The Real Estate License Professor

REAL ESTATE SALESMAN AND BROKER LICENSE REQUIREMENTS

Age
Individuals must be 18 to be licensed as a salesman and 21 to be licensed as a broker.

Education
A prospective licensee must be a high school graduate or hold a certificate of equivalency.

1. Sales license applicants - completion of a Commission-approved 60-hour (or more) course in the fundamentals of real estate. Within one year after passing the examination, the applicant must be sponsored by a broker-in-charge and apply for a provisional sales license, which is mailed to the broker-in-charge. During the first year of licensure, provisional salesmen must complete an additional 30 hours of Commission-approved postlicensing education. To upgrade a provisional license to permanent status, proof of the postlicensing course(s), application, and fee ($25) must be sent to the Real Estate Commission FAILURE TO MEET THESE REQUIREMENTS WILL RESULT IN THE CANCELLATION OF THE PROVISIONAL SALES LICENSE.
2. For a broker's license, completion of 150 hours, 90 hours of which may be the hours required for a salesman's license, of classroom instruction in advanced real estate principles and practices and related topics, and three years of experience within the past five years with a salesman's license or evidence submitted to the Department of a Juris Doctor, Bachelor of Laws degree, or a baccalaureate degree with a major in real estate from an accredited college or university or the Commission may accept proof of related education and at least five years of experience immediately preceding license application in business activities equivalent to or closely related to real estate transactions.

Experience
There is no licensed experience requirement for a sales examination. For a broker's examination, however, the law requires three or more years of active licensure within the last five years preceding application. To receive recognition for out-of-state experience, the applicant must obtain a Certification of Licensure, including history, education, and disciplinary action from the real estate regulatory agency (commission, board, etc.) of all other states where he/she is or has been licensed before applying for examination.

Examination
Examinations are scheduled every Monday through Saturday in Beaufort, Charleston, Columbia, Greenville, Myrtle Beach, SC, and in Charlotte, NC. PSI is the examination provider for the Commission and they publish a Candidate Information Bulletin for approved candidates for the real estate examinations. Candidates receive this bulletin when they receive the examination eligibility letter from the Commission. Examinees must receive a passing score on both portions of the exam (general and state). Retesting may be scheduled quickly if one or both portions are failed.

Miscellaneous

1. Commission Review
   Any applicant who has been convicted of a crime or sanctioned by any licensing agency or has adverse items on a credit report must reveal that fact on his/her application. The Regulatory Compliance Department may review the application and then conduct an investigation before an examination can be scheduled. This may result in a delay.
2. Processing Fees
   Upon original application, each applicant must pay the following fees:

Persons not currently licensed in South Carolina must submit certified funds for licensure.