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How to get an insurance license in South Carolina. P&C: 0 pre-licensing hours. L&H: 0 hours. Government fees: $193.50 for both lines. 2 years renewal cycle. Verified 2026-04-03. Data verified 2026-04-03. Source: LicenseMap (getlicensemap.com).
Insurance Agent
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74% of data points are verified against official sources. 6 fields based on preliminary research. We recommend confirming details with your state's licensing authority. See sources below · Report incorrect data
Not required
P&C Education
Not required
L&H Education
2 years
Renewal Cycle
$193.50
Gov. Fees (Both)
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Get My Free RoadmapInsurance Producer
South Carolina issues separate lines of authority including Life, Accident & Health, Property, Casualty, and Personal Lines. Combined exams are available for Property & Casualty and Life/Accident & Health. No pre-licensing education is required — candidates go directly to the exam.
Other Available Lines of Authority
No pre-licensing education required
Not required.
South Carolina Property & Casualty Insurance Exam
Administered by Pearson VUE
Combined P&C: 145 (130 scored, 15 pretest); Property only: 80 (75 scored, 5 pretest); Casualty only: 80 (75 scored, 5 pretest)
Questions
70%
Passing Score
Combined P&C: 3 hours; Individual lines: 2 hours each
Time Limit
$59
Exam Fee
Combined P&C exam has 145 questions (130 scored, 15 pretest) with a 3-hour time limit. Individual Property or Casualty exams have 80 questions (75 scored, 5 pretest) with a 2-hour time limit. 70% passing score required.
No pre-licensing education required
Not required.
South Carolina Life, Accident & Health Insurance Exam
Administered by Pearson VUE
Combined L&H: 145 (130 scored, 15 pretest); Life only: 85 (75 scored, 10 pretest); Accident & Health only: 85 (75 scored, 10 pretest)
Questions
70%
Passing Score
Combined L&H: 3 hours; Individual lines: 2 hours each
Time Limit
$59
Exam Fee
Combined Life, Accident & Health exam has 145 questions (130 scored, 15 pretest) with a 3-hour time limit. Individual Life or Accident & Health exams have 85 questions (75 scored, 10 pretest) with a 2-hour time limit. 70% passing score required.
Compare top-rated insurance pre-licensing schools in South Carolina.
Minimum Age
18 years old
Education
No formal education requirement. Pre-licensing education is not required.
Residency
Must apply as resident producer if domiciled in South Carolina. Non-residents apply through NIPR with active home state license.
Background Check
Since January 2017, all resident producers are required to submit fingerprints as part of the licensing process. Fingerprinting is processed through IdentoGO.
Fingerprinting
Required
Citizenship
US citizen or authorized to work in the US
Not sure if you need a insurance agent license? Check whether your state requires one.
Complete Your Pre-Licensing Education in South Carolina
State-approved online courses you can start today.
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
Application Fee Initial resident application fee through NIPR. Plus $5.60 NIPR transaction fee. | $25 |
P&C Exam Fee Per exam attempt through Pearson VUE | $59 |
L&H Exam Fee Per exam attempt through Pearson VUE | $59 |
Fingerprinting Fee Fingerprint-based background check fee through IdentoGO | $50.50 |
Total Gov. Fees (Single Line) Application ($25) + exam ($59) + fingerprinting ($50.50) = $134.50. Add $5.60 NIPR transaction fee if applicable. | $134.50 |
Total Gov. Fees (Both Lines) Application ($25) + P&C exam ($59) + L&H exam ($59) + fingerprinting ($50.50) = $193.50. Add $5.60 NIPR transaction fee if applicable. | $193.50 |
Pre-Licensing Course Cost: $0-$300(per line)
Pre-licensing education is not required in SC, so this is optional exam prep. NOT a government fee.
Use our licensing cost calculator to estimate your total investment including education and exam fees.
