Becoming An Insurance Producer: South Carolina Requirements And Steps

If you're looking to become an insurance producer in South Carolina, you'll need to obtain a license. The process involves several steps, including completing a pre-licensing course, passing the relevant licensing exam, applying for your license, and getting fingerprinted for a background check. South Carolina requires insurance producers to be licensed in the specific category of insurance they want to sell, such as health, life, property, or casualty insurance. The licensing exams are administered by Pearson VUE and cost $59 per attempt. The license application is submitted through the National Insurance Producer Registry (NIPR) and costs $25. Obtaining a South Carolina insurance producer license is a comprehensive process that ensures individuals are well-prepared to sell and discuss insurance products with customers.

Eligibility requirements

To be eligible for a South Carolina insurance producer license, you must meet the following requirements:

Age

You must be at least 18 years old to be eligible for a South Carolina insurance producer license.

Residency

To obtain a resident license, you must be a resident of the state of South Carolina. If you are not a US citizen, you must provide proof of eligibility to work in the country.

Criminal Record

You must not have been convicted of a felony or any other act that would be a cause for license denial under Section 38-43-130 in the last 10 years. You also must not have been convicted of a misdemeanor involving deception, or a crime involving finance or insurance, within the last five years. If you have a criminal record, you must obtain approval from the South Carolina Department of Insurance before scheduling your state exam.

Moral Character

According to the South Carolina Code, you must be of good moral character to be eligible for a resident insurance producer license.

Pre-licensing course

To become a South Carolina insurance producer, you must pass a state licensing exam. A pre-licensing course is not mandatory in South Carolina, but it is highly recommended as it will increase your chances of passing the exam on the first try. The exams cover insurance concepts and terminology that are impossible to know without studying.

There are several pre-licensing courses available, including online and in-person options. These courses typically include resources such as textbooks, video lectures, and practice exams. When choosing a course, consider factors such as flexibility, price, and the reputation of the provider.

The cost of the pre-licensing course varies depending on the provider. Some providers offer additional resources, such as tutoring and study calendars, which can enhance your understanding of the material. It is important to review the course content to ensure it aligns with the exam requirements.

Once you have completed your pre-licensing course, you can register for the state licensing exam. The exam fee is typically $45, and you must achieve a score of 70% or higher to pass. It is important to prepare thoroughly for the exam, as you will need to pay an additional fee to retake the test if you do not pass on your first attempt.

Licensing exam

To become a South Carolina insurance producer, you must pass a state licensing exam. The best way to prepare for the exam is to take a pre-licensing course. While South Carolina does not require pre-licensing education, it is highly recommended as the exams test specific industry information, insurance products, and state insurance laws.

A.D. Banker offers pre-licensing courses that are cross-referenced with the exam content outlines. Their online courses cater to all learning styles and will prepare you to pass the exam on your first attempt. Kaplan also offers exam prep courses that are based directly on the South Carolina licensing exams.

The state licensing exam is administered by Pearson VUE and costs $59 per attempt. The exam is multiple-choice and covers both a general section with basic insurance product knowledge and a state section with specific insurance laws, rules, regulations, and practices unique to South Carolina. The amount of time and number of questions on the exam will vary depending on the line of insurance you are testing for, ranging from 1-2.5 hours and 60-150 questions. To pass, you must score 70% or higher.

You can schedule your state exam through Pearson VUE online or by calling (877) 759-5226. The exam fee must be paid at the time of reservation and will not be accepted at the testing centre. Remote exams are available, but you must have a computer or laptop that is compatible with OnVUE, Pearson VUE's remote testing platform. If you do not have a compatible computer, you must schedule an in-person exam.

To prepare for a remote state exam, test the compatibility of your computer, webcam, and microphone beforehand. OnVUE requires the newest versions of Microsoft Edge, Safari, Google Chrome, or Firefox. Exams must be scheduled at least 24 hours in advance, and you can cancel or reschedule up to 48 hours before your reservation time. Download OnVUE in advance to avoid last-minute technical problems. Log in to the testing platform 30 minutes before your exam reservation time and present a valid state or government ID to verify your identity.

