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Real estate license · South Carolina

South Carolina real estate exam practice test

As of October 26, 2026, South Carolina law requires associate applicants to complete 60 classroom hours in real estate principles and practices and 30 classroom hours in advanced principles within five years before applying.

The South Carolina associate exam given by PSI pairs an 80-question national portion (120 minutes) with a 40-question state portion (80 minutes), 200 minutes altogether.

A South Carolina associate candidate needs at least 56 correct national answers and 28 correct state answers, each portion scored on its own (per scstatehouse.gov and test-takers.psiexams.com, checked on Oct 26, 2026).

Updated Oct 26, 2026Rules checked against psiexams.com, scstatehouse.gov and llr.sc.govHow we check
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South Carolina real estate exam at a glance

Scored on the exam
80 national + 40 statesource, Oct 26, 2026
To pass
56 of 80 national · 28 of 40 statesource, Oct 26, 2026
Exam time
200 minutessource, Oct 26, 2026
Exam fee
$67source, Oct 26, 2026
Minimum age
18source, Oct 26, 2026

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Free South Carolina real estate practice test: 10 questions

OneTryPass wrote these questions from South Carolina law, the commission's rules and the exam vendor's handbook. Pick an answer to see if you got it; each explanation names the section it comes from.

  1. The license exam

    Question 1. How many correct answers does a South Carolina associate candidate need on the 40-question state portion?

    Show answer

    Answer: C. 28

    The PSI bulletin sets the associate passing mark at 28 correct on the state portion and 56 correct on the 80-question national portion.

    From South Carolina Real Estate Candidate Information Bulletin (PSI, updated 8/27/2026) · Score Reporting

  2. Agency and brokerage

    Question 2. At the first substantive contact, how does South Carolina law presume a brokerage firm will treat a potential buyer?

    Show answer

    Answer: A. As a customer, with the firm acting as a transaction broker

    S.C. Code § 40-57-370(C) presumes the buyer or seller is a customer and the firm a transaction broker until an agency representation agreement is signed.

    From S.C. Code § 40-57-370: Duty of licensee to provide disclosure of brokerage relationships; exceptions · § 40-57-370(C)

  3. Agency and brokerage

    Question 3. In South Carolina, by when must a buyer sign the commission’s dual agency agreement for a disclosed dual agency?

    Show answer

    Answer: B. Before writing an offer

    Under § 40-57-350(I)(1), the buyer signs at the latest before writing an offer and the seller before signing the sales contract.

    From S.C. Code § 40-57-350: Real estate brokerage firm duties to client; agency relationship; applicability of common law · § 40-57-350(I)(1)

  4. Licensing rules

    Question 4. A South Carolina broker-in-charge receives an earnest money check on a home sale. When must it be deposited in the trust account?

    Show answer

    Answer: D. Within 48 hours after written acceptance of the offer, not counting weekends and bank holidays

    Section 40-57-136(D)(1)(a) requires checks to be deposited within 48 hours after written acceptance of the offer, excluding Saturday, Sunday and bank holidays. Cash or certified funds go in within 48 hours of receipt.

    From S.C. Code § 40-57-136: Trust accounts; disputes; records · § 40-57-136(D)(1)(a)

  5. Licensing rules

    Question 5. How long must a South Carolina broker-in-charge keep copies of listing agreements, sales contracts and residential property disclosure forms?

    Show answer

    Answer: C. At least five years

    Section 40-57-135(D)(1) requires these records for a minimum of five years, furnished to the commission on request. Electronic copies are allowed with an off-site backup.

    From S.C. Code § 40-57-135: Duties of broker-in-charge and property manager-in-charge; supervised licensees; office locations; policies and recordkeeping; management agreements; unlicensed employees · § 40-57-135(D)

  6. Contracts and offers

    Question 6. A South Carolina seller rejects an offer without making a counteroffer. What must the licensee give the buyer within 48 hours?

    Show answer

    Answer: A. The commission’s offer rejection form, signed by the licensee to confirm the offer was presented

    Under § 40-57-135(I)(5), the licensee provides the offeror a commission-promulgated rejection form within forty-eight hours, whether acting as buyer’s agent, seller’s agent or transaction broker.

    From S.C. Code § 40-57-135: Duties of broker-in-charge and property manager-in-charge; supervised licensees; office locations; policies and recordkeeping; management agreements; unlicensed employees · § 40-57-135(I)(5)

  7. Disclosures

    Question 7. Under South Carolina law, which fact can an owner or agent leave undisclosed without a cause of action arising?

