South Carolina real estate licensing
South Carolina Real Estate Broker License requirements
A practical, source-checked guide to qualifying, passing the exam, applying, and keeping this license active.
By Gabriel Giner, Editor · Verified · RE License Guide Editorial Desk
- Required education
- Unit IIIA 30-hour Broker Management plus Unit IIIB 30-hour Brokerage Principles (60 hours), after five years of active associate licensure in seven
- Exam fee
- $67
- Published fees
- $25
- Typical timeline
- Five years in seven is the longest step
What to know first
The South Carolina broker license does not repeat Unit I. S.C. Code Ann. § 40-57-320(A)(2)(a), as rewritten by 2024 Act 204 effective May 21, 2024, requires completion of sixty hours of commission-approved real estate classroom instruction — the thirty-hour Unit IIIA Broker Management course and the thirty-hour Unit IIIB Brokerage Principles course — and five years of active associate licensure within the past seven years. Age 21 (§ 40-57-310(1)). JD / law degree / real-estate baccalaureate or master’s may substitute for the 60 (§ 40-57-320(A)(2)(b)). The three-year requirement that some school catalogs still list comes from the pre-May 2024 statute.
The PSI broker exam is a separate exam: National 75 questions (80 points) / 120 minutes; State 50 questions (50 points) / 80 minutes; both 130 points / 200 minutes. Number Correct table: Broker national 60, state 36. Same $67 / $59 fee table. National broker items may be scored up to two points. You apply to the Commission first, wait for the 48-hour PSI import, pass both portions within one year of eligibility, and apply for the license within one year of passing. According to the broker page, after you pass you file the Supervision Attestation (you are still supervised by a BIC unless you are becoming the BIC), then pay the invoiced initial license fee. Broker original on the Rev. 2/20 sheet is $125 biennial; BIC/PMIC $250. Renewal FAQ: broker $55, BIC $75 per office.
Broker-in-charge is a further designation (§ 40-57-330): ownership interest in the company or active engagement in operation and management. An active broker or associate must be licensed under a BIC and may not be licensed under more than one. North Carolina broker and Georgia broker are separate licenses in neighboring states; only those two states sit on South Carolina’s reciprocal list.
Your path to the license
Follow these steps in order. Deadlines and affiliation requirements can make a passed exam unusable if they are missed.
-
Accumulate five years of active associate licensure within seven
Required by statute since May 21, 2024. Inactive months do not count. Minimum age 21.
-
Complete Unit IIIA 30 (Broker Management) + Unit IIIB 30 (Brokerage Principles)
Not Unit I+II again. Completing them also covers that CE cycle as an associate.
-
Commission application, fingerprints after, PSI $67 broker exam (60/80-pt national + 36/50 state)
Attestation and invoiced $125 (broker) or $250 (BIC). Calendar 10-hour CE; BIC adds the 4-hour BIC course.
How long the 60-hour course takes
Coursework is usually the longest step you control. Weeks below are classroom or online hours only; add application processing, fingerprint clearance, and exam scheduling from the roadmap above.
- Part-time
- 6 weeksabout 10 hrs/week
- Steady
- 3 weeksabout 20 hrs/week
- Full-time
- 2 weeksabout 40 hrs/week
Overall estimate from our source review: Five years in seven is the longest step. After IIIA+IIIB, you complete the Commission application, the 48-hour import, PSI, the attestation, and the invoice, within two one-year windows.
Education and eligibility
- Minimum age
- 21 years old
- Identification
- A Social Security number is required. An ITIN is not confirmed as a substitute.
- Residency and identification
- Age 21. Five years of active associate licensure within the past seven years (applications on or after May 21, 2024). Reciprocal GA/NC brokers follow the reciprocity agreements. Other-state brokers with an active (or ≤6-month-expired) license sit the state portion only and still complete SC education unless a reciprocal agreement says otherwise.
- Qualifying education
- § 40-57-320(A)(2)(a). This is not a repeat of Unit I+II. Associates who complete IIIA+IIIB are CE-exempt for that renewal period even if they have not yet upgraded. JD / law / real-estate degree substitution exists. Course certificate 5 years first-time, 3 years if reapplying after failing both portions.
- Education or filing deadline
- One year of exam eligibility, then one year from passing to licensure. The FAQ sets five-year / three-year course windows.
- Character review
- Same SLED/FBI/SSN plus application questions. 24-month wait after denial.
- Background process
- After application, § 40-57-115. Every third renewal.
- Experience
- Five years of active associate licensure within the past seven years (§ 40-57-320(A)(2)(a), effective May 21, 2024). Inactive time does not count. The pre-2024 three-year requirement no longer applies to new applications.
- Broker affiliation
- An active broker who is not the BIC is still licensed under a BIC (§ 40-57-330(B)). BIC designation requires ownership interest or active operation/management (§ 40-57-330(A)). One supervised license at a time. Disassociating from the registered office: BIC notifies the Commission within five days; the BIC designation is removed and the license deactivates (§ 40-57-330(C)).
