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US South Carolina insurance license exam

South Carolina insurance license exam: fees, format and pass rates.

A South Carolina-specific summary built from the Pearson VUE candidate handbook, the September 2026 content outlines, and the Department of Insurance's monthly pass-rate reports. The department publishes first-time and repeat results every month, so this is one of the few states with current numbers.

Practice life and health concepts free Back to exam overview
50.7%Life exam pass rate, Oct. 2025 to Sep. 20261,876 of 3,698 attempts; first-time takers 57.3%
47.8%Life, Accident & Health pass rate, same period2,636 of 5,519 attempts; first-time takers 55.4%
$59exam fee per the 2023 handbookconfirm the live fee when you reserve

Official results

First-time takers pass about 55 to 64% of the time; repeaters about 34 to 40%.

  • Life (InsSC-Life01): first-time 57.3% of 2,429; repeaters 38.1% of 1,269; all attempts 50.7% of 3,698.
  • Life, Accident and Health (InsSC-LAH03): first-time 55.4% of 3,504; repeaters 34.4% of 2,015; all attempts 47.8% of 5,519.
  • Property, Casualty, Surety and Marine (InsSC-PCSM04): first-time 63.6% of 1,307; repeaters 40.4% of 778; all attempts 54.9% of 2,085.
  • Single months move around: the Life first-time rate ranged from 52% to 62% across the twelve reports.

Repeat attempts pull the all-attempts rate down, so use the first-time column if you want to know how a first sitting goes.

South Carolina DOI / Pearson VUE — monthly exam pass-rate reports, October 2025 to September 2026 South Carolina Department of Insurance — Licensing & CE

Exam format

General and state sections are one exam; Life is 85 items in 2 hours.

  • Life: 85 items, 120 minutes. The outline lists 50 general plus 25 South Carolina scored questions and 10 pretest.
  • Accident and Health: 85 items, 120 minutes (50 plus 25 scored).
  • Life, Accident and Health combination: 140 items, 150 minutes (100 general plus 30 South Carolina scored).
  • Property: 80 items, 120 minutes. Casualty: 80 items, 120 minutes. Property, Casualty, Surety and Marine: 140 items, 165 minutes. Personal Lines: 105 items, 120 minutes.

Each exam has a general section and a state section. The handbook says someone who passes one section and fails the other must retake the entire exam.

Pearson VUE — South Carolina Insurance Licensing Candidate Handbook (05.2023, rev. 07/22/24) South Carolina Insurance Supplement — Examination Content Outlines (effective Sept. 15, 2026)

Fee and passing score

$59 per exam; a reported score of 70, not 70% correct.

The handbook lists $59 for every producer exam, paid by card or voucher when you reserve and not accepted at the test center. It reports passing as a score of 70 on a 0 to 100 scale and says scores below 70 show how close you came, not the percentage correct. The Pearson page for South Carolina lists no fees, so check the live price when you reserve.

Pearson VUE — South Carolina Insurance Licensing Candidate Handbook (05.2023, rev. 07/22/24)

Booking, attempts and validity

No state approval to test; six attempts per exam per year; results valid one year.

  • The handbook says you do not need approval from South Carolina to take the exam and that passing results are valid for one year. The department says exam reports expire 12 months after issuance.
  • Each exam may be taken only six times in a one-year period, and you must wait 24 hours before reserving a retake.
  • Cancel or reschedule at least 48 hours ahead or you owe the fee.
  • Bring one valid, unexpired government-issued photo ID with signature; the name must exactly match your registration. Candidates may test at a Pearson VUE test center or online (OnVUE).
Pearson VUE — South Carolina Insurance Licensing Candidate Handbook (05.2023, rev. 07/22/24) South Carolina Department of Insurance — Producer licensing steps

After you pass

Apply on NIPR after two days, then get fingerprinted.

The handbook says to wait two days (48 hours) after passing so results can reach NIPR, then apply online. For new resident applications, the department emails fingerprint directions after it receives your application, and fingerprints are not repeated at renewal while the license stays active. The department lists a $25 license fee, not prorated and nonrefundable. Passing does not guarantee a license; the department reviews all application materials. We did not find a prelicensing course requirement stated on the department pages or in the handbook.

Pearson VUE — South Carolina Insurance Licensing Candidate Handbook (05.2023, rev. 07/22/24) South Carolina Department of Insurance — Producer licensing steps South Carolina Department of Insurance — Fingerprinting

Renewal

24 hours of CE every two years, ending in your birth month.

Resident producers complete 24 credit hours per two-year period ending in their birth month (even birth year, even years; odd birth year, odd years). Producers with several lines need at least 8 hours in each line plus 3 hours of ethics. Producers 65 or older with 25 or more years of licensure may apply for an exemption. Finish before the renewal becomes available on NIPR.

South Carolina Department of Insurance — Continuing Education South Carolina Department of Insurance — Licensing & CE

FAQ

Quick answers

What is the pass rate for the South Carolina insurance exam?

Adding the department's twelve monthly reports from October 2025 through September 2026, the Life exam passed 50.7% of 3,698 attempts (57.3% for first-time takers) and the Life, Accident and Health exam passed 47.8% of 5,519 attempts (55.4% first-time).

How much is the South Carolina insurance license exam?

The Pearson VUE handbook (05.2023, revised 2024) lists $59 per exam. The department lists a $25 license fee for resident producers.

How many questions are on the South Carolina life insurance exam?

The handbook lists 85 items in 120 minutes. The current outline lists 50 general plus 25 South Carolina scored questions, and the remaining items are pretest.

How many times can I take the South Carolina insurance exam?

Each exam may be taken six times in a one-year period, with a 24-hour wait before reserving a retake.

Do I need to be fingerprinted in South Carolina?

Yes for new resident producer applications. The department emails directions after you apply, and you are not fingerprinted again at renewal while the license stays active.

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