    Show answer

    Answer: B. That an occupant died in the home

    Section 40-57-740 bars a cause of action for not disclosing a death on the property or its manner. Lying in response to a buyer’s direct question is still actionable.

    From S.C. Code § 40-57-740: Actions against owners and agents · § 40-57-740

  8. Licensing rules

    Question 8. A South Carolina licensee wants to buy a home listed with her own firm. What must she do first?

    Show answer

    Answer: D. Make her true position clearly known in writing to all parties

    Section 40-57-135(G) and (I)(7) require a licensee buying listed property to disclose her true position in writing to all parties first, and the broker-in-charge must be able to show that disclosure.

    From S.C. Code § 40-57-135: Duties of broker-in-charge and property manager-in-charge; supervised licensees; office locations; policies and recordkeeping; management agreements; unlicensed employees · § 40-57-135(G)

  9. Pre- and post-licensing education

    Question 9. Which required course may a South Carolina associate candidate finish after taking the license exam?

    Show answer

    Answer: A. The 30-hour advanced real estate principles course

    Section 40-57-320(A)(1)(a) requires 60 hours of fundamentals and 30 hours of advanced principles, but lets an applicant take the exam before completing the 30 advanced hours.

    From S.C. Code § 40-57-320: Conditions for license application; education; examination; fees · § 40-57-320(A)(1)(a)

  10. Licensing rules

    Question 10. How soon must a South Carolina licensee report a conviction for a crime such as fraud or embezzlement to the commission?

    Show answer

    Answer: C. 10 days

    Section 40-57-710(A)(10) makes it a ground for discipline to fail to report such a conviction in writing, by certified mail, within ten days.

    From S.C. Code § 40-57-710: Grounds for denial of issuance of license or for disciplinary action against licensee · § 40-57-710(A)(10)

South Carolina real estate exam questions people ask

What is on the South Carolina real estate associate exam?

Two portions in one 200-minute sitting: 80 national questions with 120 minutes and 40 South Carolina questions with 80 minutes. PSI may slip in 5 to 10 unscored experimental questions; the time spent on them is not counted against you.

The state portion follows the Code of Laws: 11 questions on statutes that govern licensees and non-licensees, 11 on agency and non-agency relationships, 9 on the commission and licensing, 6 on other state statutes such as the property condition disclosure and the landlord-tenant act, and 3 on closings.

Source: South Carolina Real Estate Candidate Information Bulletin (PSI, updated 8/27/2026)

What if you fail the South Carolina exam?

Book again: eligibility lasts one year, and PSI allows unlimited retests inside that year, though not on the same day as the failed attempt. Retaking one portion costs $59; both cost $67.

If the year runs out, you reapply to the commission, which is possible only while your qualifying courses are less than three years old.

Sources: South Carolina Real Estate Candidate Information Bulletin (PSI, updated 8/27/2026) · S.C. Code § 40-57-320: Conditions for license application; education; examination; fees

What comes after passing the South Carolina exam?

Apply within one year, under a broker-in-charge who will supervise you. Every two years you renew with 10 hours of continuing education and, every third renewal, a new background check; the associate renewal fee is $45.

Sources: S.C. Code § 40-57-320: Conditions for license application; education; examination; fees · S.C. Code § 40-57-330: Broker-in-charge license requirements; active broker or associate must be licensed under broker-in-charge · S.C. Code § 40-57-340: Conditions for license renewal; background checks · License Renewal Resource

Every South Carolina licensing rule we checked

Each line is one rule from an official page — the South Carolina Real Estate Commission, South Carolina law or the exam vendor's handbook — with the date we read it.