Documents to prepare
- Five years active associate in seven (license history)
- Unit IIIA and IIIB certificates (or JD/law/real-estate degree)
- Commission application $25; SLED/FBI/SSN after
- PSI broker passing results (60/80-point national and 36/50 state)
- Supervision Attestation; invoiced broker/BIC fee
The licensing exam
Same PSI bulletin updated 8/27/2026. Broker National 75 questions / 80 points / 120 minutes (scenario items up to two points). Broker State 50 questions / 50 points / 80 minutes. Combined 200 minutes. Pass 60 national and 36 state. State broker buckets scale up: Commission/licensing 10, statutes governing licensees 16, agency 13, additional statutes 7, closings 4. $67 both / $59 one. Time Sharing Plan Act is broker-only on the state outline. Do not take the associate 80/40 exam as a broker candidate.
PSI after Commission broker eligibility. Same SCRE bulletin. $67 both / $59 one. 60 and 36 to pass. · Fee: $67
| Part | Questions | Minutes | Pass |
|---|---|---|---|
| Broker National | 75 | 120 | 75% |
| Broker South Carolina State | 50 | 80 | 72% |
Scoring details from the candidate handbook
- Broker National: 75 questions / 80 points / 120 minutes; 60 correct to pass. Scenario items up to two points. Not the 80-item associate national
- Broker South Carolina State: 50 questions / 50 points / 80 minutes; 36 correct to pass (bulletin). Combined both 200 minutes. Time Sharing Plan Act is broker-only
Same $67 / $59 table, one-year payment window, one-year eligibility, one-year pass-to-licensure. Do not book the associate 80/40 exam.
What to study
-
Unit IIIA Broker Management + Unit IIIB Brokerage Principles
Commission-approved provider
60 hours, taken after five years in seven. Also exempts you from CE for that associate renewal period.
-
PSI broker rows (75/80-point national, 50 state, 60/36 to pass)
PSI / SCREC
Time Sharing Plan Act is broker-only. Combined 200 minutes.
-
§ 40-57-135 BIC duties and § 40-57-136 trust accounts
South Carolina Legislature
48-hour trust deposits, five-year records, office policy, team advertising. Tested on the broker state exam, not the 40-item associate state exam.
Application costs
These are commission or testing-vendor amounts we can cite. School tuition and optional preparation products are private-market prices.
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Application | $25 |
| Examination | $67 |
| Initial license | $125 |
| Renewal (every 2 years) | $55 |
Rev. 2/20 sheet: broker/property manager new license $125 biennial; BIC/PMIC $250. Renewal FAQ: broker $55; BIC $75 per office; late $15/month. PSI $67/$59. Application $25. Application and initialLicense are sequential. Wait for the invoice rather than mailing the amount on the sheet.
Published state fees
$217
Application, exam, initial-license, and fingerprint amounts cited above. Excludes school tuition.
| Commission | South Carolina Real Estate Commission (Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation) (803) 896-4400 S.C. Code Ann. Title 40, Chapter 57 (Real Estate Brokers, Brokers-in-Charge, Associates, and Property Managers), as rewritten by 2024 Act No. 204 (H.4754, effective May 21, 2024) substituting “associate” for “salesperson”; especially §§ 40-57-30 (definitions), 40-57-115 (SLED/FBI/SSN background checks), 40-57-310 (qualifications), 40-57-320 (Unit I 60 + Unit II 30; broker Unit IIIA + IIIB and five years in seven), 40-57-340 (10-hour CE; background check every third renewal). PSI South Carolina Real Estate Candidate Information Bulletin (copyright 2026, updated 8/27/2026) at test-takers.psiexams.com/scre. |
|---|---|
| Pre-licensing | Unit IIIA 30-hour Broker Management plus Unit IIIB 30-hour Brokerage Principles (60 hours), after five years of active associate licensure in seven § 40-57-320(A)(2)(a). This is not a repeat of Unit I+II. Associates who complete IIIA+IIIB are CE-exempt for that renewal period even if they have not yet upgraded. JD / law / real-estate degree substitution exists. Course certificate 5 years first-time, 3 years if reapplying after failing both portions. One year of exam eligibility, then one year from passing to licensure. The FAQ sets five-year / three-year course windows. |
| Sponsoring broker | An active broker who is not the BIC is still licensed under a BIC (§ 40-57-330(B)). BIC designation requires ownership interest or active operation/management (§ 40-57-330(A)). One supervised license at a time. Disassociating from the registered office: BIC notifies the Commission within five days; the BIC designation is removed and the license deactivates (§ 40-57-330(C)). |
| Fingerprints | Original broker applicants submit to the same § 40-57-115 SLED/FBI/SSN packet after the application, not before. Every third renewal repeats it. |
| CE / renewal | Broker: 10 hours (4 core + 6 elective), same as associate. BIC: 4-hour BIC Duties + 4-hour core + 2 elective. Partial waiver still requires BIC course if you are the BIC. Print every third renewal. $15 per month July 1–December 31; then reapply. A license lapsed 24 months is canceled. Affiliated associates cannot stay active under a lapsed BIC. |
| Recovery fund | Same as associate: there is no separate recovery-fund fee. Up to $10 of a renewal may go to the Education and Research Fund, which is not a recovery payout. |
Mistakes that delay applicants
-
Applying at three years because a 2023 catalog said so
Five years in seven as of May 21, 2024. Age 21. The old three-year requirement no longer applies.
