FAQ'S

1. I don’t have a Real Estate license in SC or in any other state, how do I get licensed?

All applicants must be over the age of 18 and have a high school diploma (or certificate of equivalency), and be lawfully present and eligible to work in the United States.If you have a law degree or a four-year baccalaureate degree from a higher education institution with a major in real estate, you do not have to take pre-licensing courses for any license type, or meet the experience requirements for Broker qualification. A transcript can be accepted and reviewed to authorize you to apply for the Sales, Broker or Property Manager Examination.

• Salesperson license:

  You must complete the Commission approved
  pre-licensing Course (60 hours – Unit I Sales) then
  apply to take the SC Real Estate Sales examination.
  Before you apply for a license you will also need to
  complete an additional Unit II: Advanced Real Estate
  Principles course (30-hours). Passing Score sheets
  and proof of completion of the Unit II course must
  be submitted with your licensure application

• Broker license

  You must have three (3) years of “Active” licensed
  salesperson experience within the last five (5)
  years prior to attempting to qualify for a broker
  license. You must complete the Commission approved
  Broker IIIA and IIIB pre-licensing courses (60
  additional hours) then apply to take the SC Real
  Estate Broker Examination. After passing the
  examination, you can submit a Broker application
  with passing score sheets. Post examination
  applications will be provided by the exam provider
  PSI. A broker qualified applicant can also apply to
  become a Broker in Charge and establish an office
  under their supervision.

• Property Manager license

  You must complete the Commission approved Property
  Management (30 hours) pre-licensing course then
  apply to take the South Carolina Property Manager
  Exam. After passing the examination, you can submit
  an application for a Property Manager or Property
  Manager in Charge license. Property Manager in
  Charge applicants must also complete a 7 hour PMIC
  class prior to issuance of an “in Charge” license.
  Post examination applications will be provided by
  the exam provider PSI.
  PDF Exam Application Link: https://llr.sc.gov/re/recpdf/doc231.pdf
  Online Applications Link: https://llr.sc.gov/re/Instructions.aspx

2. I’m a licensed Real Estate Salesperson
or Broker in another jurisdiction, how do I get licensed in
SC?

SCREC recognizes the qualifications of non-resident licensees
of other jurisdiction, however one must still must apply for
and take the SC portion of the real estate examination (and
if applying to become a broker, meet the 3 years actively
licensed sales experience requirements). With your
examination application, you will need to submit
certification(s) of licensure from any jurisdiction(s) in
which you have held licensure in the last 5 years. You must
also have been licensed within 6 months prior to SC
Application. Resident applicants with licenses in other
jurisdictions who have been residents for more than 6 months
cannot qualify to take the S.C. examination with just a
certification of licensure from another jurisdiction. The
resident applicant will also need to take the following
pre-licensing education:

• For a Salesperson exam applicant

  a SC resident (for more than 6 months) with a license
  in another jurisdiction who will have to take Unit
  II: Advanced Real Estate Principles class (30
  hours)

• For a Broker exam applicant

  a SC resident (for more than 6 months) with a broker
  license in another jurisdiction will have to take
  Broker Unit IIIA and Broker Unit IIIB classes (60
  hours)

  PDF Exam Application Link: https://llr.sc.gov/re/recpdf/doc231.pdf
  Online Applications Link: https://llr.sc.gov/re/Instructions.aspx

3. Do I have to give SCREC a copy of my
Social Security Card?

Yes, our agency requires that we receive and verify social
security numbers through a copy of the social security card
prior to issuing any license for any licensing Board.

Which browsers are compatible with your
courses?

http://llr.sc.gov/recheck

5. I don’t have a Broker in Charge/Property
Manager in Charge to supervise me or a company to work for.
Can I get licensed now and seek employment later?

Yes, you will need to indicate that you don’t have a
supervising broker/office code on your license application
where it asks for BIC/PMIC office information and signature.
You will be licensed but placed in “inactive” status until
you activate under a supervising in charge licensee. If a
provisional salesman, you still will be required to complete
post-licensing education and upgrade prior to expiration of
your license

6. How many hours of Continuing Education
do I have to take? ?

• Ten (10) hours biennially if a SC resident licensee. 4
  hours must be the core mandatory course and 6 hours must
  be electives.
  Brokers in Charge will have to take a mandatory BIC
  Responsibility 4 hour course in addition to the core
  course, and will only have to take 2 hours of electives.
• If you are a non-resident and licensed in your resident
  jurisdiction, you have to meet the CE requirements of
  your resident state.
• If you have 25 years of active licensed experience you
  may submit a request for Partial Continuing Education
  Exemption. If you meet the experience requirements based
  upon licensure in another jurisdiction, we will need you
  to obtain and submit certifications of licensure
  history.
• If you are active duty military, you are exempt from CE
  while on active service

7. How do I place my license in Inactive
Status?

https://llr.sc.gov/re/pub.aspx
Document #200

8. How do I re-activate my license?

https://llr.sc.gov/re/pub.aspx
Document #210

9. How do I transfer my license to another
office?

https://llr.sc.gov/re/pub.aspx Document #200 or click the
“Online Transfer” menu link on the SCREC webpage under
Licensure Information, login and complete online

10. How do I change my personal name or
address?

https://llr.sc.gov/re/recpdf/doc190.pdf Document #190 or for
address changes, click the “Change Address” menu link on the
SCREC webpage under Quick Links, login and complete
online.

