To get started in real estate in South Carolina, you’ll need to complete a 90-hour prelicensing course. Making sure your real estate school works with your schedule, budget, and career goals is important. So if you’re in the process of choosing a South Carolina real estate school, look no further than this article.
We assessed the top South Carolina real estate schools to show you what sets each one apart and help you make the right choice. Here are our five favorite South Carolina real estate schools, presented with an eye on what’s important to online students looking to get started in the industry quickly.
5 Best South Carolina Real Estate Schools
| Our Top 5 Picks | Pricing From | |
|---|---|---|
| Best Overall: The CE Shop | $599 | |
| Best User Experience: Colibri Real Estate | $642 | |
| Best School for a Budget: RealEstateU | $399 | |
| Best for Exam Prep: Aceable Agent | $479 | |
| Best for In-person Classes: Real Estate School for Success | $644 |
(South Carolina prelicensing package prices as of December 2022)
South Carolina Real Estate Schools: Helpful Info
Every state’s requirements for real estate licensing are unique, so we’ve highlighted the details you’ll need to know before you choose your real estate school.
South Carolina is one of the few states that requires a proctored final exam for your prelicensing course. This prelicensing final exam is separate from your state real estate license exam. The prelicensing final exam should be offered by the real estate school you choose, making the proctoring process easy and convenient.
Once you complete your course, you will be able to apply for the state exam with the South Carolina Real Estate Commission. After you’ve passed your exam, you can get hired by a managing broker and start selling as a real estate agent.
Here are the types of course packages offered by South Carolina real estate schools:
Prelicensing Courses
You’ll notice the South Carolina prelicensing course is split into two units: one on sales (60 hours) and another covering the advanced principles of real estate (30 hours). In South Carolina, real estate schools will also offer an in-person proctored exam, or instructions for online proctoring through video so that you can complete your course final exam from home.
Exam Preparation
You’ll need some study skills to feel prepared for the state real estate license exam. You might consider using targeted exam prep material. South Carolina real estate schools offer exam prep packages that include features like quizzes, flashcards, mock exams, and access to study groups.
Our top pick for exam prep is Aceable Agent. They include exam prep materials in their prelicensing packages as well as à la carte.
Continuing Education
You’ll need 10 hours of continuing education (CE) coursework every two years from the time your license is in active status. After that, you’ll need to complete 10 hours of CE coursework every two years to renew your license. The CE Shop, our top pick for best overall school, specializes in real estate continuing education nationwide.
The schools on our list won’t just prepare you to get your license; they’ll help you with all your real estate education needs. We’ve broken down the features of each school so that you can choose the right school for your situation. Let’s take a look.
Best Overall South Carolina Real Estate School: The CE Shop
The CE Shop Offers:
- Prelicensing Courses
- Exam Prep
- Continuing Education Courses
The CE Shop has been around since 2005 and prides itself on preparing students with innovative and results-driven strategies. And it shows: Their pass rates are 16 percentage points higher than average for the national portion of the real estate exam and 11 points higher than average on the state part.
The CE Shop provides courses online, so you’ll be able to work through the material at your own pace. You’ll get access to their interactive online platform, which makes navigating the lessons and content a breeze.
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Try The CE Shop’s FREE 5-DAY TRIAL!
The CE Shop is the only school on our list that lets you test drive their courses & features before you buy. Visit their website today!The CE Shop Pricing
The CE Shop offers four different prelicensing course packages. Often, you’ll find The CE Shop puts their courses on sale, and you can also save with our promo code below.
- South Carolina Online Courses Only Package ($599): This package includes your 90 hours of prelicensing and a few other features like digital flashcards and a study schedule. This package is best for the self-starter looking for only the course content.
- South Carolina Standard Online Package ($689): With this package, you’ll get everything in the above package, plus exam prep to make sure you’re ready for both national and state exam portions.
- South Carolina Value Online Package ($729): On top of your prelicensing course and exam prep, this package includes business-building courses for new agents.
- South Carolina Premium Online Package ($849): On top of the previous feature, this package includes your 10-hour continuing education coursework so you’re ready to take on the first two years as a sales agent.
(The CE Shop prelicensing and interactive package prices as of December 2022)
BEST FEATURE: The CE Shop’s best feature has to be their free trial. In fact, they offer a lot transparency when it comes to their courses. You can take a course tour so you know what to expect, and they offer a great selection of different packages.
ROOM TO IMPROVE: The CE Shop’s courses aren’t the most expensive on our list, but they’re not the cheapest. The good news is that they tend to go on sale often, and you can also save with our promo code above.
BOTTOM LINE: The CE Shop is a great one-stop shop. They’re also a great fit if you’d like a closer look at the online learning format since they’re the only school on our list with a free trial. Their platform is easy to use and organized so learning is hassle-free.
