SC Insurance Agent License Requirements and Licensing Process Overview

To become a licensed insurance agent in South Carolina, you'll need to meet the state's basic requirements. This includes being at least 18 years old and having a high school diploma or equivalent.

To start the licensing process, you'll need to choose the type of insurance license you want to obtain, such as life insurance or property and casualty insurance. You'll also need to decide whether you want to work for an insurance company or as an independent agent.

The licensing process involves completing a pre-licensing education course approved by the South Carolina Department of Insurance. This course will cover the necessary topics and materials required for the licensing exam.

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To get licensed as an insurance agent in South Carolina, you'll need to meet the state's licensing prerequisites. Being at least 18 years old, of good moral character, and not having a felony conviction within the last 10 years are just a few of the requirements.

You'll also need to take a pre-licensing education course, which can cost around $139. To become a licensed insurance producer, you'll need to pass the South Carolina P&C license exam, which is administered by Pearson VUE and costs $44. You'll have 160 minutes to complete the 160 scored questions across 11 sections.

The exam is a proctored test, meaning you'll be closely monitored in a controlled environment. If you fail the exam, you can retake it as soon as 24 hours after your first attempt. To help you prepare, consider taking an exam prep course and following a good study program.

Here's a breakdown of the licensing fees in South Carolina:

Renewal fees vary depending on your license type, with a maximum late renewal fee of $2,500 if you fail to notify the Department of your address change within 30 days.

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To become a licensed insurance agent in South Carolina, you'll need to pass a state insurance exam and submit your application. The exam is administered by Pearson VUE and costs $59 per attempt, with a maximum of six attempts allowed within a one-year period.

To schedule your exam, you can visit the Pearson VUE website or call (877) 759-5226. Be aware that exam fees must be paid upfront when making a reservation.

You can sit for multiple exams at once, but we recommend studying for one at a time to avoid confusing separate line material. A good study program can help you prepare to pass on your first attempt, and taking an exam prep course can be beneficial.

The South Carolina P&C license exam includes 160 scored questions across 11 sections and gives you 160 minutes to complete the test. Passing the exam requires a score of at least 70%.

If you fail the exam, you can retake it as soon as 24 hours after your first attempt. To submit your application, you'll need to apply online through the National Insurance Producer Registry (NIPR) and pay a license fee of $25.

Here's a summary of the exam and application process:

To get your insurance license in South Carolina, you'll need to undergo a background check and fingerprinting process. This is a requirement for all insurance producers and bail bondsmen.

The fingerprinting process is handled by IdentoGO, and it costs $51.75. You'll need to select the option "SC920124Z – DOI SC Producer Licensing/Renewal" from the dropdown menu on their website to schedule an appointment.

After your appointment, you'll receive a fingerprint receipt that you'll need to send to the South Carolina Department of Insurance along with your National Producer Registry number. You can mail it to the address in Columbia, South Carolina, or email or fax it to the department's office.

If you're unable to provide fingerprints due to a medically certified physical injury, the director may waive this requirement. However, if you refuse to submit a full set of your fingerprints, your license application will be processed as incomplete and denied.

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The fingerprinting process may take some time, but it's an essential step in getting your insurance license. Make sure to follow the instructions carefully and submit all required documents to avoid any delays.

The South Carolina Department of Insurance will review your application and background check, which typically takes a few weeks. If everything is in order, your license should be issued within this timeframe. However, if there are any issues, the state will contact you to provide more information.

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To complete the continuing education requirements in South Carolina, you must take 24 hours of CE courses every two years. Three of those hours must focus on ethics, and eight hours must cover your lines of authority (P&C).

The NAIC SBS website is a good resource to find these courses, where you can choose "South Carolina" as the jurisdiction and "Course or Provider" as the search type. If you have a non-resident license that meets the CE requirements in your home state, you don't need to take CE courses in South Carolina.

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To find the required CE hours, you can check the following designations' credits: Chartered Life Underwriter, Fellow Life Management Institute, Certified Financial Planner, Life Underwriter Training Council Fellow, Registered Health Underwriter, Registered Employee Benefits Consultant, or Chartered Financial Consultant for life/health lines of authority and Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter and Certified Insurance Counselor for property/casualty licenses.