For an in-person exam, report to the testing centre 30 minutes early for check-in and present a valid government-issued ID. If you arrive late, you will not be admitted and will forfeit your exam fee. No personal items are allowed in the testing centre, and food, chewing gum, and tobacco products are prohibited. You are allowed to have a beverage.

License application

Once you have passed your South Carolina licensing exam, you are ready to apply for your insurance producer license. In South Carolina, applications are submitted online through the National Insurance Producer Registry (NIPR) alongside a license fee of $25. You will need to submit your application within 90 days of passing your exam.

You will be able to submit your application online through NIPR as early as two days after passing your South Carolina licensing exam, and should receive a confirmation email from the Department of Insurance within one business day of submitting your application.

This email will also contain instructions guiding you through the process of organizing a fingerprinting appointment—which is the next, and final step toward getting your resident license.

Be aware that if you’ve passed the licensing exams for multiple lines of authority, you’ll be required to submit an application (and pay a filing fee) for each of these.

Fingerprinting and Background Check

In accordance with South Carolina Code § 38-43-100 (F)(a) and (b), you’ll be required to provide the Department with a complete set of your fingerprints so that they can check the criminal history records of the FBI and SLED and see if you’ve ever been convicted of a crime.

This process, which is completed through IdentoGO, costs $51.75 and will initiate a background check into your past conduct to evaluate your qualifications and confirm your eligibility for a new producer’s license.

To organize a fingerprinting appointment, you’ll need to go to the IdentoGO website and select the option that specifies “SC920124Z – DOI SC Producer Licensing/Renewal” from the dropdown menu—if you don’t know which service code to use.

After your appointment, you’ll be given a fingerprint receipt by IdentoGO that must be sent to the South Carolina Department of Insurance alongside your National Producer Registry number.

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

Alternatively, you can email it to [email protected] or fax it to (803) 737-6100.

Bear in mind that your license application will be processed as incomplete and denied if you refuse to submit a full set of your fingerprints.

Note: The requirement for fingerprints may be waived by the director if you’re unable to provide them due to a medically certified physical injury.

Application Review

After satisfying all the other requirements and submitting a license application to the South Carolina Department of Insurance, all that’s left to do is wait.

If everything on your application has been filled out correctly, your license should be issued within a few weeks—which is the amount of time it typically takes for a license application and background check to be reviewed.

It’s important to be aware that the issuance of your insurance license can take a bit longer than this if there are any items from your background check that need to be looked over. However, the state will likely get in touch with you to give some context if they run into any issues.

In any case, the state will send you an email regarding the status of your license once this review has been completed, so keep an eye out for that!

Fingerprinting and background check

In accordance with South Carolina Code § 38-43-100 (F)(a) and (b), you'll need to complete a fingerprinting and background check as part of the licensing process. This is to ensure that you meet the necessary character requirements to become a South Carolina insurance producer.

The fingerprinting allows the South Carolina Department of Insurance (SCDOI) to complete a statewide criminal background check with the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) and a national criminal background check with the FBI.

The fingerprinting and background check process is completed through IdentoGO and costs $51.75. It will initiate a background check into your past conduct to evaluate your qualifications and confirm your eligibility for a new producer's license.

To organise a fingerprinting appointment, go to the IdentoGO website and select the option that specifies "SC920124Z – DOI SC Producer Licensing/Renewal" from the dropdown menu. After your appointment, you'll be given a fingerprint receipt by IdentoGO that must be sent to the South Carolina Department of Insurance, along with your National Producer Registry number.

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

Alternatively, you can email it to [email protected] or fax it to (803) 737-6100.

Please note that your license application will be processed as incomplete and 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're unable to provide them due to a medically certified physical injury.

Frequently asked questions