Jane Dotson
If you're looking to become an insurance agent in South Carolina, you'll need to obtain a South Carolina insurance license. This involves a few steps, including deciding on the type of insurance policies you want to sell and completing any necessary pre-licensing education courses. While South Carolina doesn't require pre-licensing education hours, it is highly recommended to increase your chances of passing the licensing exam on the first try. After passing the exam, you can apply for your license and start your career as an insurance agent, with opportunities to work as a captive or independent agent.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| License requirement | Yes, a license is required to sell or discuss insurance products with customers. |
| License types | Property and Casualty insurance, Life, Accident and Health insurance. |
| Pre-licensing course requirement | Not mandatory, but recommended to pass the licensing exam. |
| Licensing exam | Mandatory, multiple-choice exam administered by Pearson VUE, costing $59 per attempt. |
| Licensing fee | $25 |
| Renewal | Licenses must be renewed every two years by completing 24 credit hours of continuing education, with at least eight hours in the relevant line of authority and a minimum of three hours in ethics. |
| Fingerprinting | Required prior to licensure for background checks. |
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What You'll Learn
Enroll in a pre-licensing course
Although South Carolina does not require you to take a pre-licensing course before taking your official insurance licensing exam, it is highly recommended that you do so. The exams cover a lot of insurance concepts and terminology that you will not know without studying, and enrolling in a pre-licensing course will greatly increase your chances of passing your insurance exam on the first try.
There are many pre-licensing course providers, some of which offer classes in person, on the web, or via correspondence. In some states, there are also self-study courses where you can study at your own pace without any outside assistance. When choosing a pre-licensing course provider, you should select one with a proven record of success and a schedule that works for you.
A few examples of pre-licensing course providers include All-Lines Training, America's Professor, Brewer Insurance School, and A.D. Banker. All-Lines Training offers online classrooms where you can print reference materials, take practice tests, and create your own quizzes. America's Professor provides a hard copy textbook and 24/7 access to streaming video lectures. Brewer Insurance School offers both in-person and Zoom courses for Property and Casualty and Life, Accident, and Health pre-licensing. A.D. Banker offers online courses suitable for all learning styles and cross-referenced with the exam content outlines.
Once you have completed your pre-licensing course, you will be ready to take your state licensing exam. In South Carolina, all insurance exams are multiple-choice and administered by Pearson VUE. You can schedule your exam online or by phone, and you will need to bring your Examination Admission Ticket and a government-issued photo ID. After passing the exam, you can submit your license application and pay the license fee.
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Pass the state exam
To pass the state exam, you must prepare by taking a pre-licensing course. Although South Carolina does not require you to take a pre-licensing course, it is highly recommended. These courses will teach you the material you will be tested on, including insurance concepts, terminology, laws, and regulations. You can take your course in person, online, or via correspondence, and there are also self-study options available.
There are various companies that offer pre-licensing courses, including All-Lines Training, America's Professor, Kaplan, and A.D. Banker. These courses will prepare you to pass your exam on the first try and include resources such as textbooks, practice tests, quizzes, and video lectures.
Once you feel prepared, you can schedule your state exam online through Pearson VUE, the vendor for all insurance licensing tests in South Carolina. The exam will be multiple-choice and cost $59 per attempt. You will need to bring an unexpired government-issued photo ID and your Examination Admission Ticket, which you will receive upon completing your pre-licensing course.
The state exam will test your knowledge of specific industry information, insurance products, and state insurance laws. Depending on the line of insurance you wish to specialize in, you will need to pass the relevant exam. For example, if you plan to become a life and health agent, you will need to pass the Life, Accident, and Health exam, which consists of 130 scored questions and 10 pretest questions.
To pass the exam, you must score 70% or higher. You will need to pay an additional fee to retake the test, so it is important to pass on your first attempt.
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Apply for your license
To become a licensed insurance agent in South Carolina, you must pass a state licensing exam and then apply for your license. Here is a step-by-step guide to the application process:
Enroll in a pre-licensing course
Although South Carolina does not require you to take a pre-licensing course before taking your official insurance licensing exam, doing so will greatly increase your chances of passing your insurance exam on the first try. The exams contain many insurance concepts and terminology that are impossible to know without studying. There are many pre-licensing course providers, some of which offer classes in person, on the web, or via correspondence.
Pass the state licensing exam
After completing your pre-licensing course, you will need to take and pass the relevant South Carolina resident producer license exam. This will depend on the line you wish to specialize in. For example, if you plan to become a life and health agent, you will need to pass the Life, Accident, and Health exam, which consists of 130 scored questions and 10 pretest questions. All insurance exams in South Carolina are multiple-choice and cost $59 per attempt.
Submit your fingerprints for a background check
South Carolina requires fingerprint impressions from all unlicensed applicants prior to licensure. To organize a fingerprinting appointment, go to the IdentoGO website and select the option that specifies “SC920124Z – DOI SC Producer Licensing/Renewal”. After your appointment, you will be given a fingerprint receipt that must be emailed to the Department of Insurance at [email protected].
Once you have passed your exam, you can apply for your South Carolina insurance agent license online through the National Insurance Producer Registry (NIPR). The fee for this is $25. Once you receive your license, you can begin selling or discussing insurance transactions.
Keep your license valid
In South Carolina, insurance licenses expire every two years and must be renewed by completing 24 credit hours of continuing education, with at least eight hours in your line of authority and a minimum of three hours in ethics.
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Choose your license type
To become an insurance agent in South Carolina, you must obtain a South Carolina insurance license. The type of insurance policies you plan to sell dictates the type of license you need.
If you plan to work in customer service or sales, you must be licensed to sell insurance in South Carolina. A license will allow you to work as a captive agent, selling the policies of one insurance company, or as an independent agent, selling policies from multiple companies to the public and businesses.
There are several license types available for South Carolina agents, including the South Carolina Property, Casualty, Surety, and Marine insurance license, which covers the most lines of authority. If you hold a Personal Lines license, for example, you will not qualify for a Property and Casualty Lines license because the latter covers more lines of authority.
You can also apply for a reciprocal license in another state as long as the license covers the same lines of authority. Reciprocity allows a licensed insurance agent to obtain another state license without retaking that state's exam.
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License renewal
To renew your South Carolina insurance agent license, you must complete 24 hours of continuing education (CE) every two years, with at least eight hours in each line of authority and a minimum of three hours in ethics. You cannot receive credit for any course more than once in a reporting period. Up to 18 hours of excess credits will be applied to your next compliance cycle.
South Carolina insurance agent licenses are renewed every two years on the last day of your birthday month. The renewal period is September 1-30, and the late renewal period is October 1-December 1. You can renew your license through the National Insurance Producer Registry (NIPR) for a renewal fee of $25.
To renew your license, you will need to provide a fingerprint background check from IdentoGo. Select "SC920124Z-DOI Producer Licensing/Renewal" and email the fingerprint receipt to [email protected] or fax it to (803) 737-6100. Alternatively, you can mail the document to the following address:
Attn: Individual Licensing
South Carolina Department of Insurance
Post Office Box 100105
Columbia, South Carolina 29202-3105
Please note that your license application will be denied if you refuse to submit a full set of your fingerprints. However, the requirement for fingerprints may be waived by the director if you are unable to provide them due to a medically certified physical injury.
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