Best South Carolina Real Estate School for User Experience: Colibri Real Estate
Colibri Real Estate Offers:
- Prelicensing Courses
- Continuing Education Courses
Colibri Real Estate has been providing real estate education throughout the U.S. for the last 25 years. Because they were one of the first to adopt online learning, their site has the latest features and is incredibly user-friendly.
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Colibri Real Estate Pricing
Colibri Real Estate offers four comprehensive packages for the 90-hour prelicensing course in South Carolina. All of their packages are designed for online learning, so you can work through the material at your own pace.
- The Basics ($642): Besides the 90-hour prelicensing course, you’ll get three real estate e-books with this package, as well as teacher support via email and phone.
- Exam Preparation ($705): On top of the basics package, you’ll get exam prep material such as practice tests and flashcards. You’ll also get a Pass or Don’t Pay guarantee, meaning that if you don’t pass your license exam on your first try, you’ll be reimbursed for the cost of your course.
- Exam Preparation Plus ($777): Along with the previous features, this package includes a real estate dictionary, access to a Q&A session with an instructor, and six 1-hour, instructor-led live webinars called the Live Exam Crammer Series.
- Ultimate Learning Package ($872): Everything in the previous packages is included in this bundle, plus a copy of a printed textbook to make it easier to study. You’ll also gain access to professional development.
(Colibri Real Estate prelicensing package prices as of December 2022)
BEST FEATURE: Your user experience as a student is easy and enjoyable through Colibri Real Estate. Colibri Real Estate is a veteran in the online learning realm, so they know how to organize and deliver everything you need.
ROOM TO IMPROVE: It would be nice to see Colibri Real Estate offer separate exam prep packages. That being said, each of their prelicensing packages are comprehensive, meaning higher-tier packages include exam prep.
BOTTOM LINE: Colibri Real Estate won’t let you down. They offer high-quality online real estate education to meet your needs.
Can You Be a Part-time Real Estate Agent? (+ Free Guide & Videos)
Best South Carolina Real Estate School for Students on a Budget: RealEstateU
RealEstateU Offers:
- Prelicensing Courses
- Exam Prep
RealEstateU prides itself on providing expert education that’s affordable. It serves 14 states across the country and brings in top real estate professionals and scholars to teach its material.
The courses are 100% online so you can learn from the comfort of home, and RealEstateU offers exam prep packages too. The format is simple, using audio lectures and infographics to help you learn the material. RealEstateU skips extra features for quality content and a minimalist course structure.
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RealEstateU Pricing
RealEstateU has three packages for the 90-hour prelicensing requirements:
- Online Course Bundle ($399): This 90-hour bundle includes both required courses with audio classes and quizzes.
- Course + Study Guide ($524): This includes everything in the previous package, plus the State Exam Study Guide.
- Course + Study Guide + e-Textbook ($553): For $29 more, you’ll get the e-textbooks which cover all course content, key terms, and supporting documents.
(RealEstateU prelicensing package price as of December 2022)
BEST FEATURE: RealEstateU offers a solid course package at the most affordable price on our list. The course doesn’t skimp on key features, either. Chapters finish with quizzes you must pass with at least 70% to be able to gain access to further lessons, making sure you know your stuff before moving on.
ROOM TO IMPROVE: RealEstateU’s prelicensing course is an audio-recorded lesson with overlaid text. For people who prefer to see someone, a video lecture or livestream option would be better.
BOTTOM LINE: If you’re not looking for flashy features, can study independently, and are looking for a good deal, RealEstateU is a great South Carolina real estate school option. If you’re more interested in a variety of online features or extra instructor support, you might want to check out Colibri Real Estate.
Best South Carolina Real Estate School for Pass Rate: Aceable Agent
Aceable Agent Offers:
- Prelicensing Courses
- Continuing Education
Aceable Agent focuses on preparing you to pass the real estate license exam with flying colors. They boast a 92% national pass rate and pack their course packages with helpful exam prep features. In additional to their extremely high pass rate, what sets this school apart is its exceptional compatibility for mobile, tablet, and web learning.
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Aceable Agent Pricing
Aceable Agent has three South Carolina prelicensing packages that vary primarily by the level of in-depth exam prep.
- South Carolina Basic Package ($479): Besides your 90-hour prelicensing course, this package offers Lite Exam Prep, with a generous 450-plus real estate exam practice questions.
- South Carolina Deluxe Package ($629): You’ll get everything in the basic package, plus nine times more practice questions, an e-book, and digital flashcards.
- South Carolina Premium Package ($729): Besides everything in the deluxe package, you’ll unlock features like live webinars five times a week, live Q&A sessions with instructions, and even an hour of private one-on-one tutoring to have you feeling confident about acing your license exam.
(Aceable Agent prelicensing package prices as of December 2022)
BEST FEATURE: Aceable Agent’s emphasis on exam prep is like no other. They understand that learning takes practice, and provide you with plenty of mock exam questions. They also recognize that we need help when we feel stuck, so their live webinar, Q&A sessions, and tutoring services go the extra mile.
