Get A Life Insurance License In South Carolina Easily

If you're looking to sell insurance in South Carolina, you'll need to obtain a South Carolina insurance license. The type of insurance you want to sell will dictate the type of license you need. For example, to sell auto, home, or business insurance, you'll need a Property & Casualty (P&C) license. Alternatively, if you want to sell life insurance, you'll need to obtain a Life and Health license.

There are six steps to getting your South Carolina insurance license:

1. Figure out which insurance license you need

2. Ensure you satisfy the licensing prerequisites, such as being at least 18 years old and being a resident of South Carolina

3. Complete a pre-licensing education course (optional but recommended)

4. Pass the relevant South Carolina insurance license exam

5. Submit your insurance license application

6. Complete a fingerprint and background check

Eligibility requirements

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

• Age: You must be at least 18 years old to apply for a life insurance license in South Carolina.
• Residency: To obtain a life insurance license in South Carolina, you must be a resident of the state.
• Citizenship: If you are not a citizen of the United States, you must provide proof of eligibility to work in the country.
• Character: Applicants must be of good moral character and not have any recent felony or misdemeanor convictions involving deception, finance, or insurance. Specifically, 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 in the last five years.
• Prior Approval: If you have a prior criminal record, you must obtain approval from the South Carolina Department of Insurance before scheduling your licensing exam. This involves completing an application for licensure and submitting a South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) report, which must be no older than 90 days.
• Education: While South Carolina does not require pre-licensing education hours, it is highly recommended that you complete a pre-licensing course to prepare for the licensing exam. These courses can improve your understanding of the material and increase your chances of passing the exam on your first attempt.

Pre-licensing course

Although it is not a requirement in South Carolina, it is highly recommended that you take a pre-licensing course before you take your insurance licensing exam. A pre-licensing course will help ensure that you pass your exam on the first try, saving you time and money. These courses offer features such as live tutoring, study calendars, and practice exams, all of which are designed to enhance your understanding of the material.

When choosing a pre-licensing course, consider the following factors:

• Flexibility: Look for a course that allows flexible learning and does not require completion within a short time frame.
• Price: While this is an important consideration, remember that you get what you pay for. Very cheap courses may not provide you with the resources you need.
• Reputation: Choose a course provider with a good reputation to ensure you receive sufficient and complete resources.

There are several providers that offer pre-licensing courses for the South Carolina insurance license, including America's Professor, Brewer Insurance School, and A.D. Banker. These courses can be taken online or in-person and will prepare you for the specific industry information, insurance products, and state insurance laws that will be covered in the licensing exam.

It is important to note that the South Carolina insurance licensing exam is not easy, and you will need to dedicate time to studying for it. The exam is multiple-choice and covers both general insurance product knowledge and specific state insurance laws, rules, regulations, and practices.

State licensing exam

To get a life insurance license in South Carolina, you must pass a state licensing exam. Here is a detailed guide on what you need to know about the state licensing exam:

Exam Provider and Format

The state licensing exam is provided by Pearson VUE, which has been the exam vendor for all insurance licensing tests in South Carolina since 2023. The exam is computer-based and consists of multiple-choice questions. It does not include fill-in or essay questions.

Exam Content

The exam covers both national and state-specific insurance questions. It focuses heavily on definitions and terminology, numbers and dollar amounts, and short story problems that require practical application of knowledge gained during your pre-licensing course.

The Life Insurance Producer exam consists of 100 questions and has a duration of 2 hours.

Passing Score

To pass the state licensing exam, you need a score of 70% or higher. You will receive a pass or fail notification immediately after completing the exam. If you pass, you will receive a letter with a performance summary.

Retakes

If you fail the exam, you can reschedule and retake it. However, you must wait at least 24 hours before scheduling a re-examination, and you will be charged an additional test fee of $59 for each subsequent attempt.

Registration and Scheduling

To register for the exam, you must complete a registration form online at Pearson VUE's website or by calling them. The exam fee must be paid at the time of reservation using a credit or debit card, voucher, or electronic check.

Preparation

Due to the challenging nature of the exam, it is highly recommended to prepare thoroughly beforehand. You can enrol in pre-licensing courses or exam prep courses offered by various institutions, such as A.D. Banker, Kaplan, and America's Professor. These courses provide practice exams, study materials, and instruction to enhance your understanding of the exam content.

Remote and In-Person Options

Pearson VUE offers remote exams through their OnVUE remote testing platform, as well as in-person exams at their testing centres. When scheduling your exam, you can choose the option that suits you best.

Identification Requirements

For remote exams, you must present a valid government-issued ID to verify your identity. Certain secure access IDs, such as a military ID, are not accepted for remote proctoring. In-person exams also require a valid government-issued ID.

Exam Day Instructions

If you choose to take the exam remotely, ensure your computer or laptop is compatible with OnVUE and download the platform in advance. You must also test the compatibility of your computer, webcam, and microphone. On the exam day, log in to the testing platform 30 minutes early, and ensure you are alone in a private room for the duration of the exam. Food, chewing gum, tobacco products, phones, headphones, and wristwatches are prohibited during the exam.

For in-person exams, arrive at the testing centre 30 minutes early for the check-in process. No personal items, including bags, wallets, cell phones, calculators, electronic devices, and wristwatches, are allowed in the testing centre. Food, chewing gum, and tobacco products are also prohibited.

Additional Considerations

If you have a disability, indicate this during the online exam registration and scheduling process. If English is not your first language, you may qualify for extra time on the exam by contacting Pearson VUE and providing the necessary documentation.

Application and fee

Once you have passed your South Carolina licensing exam, you are ready to apply for your insurance license. In South Carolina, applications are submitted online through the National Insurance Producer Registry (NIPR) alongside a license fee of $25. 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. After your appointment, you will be given a fingerprint receipt by IdentoGO that must be sent to the South Carolina Department of Insurance. 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.

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.

The total cost of obtaining an insurance license for prospective insurance producers will also include the cost of the insurance exam for your insurance line ($59 per attempt) as well as extras such as liability insurance and fingerprinting/background checks (around $50).

Fingerprinting and background check

The South Carolina Department of Insurance (SCDOI) requires fingerprint impressions from all applicants for an insurance license. This is a mandatory step in the process of obtaining your license and will be submitted for a background check.

The background check is a review of your past conduct to evaluate your qualifications and confirm your eligibility for a new producer's license. The background check will search criminal history records from the FBI and SLED.

The fingerprinting and background check process is completed through IdentoGO and costs $51.75. To organise a fingerprinting appointment, go to the IdentoGO website and select the option "SC920124Z – DOI SC Producer Licensing/Renewal" from the dropdown menu.

After your appointment, you will receive a fingerprint receipt from IdentoGO. Keep the original for your records and send a copy to the South Carolina Department of Insurance, along with your National Producer Registry number. You can mail, email, or fax this document.

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 are unable to provide them due to a medically certified physical injury.

Frequently asked questions