Pre-License Real Estate Courses in South Carolina
Overview of Pre-License Real Estate Courses in South Carolina
A Career in South Carolina Real Estate
If you are interested in pursuing a dynamic, exciting, and rewarding professional path, then a career in real estate might just be what you need.
Did you know that real estate agents and brokers in South Carolina earn more commission than the national average?
If you are a real estate agent in SC, you can expect to earn around $100K annually.
Not to mention the extra commission opportunities and perks that contribute to the total take-home income.
However, to achieve this dream and turn it into a reality, you would need to complete a minimum level of education and obtain a South Carolina real estate license.
To launch your career in the real estate sector, your first step is to complete the mandated pre-licensing education.
In this article, we are going to give you a detailed overview of what pre-licensing education is and its importance in your career.
In this post, we will go through the process of completing the South Carolina real estate pre-license education and ultimately getting a real estate license in the state.
What is a Pre-Licensing Course?
While having a college degree is not mandatory to obtain a real estate license in South Carolina, completing a pre-licensing education is.
If you have done your research about the real estate industry, you might have come across the term called pre-licensing education.
You might have already wondered - what is a pre-licensing course and why does it matter?
A pre-licensing course or education is a structured learning program developed for aspiring professionals to help them learn about the real estate industry.
It is a fundamental training that provides the foundation knowledge about real estate laws, rules, regulations, and guidelines.
With the help of pre-licensing education, students are provided with an understanding of how the state and federal policies and processes work together.
Think of it like a crash course where you will learn about the real estate industry, its workings, regulations, best practices, and laws.
Completing pre-licensing education is mandatory as per the South Carolina Real Estate Commission (SCREC).
Without doing so, you will not qualify to take the state licensing exam and apply for a real estate salesperson license.
Educational Requirements for South Carolina Real Estate Courses
In South Carolina, you must go through 90 hours of pre-licensing education to get a license. This is mandated by the SCREC.
The coursework is divided into two sections - first comes the 60-hour basic real estate course which covers the core basic principles of real estate.
It is formulated to provide students with fundamental knowledge of the real estate industry, its laws, pricing, property types, real estate finance, and contracts.
The basic 60-hour course imparts knowledge about real estate practices and principles.
Next comes the Unit 2 30-hour advanced real estate course which builds on the foundation gained in the Unit 1 course.
This course is aimed to help students go deeper into the practice and principles of real estate. It is a more detailed and advanced study of the topics and subjects of real estate trade and industry.
The course is formulated to cover 5 topics and subjects with 6 hours of training for each. These include - Real estate agency, ethics and fair trade, real estate contracts, property valuation, and real estate investments.
Benefits of Taking Pre-License Real Estate Courses
Real estate is a vast, dynamic, and specialized industry that requires professionals to achieve a minimum standard of education and skills.
Each state has its own set of laws, rules, and regulations along with the federal laws which govern every transaction.
To navigate the complex and fast-moving world of real estate, applicants must achieve a level of proficiency in industry principles and practices.
This is where pre-licensing courses come into the picture. They are developed to help students learn about the key aspects which shape and define the trade.
Pre-licensing education incorporates various subjects and courses touching upon a range of topics that affect the industry and its working.
Let’s look at some of the main benefits of pre-license real estate courses in South Carolina
- You get to learn about the state and federal laws, rules, and regulations
- You gain knowledge about the essential skills and principles of the industry
- You learn about the key aspects which govern the working of the trade
- You can maintain legal compliance with the state and federal law agencies
South Carolina Real Estate Pre-License Requirements
Minimum Requirements to Enroll For The Real Estate Licensing Course
You must complete the 90-hour pre-licensing coursework from a state-approved education provider.
Note that you must fulfill the general requirements established by the state before enrolling in a pre-licensing course:
- You must be 18 years of age or older
- You must be a legal resident of the U.S. or a lawfully admitted alien
- You must have a high school education or GED equivalent
According to the South Carolina Real Estate Commission (SCREC), every applicant is required to complete state-approved qualifying education to become eligible for a salesperson or broker’s license.
According to the SCERC guidelines, the 90 hours of pre-licensing education must be completed from a state-approved education provider.
However, students can choose to enroll in an in-person college or an online, self-paced course as per their choice.
Application Process for South Carolina Real Estate Pre-License
Many aspirants often wonder how long it takes to get a real estate license and start a career as a real estate salesperson in South Carolina.
Generally speaking, it takes around a few months to obtain your license if you follow the step-by-step process.
Step 1: Meet the basic eligibility criteria
The South Carolina Real Estate Commission (SCREC) has established a set of minimum general qualifications that must be fulfilled by every applicant.
Step 2: Complete pre-licensing education
Pre-licensing education is the minimum level of qualifying education required to become eligible for applying for a state real estate license.
In the state of South Carolina, all applicants must complete 90 hours of pre-licensing coursework from a state-approved education provider.
The cost of completing pre-licensing education varies depending on the education provider, type of package, and content delivery medium among other factors.
Typically, you can expect to spend anywhere between $200 to $600 for completing SC pre-licensing education.
Step 4: Submit your SC licensing application
After you have completed all the course material, you can submit your exam application.
Along with the application, you will be required to submit documents like electronic fingerprints, credit checks, and proof of social security number.
This is a mandatory step to complete your background check and verification. Note that it will cost you $35 to complete the criminal background check.
Step 4: Pass the real estate licensing exam in South Carolina
To pass the exam, you must score at least 75% or above. You will have to face 120 questions in total which will cover both the state as well as the national-specific questions. Applicants will get a total of 200 minutes to complete the exam.
Note that it will cost you $63 for each attempt at taking the exam.
Step 5: Find a sponsoring broker in South Carolina
If you have successfully cleared the South Carolina real estate licensing exam, you should receive your license in a few days.
However, as per the SCREC, every license holder must activate their license by finding a sponsoring broker.
A sponsoring broker is a senior and more experienced industry professional or agency who will help you gain industry experience and serve as your mentor.
Understanding Pre-Licensing Courses
Definition and Purpose of Pre-Licensing Courses
If you are a newcomer to the world of real estate, you might have heard about the term called pre-licensing education.
If you are wondering what is a pre-licensing course, here’s the short answer - it is a structured learning program that is developed to help candidates prepare for their careers.
Completing pre-licensing education is mandatory for every applicant in almost every state of the country.
While different states might have their unique pre-licensing education requirements, almost all of them require candidates to complete state-approved qualifying education.
This is why it is important to choose a state-approved and accredited education provider.
Whether it is a real estate college, school, or online institution, students must ensure they are learning from the right source.
It is important to avoid the common pitfall of not verifying the accreditation of an institution or education provider.
Wondering what exactly is the purpose of completing pre-license courses? Since real estate is a diverse and ever-evolving industry, it requires a grasp and understanding of many topics and subjects.
Pre-licensing courses help students learn about the different aspects of working in the real estate industry.
From the laws and rules to the guidelines and best practices, these courses equip students with the common knowledge and fundamental principles of the industry.
Topics Covered in Pre-Licensing Courses
The topics covered in a pre-licensing course vary based on the state, the department, and the type of real estate license you are applying for.
For example - pre-licensing education for a South Carolina salesperson license might vary from that of a broker’s license.
Similarly, pre-licensing education in California might differ from the one required in New York and so forth.
However, there always exist core principles and key topics that are common across all pre-licensing courses. Some of these include:
- Principles of Real Estate
- State and Federal laws
- Ethics
- Real Estate Financing
- Property Valuation
- Promulgated Contract Forms