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Real Estate License from Florida to South Carolina: Does It Transfer? (2026)

Generated from a source-cited dataset with AI-assisted research; facts checked against official sources · How these pages are made

Does South Carolina accept a Florida real estate license?

A real estate license transfers from Florida to South Carolina by endorsement — there is no automatic reciprocity, but you do not start over. Apply to the South Carolina Real Estate Commission (SCREC) / SC Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation (LLR), verify your Florida license, and meet South Carolina's endorsement requirements. Georgia reciprocity applicants who were licensed by written exam and reside in Georgia are exempt from ALL South Carolina examinations; North Carolina reciprocity applicants take only the SC state portion; any other non-resident holding an active out-of-state license (or one expired no more than 6 months) is exempt from the national portion and takes only the SC state exam per S.C. Code Ann. Section 40-57-320(B)(6).

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Verdict

Licensure by endorsement

South Carolina publishes no agreement covering Florida, but it does evaluate out-of-state licensees individually — so this move runs on South Carolina's endorsement judgment rather than a guarantee. The requirements below are what the South Carolina Real Estate Commission (SCREC) / SC Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation (LLR) commits to in writing; for anything discretionary (exam waivers, education credit), get the commission's answer in writing before you rely on it.

What's different between Florida and South Carolina

Computed from both states' verified data rows, in both directions, and from the route every other origin gets into South Carolina. Exam notes are our summary of each board's published rules, with sources below.

Route, each way

Florida to South Carolina (this page): Licensure by endorsement.

South Carolina to Florida (the reverse move): Licensure by endorsement.

The route is the same in both directions.

Does coming from Florida matter?

Florida gets South Carolina's most common result: 48 of 50 origins (the other 49 states and DC) get the same one, so for most movers the origin does not change the answer.

The others get: reciprocity agreement (2).

Reciprocity agreements

South Carolina's reciprocity agreement list names 2 states (Georgia and North Carolina), not including Florida.

Florida's reciprocity agreement list names 10 states (Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, Mississippi, Nebraska, Rhode Island, and West Virginia), not including South Carolina.

Application fee

South Carolina lists $25 for an out-of-state applicant and Florida lists $62.75 for the reverse move; neither may be the full cost.

Pre-license education

South Carolina's first-time-applicant standard is 90 hours of pre-license education; Florida's is 63.

South Carolina's is 27 education hours higher than Florida's.

Exam rules on record

South Carolina and Florida carry different exam notes (our summaries, below); any state law or jurisprudence exam is listed with each state's requirements.

  • South Carolina (this move): Georgia reciprocity applicants who were licensed by written exam and reside in Georgia are exempt from ALL South Carolina examinations; North Carolina reciprocity applicants take only the SC state portion; any other non-resident holding an active out-of-state license (or one expired no more than 6 months) is exempt from the national portion and takes only the SC state exam per S.C. Code Ann. Section 40-57-320(B)(6)
  • Florida (the reverse move): Mutual-recognition applicants skip the national exam and the 63-hour pre-license course; a 40-question Florida real estate law exam (30 of 40 correct to pass) is required

What changes, Florida → South Carolina

Side-by-side: Florida vs South Carolina (Real Estate (salesperson/broker)), verified 2026-07-21
Florida (current)South Carolina (destination)
Pre-license education6390
Application fee$62.75 (DBPR RE-1 state application fee; the PSI/testing-vendor exam fee and the electronic fingerprint fee are paid separately)$25 (salesperson/associate application fee payable to SC Real Estate Commission; a separate SLED/FBI fingerprint background-check vendor fee applies)
Processing timeNo board-stated timeframe; the license is issued after DBPR reviews the application and the applicant passes the 40-question Florida law examCommission does not publish a fixed processing-time estimate; a submitted application remains valid for one year
Licensing authorityFlorida Real Estate Commission (FREC) / DBPRSouth Carolina Real Estate Commission (SCREC) / SC Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation (LLR)

The destination column is what you must satisfy — South Carolina sets the rules for this move.

Step by step

  1. Confirm South Carolina's current requirements on the South Carolina Real Estate Commission (SCREC) / SC Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation (LLR) website (linked below) — rules change.
  2. Submit the endorsement application to the South Carolina Real Estate Commission (SCREC) / SC Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation (LLR) (application linked below).
  3. Arrange license verification from your current state.
  4. Be at least 18 years old and hold a high school diploma or recognized equivalent.
  5. Complete a state and federal fingerprint-based (SLED/FBI) background check.
  6. Reciprocity/non-resident applicants: submit a certified license history from every jurisdiction where currently or previously licensed.
  7. Non-resident applicants must file a Consent to Jurisdiction (irrevocable consent to service of process).
  8. Georgia reciprocity applicants are exempt from the 90-hour education requirement and all exams; North Carolina applicants qualify per the SC-NC reciprocal agreement.
  9. Pay the fees listed above, and allow for the processing time shown there.

Official links

Related guides

Frequently asked questions

Can I keep selling in Florida after I'm licensed in South Carolina?

Yes — real estate licenses stack. Keep the Florida license active (renewals and CE continue separately) and you hold both; many border-market agents do exactly this.

Sources

Primary sources only — official boards and compact commissions. Data last verified 2026-07-21.

Reviewed by the License Reciprocity Editorial Team · verified against primary sources 2026-07-21

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