ROOM TO IMPROVE: The prelicensing packages are priced nearly on par with others on our list, but they aren’t necessarily affordable. The good news is that they often go on sale, and you can also save 25% by clicking on our Aceable Agent link above.
BOTTOM LINE: If you’re looking for extra reassurance and preparation for the real estate license exam, you won’t be disappointed with Aceable Agent’s exam prep-focused courses.
Best South Carolina Real Estate School for In-person Classes: Real Estate School for Success
Real Estate School for Success Offers:
- Prelicensing Courses
- Continuing Education
- Broker Prelicensing
Real Estate School for Success focuses on offering curated, streamlined real estate courses taught by real estate professionals. They focus on making the material manageable and entertaining wherever it can be and take pride in their high customer approval and testimonials from past students.
Prelicensing courses by Real Estate School for Success are offered either in-person or online. The online courses are streamed videos of in-person lectures, along with a few other features like instructor and online discussion board access.
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Real Estate School for Success Pricing
Real Estate School for Success offers the 90-hour prelicensing course in two ways: online or in person. If you take your prelicensing course in person, you’ll have to pay for each part of the course separately.
- In-person Real Estate Salesperson Unit I ($375): This course meets in person and ranges in length from eight days to eight weeks depending on whether you choose full days, half days, or weekends.
- In-person Real Estate Salesperson Unit II ($299): This course is required to qualify for your North Carolina real estate license exam and meets in person during the week, evenings, or weekends.
- Video Course Real Estate Salesperson Unit I & II ($644): You’ll get instant access to all 90 hours of prelicensing coursework, as well as access to online discussion boards and optional weekly Zoom calls with an instructor.
(Real Estate School for Success prelicensing package prices as of December 2022)
BEST FEATURE: Some students just learn better in person. Classes run full time, half days, evenings, and weekends, so those who want to learn in class have many ways to work it into their schedule. Their online package is still on the affordable side, considering it includes weekly instructor support via Zoom.
ROOM TO IMPROVE: You aren’t going to find a state-of-the-art online platform with tons of extra features. This may not be the school for you if you like to customize your package with specific features or technology.
BOTTOM LINE: If online learning isn’t for you, this is the school for you. And if you prefer a lecture format that still feels like you’re in the classroom, Real Estate School for Success’ online structure lets you watch your instructor teach, all from the comfort of your home.
South Carolina Real Estate Schools: FAQs
Have more questions? Don’t sweat it! We’ve got answers to your most commonly asked questions below.
What if I already have a real estate license in another state?
If you’re licensed in another state, the South Carolina Real Estate Commission will recognize your qualifications. However, you’ll still have to apply for and take the state portion of the real estate exam. When you apply, simply show proof of licensure from your state.
For more information, you can visit the SCREC website, or you can check out our state-by-state guide for real estate reciprocity.
How should I prepare for the license exam?
You can go through your prelicense course materials again, and we recommend preparing for the exam using extra study materials. Simulated exams or practice quizzes are great practice for the exam. Readers of The Close can save on exam prep packages with Aceable Agent and Colibri Real Estate.
Can I get my South Carolina real estate license online?
Yes, mostly. You can certainly complete all your prerequisites and prepare for your license exam online. Choose an online real estate school like the ones on our list and you’ll have the required courses and proctored course exam under your belt to apply for your South Carolina real estate salesperson exam.
When you’re prepped and ready, you will have to take your South Carolina license exam in person. Once you’ve passed, you’ll also have to find a managing broker to hire you so that you can begin working.
How much does it cost to get a South Carolina real estate license?
On average, it costs about $630 to get your South Carolina real estate license. The largest expense is your prelicensing course, which can range between $399 and $893 depending on the package. Once you’re done, you’ll have a few fees to pay before receiving your license:
- South Carolina Real Estate License Application: $25
- South Carolina Real Estate License Exam: $63
- South Carolina Fingerprinting Background Check: $26
- National Fingerprinting Background Check: $18
How many Realtors are there in South Carolina?
According to the National Association of Realtors’ November 2022 data, there are 25,649 Realtors in South Carolina. This is exactly the same as the previous month, and about a three percent increase from this time last year.
How much do real estate agents make in South Carolina?
It all depends on the number of deals and the commission splits, but according to Indeed.com, the average real estate agent in South Carolina made $89,463 in 2022. Agents with ten or more years of experience should make about $15,000 more a year. Averages are higher in bigger cities. Charleston agents, for example, have an average salary of $103,976.
What’s the average home price in South Carolina?
According to Zillow, South Carolina home values soared an astonishing 21% in 2022, reaching $299,965. In urban areas, like Charleston, where the median price is $531,366, home values are much higher.
Real Estate Broker vs. Agent: A Head-to-Head Analysis
Bringing It All Together
We hope you feel more confident about choosing your South Carolina real estate school after reading through our top picks. We strive to help you succeed at every stage of your career with expert advice and actionable strategies. Have advice, thoughts, or additional questions? Leave us a comment below!
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