License exam
The South Carolina associate exam given by PSI pairs an 80-question national portion (120 minutes) with a 40-question state portion (80 minutes), 200 minutes altogether. source, Oct 26, 2026
A South Carolina associate candidate needs at least 56 correct national answers and 28 correct state answers, each portion scored on its own. source, Oct 26, 2026
Licensee conduct statutes and South Carolina agency relationships each supply 11 of the 40 state questions on the associate exam. source, Oct 26, 2026
Pre-licensing education
South Carolina law requires associate applicants to complete 60 classroom hours in real estate principles and practices and 30 classroom hours in advanced principles within five years before applying. source, Oct 26, 2026
A South Carolina associate candidate may take the license exam before the 30 hours of advanced instruction are finished. source, Oct 26, 2026
Who can apply
South Carolina licenses associates from age 18, while broker and broker-in-charge applicants must be 21. source, Oct 26, 2026
A South Carolina associate applicant must have graduated from high school or hold an equivalency certificate recognized by the State Department of Education. source, Oct 26, 2026
First-time South Carolina applicants go through a fingerprint-based SLED check, an FBI national check and a Social Security number-based records check, at their own cost. source, Oct 26, 2026
Exam vendor
South Carolina’s Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation contracts with PSI for the real estate exams, and candidates apply to the Real Estate Commission before registering with PSI. source, Oct 26, 2026
Fees
PSI charges $67 to take both portions of the South Carolina associate exam and $59 to take a single portion. source, Oct 26, 2026
Renewing a South Carolina associate license costs $45, and reinstating a lapsed one adds $15 for each month since expiration. source, Oct 26, 2026
If you fail
South Carolina exam eligibility lasts one year, and a candidate who fails may retest as often as needed within that year. source, Oct 26, 2026
A South Carolina candidate who does not pass both portions can become eligible again only if the qualifying courses were finished fewer than three years before reapplying. source, Oct 26, 2026
After you pass
Once both portions are passed, a South Carolina candidate has one year to apply for the license, or must reapply and retake every portion. source, Oct 26, 2026
South Carolina associates renew every two years with 10 hours of continuing education, at least 4 of them in mandated topics, and repeat the background check at every third renewal. source, Oct 26, 2026
An active South Carolina associate must be licensed under one commission-licensed broker-in-charge and cannot be licensed under two at once. source, Oct 26, 2026
Commission
The South Carolina Real Estate Commission has ten commissioners with four-year terms, two of whom represent the public and do not practice real estate. source, Oct 26, 2026
The South Carolina Real Estate Commission does not take part in settling disputes between licensees over the payment or division of a commission. source, Oct 26, 2026

The full South Carolina pack

The free questions above are a sample. The pack is the whole question bank, practiced the way the app below shows.

Inside the South Carolina real estate pack: study sessions that bring missed questions back, timed full practice tests and a readiness score.

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South Carolina real estate practice pack

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  • Every practice question in the South Carolina bank, not just these 10
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  • Real estate math drills with worked answers, for a year

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OneTryPass is not affiliated with the South Carolina Real Estate Commission or PSI. Licensing rules are free at llr.sc.gov.

South Carolina real estate exam FAQ

Does a South Carolina seller have to disclose a death in the house?

No. State law blocks any cause of action against an owner or agent for not disclosing that an occupant died on the property or how. It does not protect a seller or agent who lies in response to a buyer’s direct question. Source: official page "S.C. Code § 40-57-740: Actions against owners and agents", checked on Oct 26, 2026.

Can one South Carolina brokerage represent both the buyer and the seller?

Yes, as a disclosed dual agent with everyone’s prior informed written consent on the commission’s form, signed by the buyer before writing an offer and by the seller before signing the contract. Firms may also assign designated agents under a written company policy. Source: official page "S.C. Code § 40-57-350: Real estate brokerage firm duties to client; agency relationship; applicability of common law", checked on Oct 26, 2026.

When must a South Carolina seller hand over the property condition disclosure?

Before the buyer and seller sign the real estate contract, unless the contract says otherwise. Missing it does not void the deal or cloud the title, and the first sale of a never-inhabited home is exempt. Source: official page "S.C. Code Title 27, Chapter 50, Article 1: Residential Property Condition Disclosure Act", checked on Oct 26, 2026.

Are these the real South Carolina real estate exam questions?

No. OneTryPass writes its own practice questions from South Carolina law, the commission's rules and the exam vendor's candidate handbook, and each question names the section it comes from so you can check the rule. Exam vendors do not publish their live questions.

Is OneTryPass affiliated with the South Carolina Real Estate Commission or PSI?

No. OneTryPass is an independent practice site. Licensing rules and the candidate handbook are free on the South Carolina Real Estate Commission and exam vendor websites, linked on this page.

Where this information comes from

Every rule on this page comes from the South Carolina Real Estate Commission, South Carolina statutes and rules, or the PSI candidate materials for South Carolina. OneTryPass reads each page, writes the rule in plain English and records the date. A rule that passes its re-check date leaves this page on its own until it is read again.

How often each kind of rule is read again: license exam, 120 days; pre-licensing education, 180 days; who can apply, 180 days; exam vendor, 180 days; fees, 90 days; if you fail, 180 days; after you pass, 180 days; commission, 365 days.

Something wrong on this page? Tell us at [email protected] and include the link to the official page that changed. See how we check.