attempts within your one-year exam eligibility letter window, paying the $63 fee each time.

110 multiple-choice questions: 80 covering national real estate topics and 30 covering South Carolina-specific law. You’ll have 3 hours to complete it, administered by PSI.

70% overall.

Yes, with Georgia and North Carolina. Georgia gets the better deal — an active Georgia salesperson license transfers directly, with no state exam or extra coursework required. North Carolina licensees need to show proof of qualifying education and still pass the South Carolina-specific portion of the exam.

Most South Carolina-approved pre-licensing courses include practice exams as part of the coursework. For additional free practice questions, check YouTube for study walkthroughs, or ask your course provider whether sample questions are available before purchasing standalone exam prep.

Take as many practice exams as you can — repetition is what turns recognition into recall. The national portion makes up the bulk of the exam (80 of 110 questions), so prioritize your study time there, but don’t neglect the 30-question state-specific section since South Carolina law questions trip up a lot of first-time test takers.

South Carolina requires 90 total hours of pre-licensing education split into two parts: Unit I (60-Hour Pre-Licensing Course) and Unit II (30-Hour Advanced Real Estate Principles). Under SCREC rules, you must complete Unit I before you can submit your exam application to the state. While some students take Unit II immediately after Unit I, you must complete both units before you can officially apply for your license. Look for a school package that bundles both Unit I and Unit II together so you aren’t paying separate enrollment fees later.

No, you must get state approval first. Unlike states where your school automatically registers you with the testing vendor, South Carolina requires you to submit an official exam application and complete a fingerprint background check directly with the South Carolina Real Estate Commission (SCREC). Once SCREC approves your application, they authorize PSI to let you schedule your exam. Because the state approval process and background clearance can take several weeks, choose a school that gives you ongoing access to rolling practice banks so you can keep concepts fresh while waiting for your approval letter.

The South Carolina PSI exam features 30 state-specific questions alongside the 80 national questions. The state portion tests heavily on SCREC license law, disciplinary powers, coastal zone property laws, and local agency requirements (including the mandatory Meaning of Agency disclosure). Generic national prep materials focus almost entirely on national real estate principles and will miss these local nuances.

Look for a school package or standalone prep tool that offers dedicated South Carolina State Law practice question banks and timed simulation tests.