Licensing Info

• Agency License renewals are due by Jan. 31 in even years.
• Renewal fee is $40.
• Agencies must renew their license online through the National Insurance Producer Registry (NIPR).
• Agency license status can be viewed on the Department’s website search. Any business transacted by an agency or producer with a lapsed or canceled license is subject to a fine by the Department of Insurance.

PLEASE NOTE that having a valid email address on file with the SCDOI is required by law. Your agency’s renewal application will not be processed without an email address.

This information has been prepared by IIABSC to simplify the information/process by agents. Agency principals are encouraged to review ALL DOI bulletins and instructions and to refer to the DOI information in the case of any discrepancy in information or instructions.

New Licensees

CE REQUIREMENTS: See panel below for CE requirements. All CE requirements in South Carolina are tied to producer licensing & renewals.

STEP ONE – APPLY FOR NEW LICENSE

• Go to www.doi.sc.gov
• Select Licensing & CE > Producer
• Click on Apply or Renew License icon
• Click “Get your license” button on “Apply for a license” section.
• You can scroll down to view state information or view license requirements, but to start the application, click orange “Start now” button under “Apply for an insurance license” heading.
• Choose Individual license type.
• Complete and submit your application

STEP TWO – OBTAIN FINGERPRINTS

• Go to www.IdentoGo.com
• Under Search for services by state, select “South Carolina” then “Go“
• Click on “State Fingerprinting“
• Under “For New Appointments” click on “Schedule a New Appointment“
• In the appropriate box, use this code for full P&C exam: InsSC-PCSM04
• Enter your Zip Code.
• Choose the location and date you want, select “Click to Schedule” and choose the time of your appointment
• On the remaining screens, complete the fields as requested to schedule and pay for the fingerprints

Renewal Information

If you have an even birth year, you are required to renew your license by the end of your birth month in even years. Those with an odd birth year renew in odd years.

STEP ONE – COMPLETE CE & VERIFY RECORDS

You cannot renew your license until you have completed all your required CE.

WE RECOMMEND THAT YOU HAVE ALL REQUIRED CE COMPLETED 30 DAYS PRIOR TO YOUR RENEWAL.

Recordkeeping errors happen! Step one is to complete your CE requirements and then verify there is an accurate record of completed classes, plus any carryover.

• Go to to www.statebasedsystems.com 
• Click on Lookup and enter the information requested and hit Search. 
• Scroll across the page and click on the link that says License Manager. Enter the last 4 digits of your SS# and hit Search. 
• At the top of the page, select Review you Education Transcript. Your transcript will show credits required, credits earned, carryover credits and credits needed for renewal.
• To view a list of the courses you’ve taken, click on the link for the time period you want under CONTINUING EDUCATION COURSE COMPLETIONS.
• If you still need credits, go to our online education calendar to find courses to help you complete your required CE. Nearly all ABEN courses are also available ON DEMAND if you are short on time.

STEP TWO – RENEW LICENSE AT NIPR

You must renew license and pay renewal fees online through the National Insurance Producer Registry (NIPR) website.

• Go to www.nipr.com and click the “Renew” button in the center of the page.
• Select “Resident Licensing Renewals”
• Click on the green RENEW HERE button at the top of the page.
• Select “Individual”, put in your last name and National Producer Number (NPN). Accept the terms of the Use Agreement and click Next.
• Enter the last four digits of you SS# and your birthdate.
• Click on your name to begin the renewal process.
• Renewal and payment is done in the same transaction. Fees may be paid by electronic check or credit card (cc payments includes processing fee).

See also:

• Do you qualify for a CE exemption? (Coming soon)
• Producer Licensing FAQs (coming soon)
• Fingerprinting FAQs (coming soon)

All CE requirements in South Carolina are tied to producer licensing & renewals.

Act 141 mandates minimum continuing education requirements for all licensed insurance agents doing business in South Carolina.

Each licensed agent is required to complete 24 hours of approved insurance education, including three hours of ethics CE every other year based on their birth date.

You must complete CE requirements and renew your producer license by the end of your birth month. Those who were born in even years renew in even years. Those born in odd years renew in odd years.

IIABSC recommends that you have all your CE completed the month prior to your renewal to make the process easier.

Agents with Single Lines of Authority must complete at least eight hours in the line of authority, three hours of ethics, and the remaining 13 hours may be earned by completing any approved insurance course.

Agents with Dual Lines of Authority must complete eight hours in each line licensed; i.e., eight hours of P&C credits and eight hours of L&H credits, three hours must be in ethics; and the remaining five hours can be in any line.

An agent may not repeat the same course number more than once in a two-year period. However, an agent may take a course on the same subject if each course carries a different course number.

Agents may satisfy the SC CE requirement by either classroom courses, webinars/webcasts or self-study courses. Please note that exams are required for self-study courses and must be proctored by a disinterested third party, but it doesn’t have to be a state-approved proctor.

No more than 18 hours of credit may be carried over from one biennial period. Ethics hours DO NOT carry over.

Agents 65 years old or older with 25 or more years experience in the industry may apply for a CE exemption with the SC Dept. of Insurance.

Agents should periodically review their CE transcripts for accuracy. View instructions below.

Agents should direct all individual questions concerning their credits to the State Based Systems (SBS) at 816-783-8990 or email the Help Desk at sbshelp@naic.org.

How to look up your National Producer Number (NPN)

• Go to www.statebasedsystems.com.
• Click “Lookup” button
• Select “South Carolina” jurisdiction and “Licensee” as search type.
• Enter first and last name in appropriate fields.
• Click “I agree to Terms & Conditions” checkbox and “Search” button.

How to get CE transcripts

• Go to www.statebasedsystems.com.
• Click “Print Education Transcript” button
• Select “South Carolina” jurisdiction and enter Last Name, NPN and last four of your Social Security number. Click “Search.”
• From the top, select “Review Your Education Transcript.”
• Your transcript will come up showing credits required, credits earned, carryover credits and credits still needed for renewal.
• To view course list taken, click on the link for the wanted time period under “Education Course Completion.”

Agents should direct all individual questions concerning their credits to the State Based Systems (SBS) at 816-783-8990 or email their Help Desk at sbshelp@naic.org.

New Licensees

First, applicants should schedule a surplus lines exam with test administrator Pearson VUE.

Second, apply for license online through NIPR.com.

Be sure you also have the following:

• Test results sheet from Pearson VUE
• Individual National Producer Number, date of birth
• electronic payment in the amount of $200 (Visa, Mastercard, AMEX, electronic check)
• $10,000 broker bond and completed broker bond form

See also: Do I need to renew my brokers license or can I let it lapse? (Link coming soon)

Renewal Information

• Renewals are in even years. They typically open in March with a May 31 deadline.
• All renewals must be done through the National Insurance Producer Registry (NIPR).
• Renewal fee is $200.
• Broker licenses are contingent on having an active producer license. If the producer license is not renewed, the broker license will be cancelled.
• If the surplus lines broker license is canceled, a renewal application is required for reinstatement with a penalty fee of $400.

As a member benefit our national association funds ACORD form end user licenses for the majority of member agencies (those with a group gross property/casualty revenue of under $50 million), allowing them to claim these licenses free of charge.

Members only need to verify their membership one time when they join. Licenses will renew annually for as long as they maintain their membership and the Big I maintains this agreement with ACORD.