Starting your Career in Real Estate

Real Estate Salesman and Broker License Requirements

Age

Individuals must be 18 to be licensed as a salesman and 21 to be licensed as a broker.

Education

A prospective licensee must be a high school graduate or hold a certificate of equivalency.

I. Sales license applicants- completion of a Commission-approve, sixty (or More) hour coursein the fundamentalsof real estate. Within one year after passing the examination, the applicant must be sponsored by a broker-in-charge and apply for a provisional sales license, which is mailed to the broker-in-charge. The provisional license may not be placed on inactive status. Duiring the first year of licensure, provisional salesman must complete an additional thirty hours of commission-approved post-license education. To upgrade a provisional license to a permanent status, proof of the post licensing course(s), application and fee ($25) must be sent to the Real Estate Commission.

II. Broker applicants-completion of an additional sixty hours of commission-approved education for a total of at least one hundred fifty (150) hours, and at least three years of active licensed experience. In lieu of the approved courses, a law degree or baccalaureate degree with a major in real esate will qualify an applicant for broker's examination. Upon passing the broker's examination, the applicant must apply for a license as a broker or broker-in-charge within one year.

Links:

Fortune Academy: www.fortuneacademyofcharleston.com

CTAR Real Estate School: http://education.charlestonrealtors.com/res.html

Real Estate School of SC: http://www.realestateschoolofsc.com/

Experience

There is no licensed experience requirement for a sales position.

For a brokers position, however, the law requires three or more years of active licensure within the past five years preceeding application. To receive recognition for out-of-state experience, the applicant must obtain a Certification of Licensure, including history, education, and disciplinary action from the real estate regulatory agency (commission, board,etc.) of all other states where he/she is or has been licensed before applying for the brokers exam.

Examinations

Examinations are scheduled every Monday through Saturday in Beaufort, Charleston, Coumbia, Greenville, and Myrtle Beach, SC. PSI is the examination provider for the Commission and they publish a Candidate Information Bulletin for approved candidates for the real estate examinations. Canididates receive this bulletin when they receive the examination eligibility letter from the Commission. Examinees must receive a passing score on both portions of the exam (general and state). Retesting may be scheduled quickly if one or both portions are failed.

Miscellaneous

Fees- Upon original application, each application must pay the following fees:

1. Sales- $25 (plus $10 for a credit report). After passing the examination, applicants must submit a license fee of $25 to upgrade from a provisional status.

2. Broker- $125-$250. After passing the examination, applicants must submit a seperate two-year licensing fee of $250 for a broker-in-charge license or $125 for a brokers license.

3. The examination fee is $63. Persons not currently licensed in South Carolina must submit certified funds for licensure.

Post Licensing

Within one year following licensure, a salesman shall provide proof of satisfactory completion of thirty hours of post-licensing

instruction in advanced real estate principles and pass the school's examination. Failure to complete the post-licensing edcation within one year will result in cancellation of the license, and the licensee must take an approved post-licensing course and pass the state examination to get their license back. To receive a permanent salesman license the licensee must complete a total of 90 hours of education, 60 hours of pre-license and 30 hours post-license.

If you have any questions or need further assistance in starting you real estate career please contact us at:

Charleston-West

Shane Ellis - Team Leader

Office: 843-414-1802

Fax: 843-416-1802

Toll Free: 866-426-1800

Email: sellis@kwcharleston.com

Charleston-East

Rob Woodul - Team Leader

Office: 843-416-1401

Fax: 843-416-1501

Toll Free: 877-416-2001