-
Sitting the associate 80/40 as a broker candidate
Different item counts, different cuts (60 and 36), same $67. It is the wrong exam.
-
Treating Unit I+II as broker education
Broker is IIIA+IIIB. The 60+30 associate courses are already behind the associate license you are upgrading.
-
Opening an office as an associate, or as a broker who never filed BIC
§ 40-57-135(C): no office without an active BIC registered for that location. Ownership or operational control is a BIC eligibility requirement, not a business-card title.
-
Skipping the 4-hour BIC CE because you already sat 10 hours of electives
BIC is 4 core + 4 BIC + 2 elective. Partial 25-year waiver still wants core + BIC course.
Reciprocity and recognition
| Partner / path | Accepted exam | Conditions |
|---|---|---|
| Georgia | — | Per the broker page, reciprocity is with GA and NC only. Follow the SC & GA Reciprocity Agreement. |
| North Carolina | — | Per the broker page, follow the SC & NC Licensing Agreement. It does not automatically convert every NC broker license. |
Same two-state list as associate. Non-GA/NC: state portion only if the other license is active or expired ≤6 months, plus SC education.
Renewal and staying active
Broker: 10 hours (4 core + 6 elective), same as associate. BIC: 4-hour BIC Duties + 4-hour core + 2 elective. Partial waiver still requires BIC course if you are the BIC. Print every third renewal.
Late renewal: $15 per month July 1–December 31; then reapply. A license lapsed 24 months is canceled. Affiliated associates cannot stay active under a lapsed BIC.
BIC original and renewal fees are different ($250 / $75 per office). If you disassociate as BIC, notify the Commission within five days; the BIC designation is removed and the license deactivates.
Applicant checklist
- Age 21; five years active associate licensure in the past seven
- Unit IIIA 30 + Unit IIIB 30 (or JD/law/real-estate degree)
- Commission application $25; SLED/FBI/SSN after the application
- PSI $67 broker exam: 60/80-point national + 36/50 state within one year of eligibility
- Supervision Attestation; invoiced $125 (broker) or $250 (BIC); calendar 10-hour CE
How South Carolina is different
North Carolina broker has a different experience requirement but also uses a BIC. Georgia broker is licensed by GREC and is reciprocal with SC. South Carolina broker requires age 21, five years as an active associate within seven, Unit IIIA 30 + IIIB 30, and the PSI exam (75/80-point national + 50 state at 60/36, $67), followed by a BIC designation to run an office.
South Carolina vs neighboring states
| Jurisdiction | License title | Pre-license hours | Exam vendor | Exam questions | Exam fee | Published state fees | Renewal cycle | Min. age |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Carolina (this guide) | Broker | 60 | PSI | 125 | $67 | $217 | 2 yr | 21 |
| Georgia | Broker | 60 | PSI | Not published | See handbook | $340 | 4 yr | 21 |
| North Carolina | Broker | 90 | Pearson VUE | Not published | See handbook | See guide | 1 yr | 18 |
Hours are the pre-license total printed in each guide; states that count credits or named courses show “See guide.” Published state fees add the application, exam, initial-license, and fingerprint amounts the guide can cite — tuition is not included.
Frequently asked questions
- Is it still three years to broker?
- No. 2024 Act 204: five years of active associate licensure within the past seven, for applications on or after May 21, 2024. Age 21. School catalogs that still list three years are out of date.
- Do I retake Unit I and II?
- No. Broker education is Unit IIIA 30 + Unit IIIB 30. Completing them as an associate also exempts that CE cycle.
- Is the broker exam the 80/40 associate exam?
- No. 75 questions / 80 points national (60 to pass) plus 50 state (36 to pass) in 200 minutes. Same $67. Booking the associate exam puts you in the wrong exam.
- What is broker versus broker-in-charge?
- Broker is the license. BIC is the designated person with ownership or operational control, responsible for the trust account and supervised licensees (§ 40-57-30(7), § 40-57-330). BIC CE is 4 core + 4 BIC + 2 elective. BIC original $250 / renewal $75 per office.
- Can I run an office on an associate license while I finish the five years?
- No. BIC is a broker designation. Associates are licensed under a BIC. One supervised license at a time.
Primary Sources
Regulatory requirements on this page are drawn from the official board, statute, and exam-provider materials listed below.
- SCLLR Real Estate Broker
- S.C. Code § 40-57-320(A)(2) (Unit IIIA+IIIB; five years in seven)
- PSI SC bulletin (broker 75/80 pts + 50 state; 60/36 to pass)
- SCLLR CE (BIC 4+4+2)
Verified 2026-09-02 · Next scheduled review 2026-12-01
Update history
- Rewrote the guide text for readability and added state comparison tables. No requirements, fees, or deadlines changed.
- Requirements, fees, and deadlines checked against the primary sources cited on this page.
Spotted something out of date? Send a correction.