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Insurance Agent
Training: 0 hours | Exam: Yes
Some details on this page are not yet confirmed against an official source. See sources below or contact the licensing board to verify.
Not required
P&C Education
Not required
L&H Education
2 years
Renewal Cycle
$193.50
Gov. Fees (Both)
Insurance 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.
South Carolina Life, Accident & Health Insurance Exam
Questions
Combined L&H: 145 (130 scored, 15 pretest); Life only: 85 (75 scored, 10 pretest); Accident & Health only: 85 (75 scored, 10 pretest) questions
Time Limit
Combined L&H: 3 hours; Individual lines: 2 hours each
Passing Score
70%
Administered By
Pearson VUE
Cost of failing
Retake fee: $59Invest in preparation to pass the first time.
How long should you study? Most candidates study 2–4 weeks before taking the South Carolina Life, Accident & Health Insurance Exam.
Study Materials & Exam Prep — Life & Health Insurance License Exam
Prepare for your Life & Health Insurance License Exam with Mometrix study guides, flashcards, online courses, and practice tests.
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Complete Your Pre-Licensing Education in South Carolina
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| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
Application Fee Initial resident application fee through NIPR. Plus $5.60 NIPR transaction fee. SCDOI state producer license 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.
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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.
Moving to another state? Use our Transfer Tool to see what you need →
Compare South Carolina with other states →
See how requirements, costs, and timelines differ 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
See how South Carolina compares: Insurance Agent License Fees by State — Cheapest to Most Expensive →
Related Guides
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How does South Carolina compare to other states for insurance agent? See the full comparison →
Calculate the return on investment for your insurance agent license →
Explore requirements for other professional licenses in South Carolina.
Insurance Agent Schools in South Carolina
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Official Sources
Insurance Agent requirements in South Carolina verified against South Carolina Department of Insurance, April 2026.
Moving to South Carolina? Use our free Transfer Tool to see what you need →
Already licensed elsewhere? See how to transfer your Insurance Agent license to South Carolina →
Transfer your Insurance Agent license from South Carolina to: Georgia → | North Carolina →
Study guides for P&C, life & health, and other insurance licensing exams.
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