Budget tip: Online courses are often more affordable than in-person programs. Compare options →(affiliate link)
Study for the Property & Casualty exam (pre-licensing education not required but recommended)
Schedule and take the P&C exam through Pearson VUE
Pass the exam with 70% or better
Submit fingerprints through IdentoGO for background check
Apply for your license through NIPR (nipr.com)
Pay the $25 application fee (plus $5.60 NIPR transaction fee)
Receive license approval from South Carolina Department of Insurance
Obtain appointment from at least one insurance carrier
Study for the Life, Accident & Health exam (pre-licensing education not required but recommended)
Schedule and take the L&H exam through Pearson VUE
Pass the exam with 70% or better
Submit fingerprints through IdentoGO for background check
Apply for your license through NIPR (nipr.com)
Pay the $25 application fee (plus $5.60 NIPR transaction fee)
Receive license approval from South Carolina Department of Insurance
Obtain appointment from at least one insurance carrier
Important: A license alone does not allow you to sell insurance
After obtaining your producer license, you must be appointed by at least one insurance company to sell their products.
Appointment fee: Paid by carrier
South Carolina participates in NIPR and has reciprocity arrangements with most states. Non-resident producers with active home state licenses can obtain SC licenses without additional exams. Non-residents who meet home state CE requirements are exempt from SC CE.
Additional requirements: Must hold active license in good standing in home state.
Use our reciprocity lookup tool to compare license transfer options across all 50 states.
Renewal Cycle
2 years
Renewal Fee
$25
CE Required
24 hours per cycle
Ethics Hours
3 hours (included in CE total)
24 hours of CE per 2-year renewal cycle. 3 hours must be in ethics. 8 hours must be in each line of authority held. Renewal period begins 90 days before expiration. Non-residents who meet home state CE requirements are exempt.
Regulatory Board
Unique to South Carolina: South Carolina is one of a small number of states that does not require any pre-licensing education before taking the licensing exam. This makes it faster and less expensive to get licensed, though exam preparation courses are still recommended. The state has a low $25 application fee.
Insurance Agent requirements in nearby states
| State | Timeline | |
|---|---|---|
| South Carolina (you) | 4–10 wks | |
| Georgia | 4–10 wks | → |
| North Carolina | 4–10 wks | → |
Other professional licenses in South Carolina
South Carolina ranks #14 out of 51 for lowest insurance agent licensing fees ($193.5). See full ranking →
More rankings: Lowest Renewal Cost
Related Guides
Explore requirements for other professional licenses in South Carolina.
Insurance Agent Schools in South Carolina
Compare approved training programs, costs, and requirements.
How this state compares to 50 others for this profession
Timeline
#1 of 51
Salary
#41 of 51
Processing
#1 of 51
Based on May 2024 Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data for Insurance Sales Agents (SOC 41-3021)
Entry Level
$38,930
25th percentile
Median
$51,550
-15% vs. national avg ($60,370)Experienced
$78,390
75th percentile
Wage Distribution (Annual)
7,490 employed in this state
Note: Insurance agent compensation is heavily commission-based. BLS OEWS data may not fully reflect total earnings including commissions and bonuses.
Source: BLS OEWS – Insurance Sales Agents (May 2024)
National employment projections for 2024-2034
Projected Growth
+4.7%
Average GrowthNew Jobs
+26,200
over 10 years
Annual Openings
41,200
per year (avg.)
555,200 currently employed nationwide (2024)
Source: BLS Employment Projections 2024-2034 (September 2025)
Insurance Career Ladder+45% salary growth potential
You are here
Insurance Agent
$51,550
Pre-licensing education + state exam
You are here
Insurance Agent
Pre-licensing education + state exam
$51,550
Adjuster licensing + claims experience
$74,940
Salary data from BLS OEWS May 2024 for this state. Career paths represent common advancement routes — actual progression may vary. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Outlook Handbook
State Insurance Licensing Exam — 2021-2023National rate
58%
Overall Pass Rate
By Section
Combined average. Life & Health ~65%; Property & Casualty ~50-60%.
Source: NAIC / State Insurance Departments (2023)
Pass rates are approximate national averages and may vary by state, exam provider, and candidate preparation.
Government fees and exam costs to obtain your initial license
Note: These are government licensing fees only. Education/training program costs (tuition, books, etc.) are not included as they vary widely by institution.
Source: South Carolina Department of Insurance — Licensing Requirements
Estimated total: 4–10 weeks
Timeline estimated from licensing requirements on this page.
Source: South Carolina Department of Insurance — Licensing Requirements
1–4 weeks
Estimated processing time
Source: South Carolina Department of Insurance — Licensing Requirements
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