How to Become an Insurance Agent in South Carolina
Looking for the BEST South Carolina course available to pass your insurance license exam?
Insurance is an “evergreen” product, meaning it’s always in demand. This is true of most types of insurance products, from auto and homeowner’s insurance to life and health coverage.
Jobs in insurance sales are projected to grow faster than average between 2016 and 2026, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). If your plan is to become a licensed insurance agent/producer, congratulations, you’re taking a smart step toward a secure career!
Like all states in the U.S., South Carolina requires you to be licensed in order to sell or even discuss insurance products with customers. Even if your objective is to work in customer service rather than sales, you still must be licensed.
Your Role as an Insurance Agent/Producer
Getting your license will allow you to sell insurance in South Carolina and work for an insurance company as a captive agent (meaning you only sell that insurance company’s policies) or as an independent agent, selling the policies of one or multiple insurance companies to members of the public and to businesses.
Note: In some states, including South Carolina, insurance agents are officially called “insurance producers.” Despite the difference in names, the role they play is exactly the same (we use the terms “agent” and “producer” interchangeably on this page). Learn more about the difference between an agent, producer, and broker.
As an insurance producer, you’ll need a license for each category of insurance you want to sell. For example, to sell home and auto insurance, you’ll need a Property & Casualty license. To sell life insurance you’ll need a Life producer license, and to sell health insurance you’ll need an Accident & Health producer license.
As a licensed agent, you’ll need to have a thorough understanding of insurance terms, coverages, and availability of policies to help customers make informed decisions.
So, now that you know a little more about the responsibilities of an insurance agent/producer, what does it take to actually get your license?
Steps to Getting Your Insurance License
Here are the basic steps to becoming a South Carolina insurance agent.
- Enroll in a state-approved pre-licensing insurance course with a reputable company, like America’s Professor (AP). South Carolina doesn’t require you to take a pre-licensing course before taking your official insurance licensing exam—but doing so will greatly increase your chances of passing your insurance exam on the first try. The exams contain loads of insurance concepts and terminology that are impossible to know without studying. AP’s South Carolina pre-licensing courses include everything you need to prepare for your exam. Our courses include:
- A hardcopy textbook that covers everything you might encounter on the exam
- 24/7 access to our online suite of streaming “better-than-live” video lectures (100-day subscription, with extensions at no charge, if needed)
- First-class customer service until you pass
- Register for your South Carolina exam. Once you have completed your pre-exam state licensing course and are comfortable and well-versed with the information, your next step is registering for the exam at a testing center near you. The fee for most tests is $45. We recommend taking the exam as soon as possible after completing your pre-licensing course. Learn more about what to expect on the exam, testing center locations, exam/license/fingerprinting fees, and more on this page.
- Pass your exam and apply for your license. Once you have passed your exam you will need to apply for your South Carolina insurance agent license (the fee is $25). Once you receive your license you can begin selling or discussing insurance transactions! Note: You’ll need to renew your license periodically, and you’ll also be required to take periodic continuing education courses to maintain your license.
Taking a pre-licensing course to prepare for the exam is one of the most important steps you can take to ensure you have the knowledge you need to pass on the first try.
There is no substitute for preparation. There’s no “winging it.” You must know the information to pass your exam.
Enroll in a pre-licensing course today and be on your way to launching or expanding your career in the lucrative insurance industry!
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