Here are the CE requirements in detail:

Pre-education courses are a crucial step in preparing for your insurance license exam in South Carolina. You can complete these courses on your own schedule and at your own pace, making them a convenient option.

South Carolina doesn't have any formal pre-license education requirements, but most insurance professionals opt to take a pre-license education course online. These courses are self-paced and include study materials like practice exams and flashcards.

To choose the right pre-license education course, consider the course's flexibility, price, and reputation. You don't want to go too low on the price, as you tend to get what you pay for.

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Over 81% of our readers use Kaplan's online courses, which come with a 93% pass rate, when preparing for their insurance license exam(s). Kaplan's courses are a popular choice, but you should also consider other options.

Here are some factors to consider when choosing a pre-license education course:

By completing a pre-license education course, you'll gain the necessary knowledge and tools to prepare for your exam and pass on your first attempt.

You must complete 24 hours of continuing education (CE) courses every two years to renew your P&C license in South Carolina, with three hours focusing on ethics and eight hours covering your lines of authority.

To find these courses, visit the NAIC SBS website and choose "South Carolina" as the jurisdiction and "Course or Provider" as the search type.

You can request an exemption from CE requirements if you're licensed only for limited lines of insurance or if you're at least 65 years old with 25 years or more of licensure in South Carolina.

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The following designations' credits count toward CE: Chartered Life Underwriter, Fellow Life Management Institute, Certified Financial Planner, Life Underwriter Training Council Fellow, Registered Health Underwriter, Registered Employee Benefits Consultant, or Chartered Financial Consultant for life/health lines of authority and Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter and Certified Insurance Counselor for property/casualty licenses.

To renew your license, apply via the NIPR at least 90 days before your license expires, paying a $25 renewal fee and a $75 late fee if you miss the deadline.

Here are the CE requirements at a glance:

If you hold both life/health and property/casualty lines of authority, you'll need to complete 8 hours in life/health and 8 hours in property/casualty courses, with the remaining 8 hours in other courses.

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To get your insurance license in South Carolina, you'll need to go through a licensing process that involves several steps. The first step is to figure out which insurance license you'll need, which can be a property and casualty (P&C) license, a surplus lines broker license, or one of several other types of licenses.

The licensing process requires you to complete a pre-licensing education course, pass a licensing exam, and submit your insurance license application. The licensing exam is a 160-question test that covers 11 sections and must be completed within 160 minutes. The exam costs $44 and can be retaken as soon as 24 hours after the first attempt.

Here's a breakdown of the licensing fees for different types of licenses:

Note that the fees listed above are for initial licenses, and renewal fees vary depending on the type of license.

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If you're looking to become a licensed insurance professional in South Carolina, it's essential to be aware of the temporary licensing announcements that may affect your application process.

South Carolina has issued a bulletin to announce the licensing of temporary nonresident adjusters and motor vehicle physical damage appraisers to assist with claims related to severe weather events.

You can check out the South Carolina announcement related to temporary adjuster licensing for more details.

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Temporary licenses can be a great opportunity for nonresident adjusters and motor vehicle damage appraisers to get involved in claims handling, but it's crucial to understand the requirements and limitations of these temporary licenses.

For instance, South Carolina will permit nonresident adjusters and motor vehicle damage appraisers to handle claims without a South Carolina license for 60 days from the date of the emergency declaration.

Here are the new nonresident adjuster license fees and renewal fees in South Carolina:

It's also worth noting that South Carolina has decreased Adjuster fees as of February 16, 2024.

If you're planning to take the South Carolina P&C license exam, be aware that you can retake it as soon as 24 hours after your first attempt if you happen to fail.

In South Carolina, the renewal period for licenses is relatively short, spanning from September 1st to September 30th.

If you miss the initial deadline, don't worry - you can still renew your license during the Late Renewal Period, which runs from October 1st to December 1st.

The Termination Deadline, however, is much earlier, on August 26th, so be sure to check your calendar and plan accordingly.