How Much Does It Cost to Get a Real Estate License in South Carolina?

Thinking about the cost of a real estate license in South Carolina before you begin the process of getting it is important to know what you’re getting into.

There are many steps, and each has its own set of fees and expenses.

To fully understand the financial investment involved in getting licensed in the state, keep reading. We break down what you can expect to pay at each step.

Pre-Licensing Coursework: $550-$650

In obtaining a real estate license in South Carolina, the cost of your pre-licensing education tops your list of expenses. The requirements differ based on what type of license you’re getting.

For those applying for a salesperson license, you’ll need to complete two courses, totaling 90 hours. The estimated cost is around $550.

• Unit I — 60-hour Salesperson Pre-Licensing Course: Once you complete this, you’re eligible to submit an application for examination and sit for the test.

• Unit II — 30-hour Advanced Real Estate Principles: You must complete this course before you can apply for your license.

For those getting a broker license, you must complete 60 hours of pre-licensing education. This requirement is split into two, 30-hour courses, and average costs are around $650.

Licensing Exam: $88

When you’re ready to take the exam, there are two separate fees to pay. The first is a $25 fee that accompanies your application for examination.

Once this is approved, you can schedule your real estate license exam through PSI. The fee to register for the test is $63.

The fastest way to schedule your exam is by creating an online account, but you can also call PSI at 855-340-3701.

Regardless of the type of license you’re getting, you’ll have 3 hours and 20 minutes to complete the two-sectioned exam.

You’ll have 120 minutes for the national section, and 80 minutes for the state.

What does vary are the number of questions in each section. There are 80 questions in the national section on the salesperson exam, and 40 in the state.

On the broker exam, there are 75 national questions and 50 state questions.

Exam Retake: $55 for One Section; $63 for Two Sections

In order to pass the salesperson real estate license exam in South Carolina, you need to get at least 56 questions right in the national section. For the state section, you need to get 28 correct answers.

For the broker exam, you need to get at least 60 correct in the national section, and 36 correct in the state section.

Should you end up needing to schedule a retake, you only have to redo the section you didn’t pass. Should you fail both, you’ll need to retake the entire thing.

The fee for retaking a single section is $55. If you retake the entire exam, you’ll pay the original fee of $63.

You have a year to pass both sections once your application for examination is approved. Should you fail to pass by then, you’ll need to submit another application for examination.

To avoid retakes, read our guide on how to pass the real estate exam on your first try.

We also have tips for passing the South Carolina real estate exam.

License Application: $50 for Salesperson; $125 for Broker

Once you pass the real estate license exam, you’ll receive a post-examination application form from PSI. You’ll need to fill this out and submit it along with your score report from your exam.

You have one year to apply for your license after passing the exam. This includes paying the appropriate fees, which are $50 for a salesperson license and $125 for a broker license.

Also part of your application is selecting a sponsoring broker. Refer to our list of the best real estate brokerages in South Carolina and pick one near your location.

Review our guide on choosing the right broker to work for as a new agent to learn about how real estate companies work and the different types of brokerages.

Once approved, the South Carolina Real Estate Commission issues a hard copy of your license directly to the broker-in-charge you’ll be working with.

Fingerprinting: $50+

This step in the licensing process happens while your application is under review. You’ll receive information from the South Carolina Real Estate Commission on how to get fingerprints.

You will have to allot a budget of $50 or so for getting your fingerprints taken and the criminal background check.

Once you’ve obtained fingerprints, they’re used for both a state and national fingerprint-based criminal records check.

You’ll also have to request a Social Security number-based criminal records check by going to the SR&I website and following directions there.

You may check out the FAQs released by the Commission for any other questions you may have regarding the background check process.

Additionally, read our article on getting a South Carolina real estate license with violations on your record. It answers all your questions on the steps to take should you have a past conviction such as DUI or felony.

Continuing Education: $100

An estimate of the costs for continuing education is around $100 for all ten hours you’re required to complete every two years.

This total time is broken into multiple courses, though. You must take four hours in a mandatory core course, but the other six are in electives of your choice.

Note that there are exemptions to the CE requirements, depending on some courses you may have completed initially or if you have fulfilled the same requirements in your home state if you’re a nonresident.

License Renewal: $45 for Salesperson; $55 for Broker

Your real estate license in South Carolina is good for two years, at which time you’ll need to renew it.

South Carolina real estate agents have until June 30 within the year their license expires to renew, or else they’re charged a $15 late fee for each month it goes unpaid.

If you fail to renew by the end of that calendar year, you must totally reapply for your license.

Renewal fees are $45 for a salesperson and $55 for a broker.

In getting a real estate license in SC, the costs quickly add up that can leave you a little concerned for your budget. However, there are ways to keep certain fees on the lower end.

Putting aside those fixed costs, such as your application fee and fingerprinting, you may have some flexibility when it comes to how much you pay for your education.

With both South Carolina real estate classes and continuing education, you always have a choice of what school you go to, which means you’re able to compare tuition fees to find the best deal.

Look at the bottom line cost, but also what you get for the price. If one school is a little more costly, but comes with a lot of extra resources, it might be the best value.

You can also evaluate the cost differences of going in person or taking your educational requirements virtually. There could be a price difference there, too.

Our A-to-Z guide comparing the pros and cons of real estate classes online vs classroom courses is a good resource when deciding which method to go for.

Additionally, it’s a good idea to look at pass rates for each school, since going with one that has a strong reputation for students passing may mean you pay less to take (and retake) the exam.

Regardless of how you pick your school, looking at the different price options will allow you to potentially make some budget cuts and keep this process more affordable.

We hope this breakdown of costs keeps your budget in check when acquiring a real estate license in South Carolina.

To know the timeline to complete all the steps in the licensing process, refer to our guide on how long it takes to get a South Carolina real estate license.

Once you get your license, you can focus on the next steps after passing the real estate exam, which should include joining a real estate team so you can touch base with experienced agents who can help with your career.

The insights provided by these industry insiders on the pros and cons of being a real estate agent will be helpful as you build your own real estate business in the state.

In addition, refer to useful resources aimed at giving your business the market visibility it needs.

To help you build and grow your real estate career quickly, we at Real Estate Bees created a directory for real estate professionals.

It’s designed to help you get more exposure for your business, including receiving leads. Create a free profile by signing up here.

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About the Author

Kristina Morales is a REALTOR® with over 20 years of professional experience. She actively practices real estate in Ohio but also has practiced real estate in California and Texas. Conducting her real estate business in three states has allowed her to gain unique experiences that make her a well-rounded realtor. She obtained her Bachelor of Arts in Business Management and her MBA with a concentration in Banking and Finance. Prior to real estate, Kristina had an extensive corporate career in banking and treasury. She ended her finance career as an Assistant Treasurer at a publicly traded oil & gas company in Houston, TX.