11. I’m an “in-charge” licensee, how do I
change my Office/Company Name or Address?

https://llr.sc.gov/re/recpdf/doc180.pdf
Document #180

12. How can I put my license in “Referral”
status?

There is no referral status recognized by the South Carolina
Real Estate Commission. Your status is either “Active” or
“Inactive”. Inactive licensees should not perform activities
requiring real estate licensure including soliciting a
referral fee. A Broker in Charge may at their discretion
create a “referral” only limited service office for
supervision of licensees who are not engaging in sales or
other licensed real estate activities.

13. Can I pay a referral fee to an
unlicensed person?

Soliciting a referral fee requires real estate licensure.
S.C. Code 40-57-145(A)(11) says it is a violation for a
licensee who “pays a commission or compensation to an
unlicensed individual for activities requiring a license
under this chapter. Notwithstanding this section, a licensee
may not pay or offer to pay a referral fee or finder’s fee
to an unlicensed individual that is not a party in the real
estate transaction.” Unlicensed Employees may not negotiate
or agree to compensation based upon the listing, sales or
rental of a property. A resident licensee may pay a portion
of their commission to a licensee of another jurisdiction on
a cooperative basis if the licensee does not perform real
estate activities requiring licensure in South Carolina.

14. How do I get a Partial Continuing
Education Exemption?

You must have 25 years of licensed experience. The Partial CE
Exemption request form can be found at
https://llr.sc.gov/re/pub.aspx,Document#220
:

15. How do I get standard contracts and
forms to use in real estate transactions?

The SCREC only creates the South Carolina Residential
Property Disclosure Statement and Addendum, the Disclosure
of Agency Relationships, the Offer Rejection Form, the
Designated Agency Agreement and Dual Agency Agreement forms.
These can be found on the SCREC Page at
https://llr.sc.gov/re/resources.aspx

16. I have a criminal conviction. Can I get
a South Carolina real estate license?

A criminal record does not in itself prevent you from being
able to be licensed. Certain convictions are grounds for
denial of licensure and will require that you appear before
the Commission for an Application Hearing. You must complete
pre-licensing requirements and submit an application for
examination or licensure before a determination can be made
as to whether your licensure can be approved by the
Administrator, or if it will require an appearance before
the Commission for a hearing

17. I’m an “In-Charge” licensee, how do I
remove someone from my supervision/office?

Please send us a signed letter indicating the names and
license numbers identifying the individuals you wish to
remove from your supervision. You may email a scanned copy
to Contact.REC@llr.sc.gov

18. How can I study/prepare for the Real
Estate Exam?

Here are links to the SC PSI Exam Candidate Information
Bulletins which covers an outline of exam topics.

• Salesman or Broker Exam https://candidate.psiexams.com/bulletin/display_bulletin.jsp?ro=yes&actionname=83&bulletinid=100&b
  ulletinurl=.pdf
• Property Manager Exam.
  https://llr.sc.gov/re/RECPDF/PSI_Property%20Manager.pdf
• Here is a link to SC Laws and Policies:
  https://llr.sc.gov/re/laws.aspx

19. Where do I find the classes I need to
take before taking the Real Estate Exam?

https://llr.sc.gov/re/pub.aspx
Document #150 and Document #140

20. How can I get a certification of
licensure history?

https://llr.sc.gov/re/pub.aspx
Document #741 or login through the following link and
request a license verification to be sent to the address
selected. There is a $5 fee.
https://eservice.llr.sc.gov/SSO/Login/LoginPage?ReturnUrl=%2fOnlineVerification2%2f
All information, applications and forms can be found at:
https://llr.sc.gov/re/

PEOPLE LICENSED FROM ANOTHER ESTATE WILLING
TO PRACTICE IN SOUTH CAROLINA

Following are the requirements to practice Real Estate in
South Carolina if you have been licensed from another
estate

• All applicants must meet the requirements outlined
  previously for residents as to age, education, and
  experience. .
• Only non-residents who are licensed in another state may
  qualify to take the South Carolina state exam without
  taking the SC qualifying courses.
• South Carolina resident applicants must take a
  pre-licensing course even if licensed in another
  jurisdiction
• Applicants must also submit with the application a
  Certification of Licensure, including history,
  education, and disciplinary action from each state in
  which they have held a license.