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South Carolina Life License - Exam Section Weights & Requirements
What the South Carolina Life exam tests, section by section, taken from the state's own published content outline, with exam prep built to the same weights.
South Carolina issues this as Life.
Exam logistics
Where to apply and book the exam
We have not published a step-by-step South Carolina checklist yet. These are the official sources; anything on this page that is not cited to one of them comes from the state's own published exam outline.
What South Carolina requires
Transcribed from NIPR's South Carolina resident licensing requirements page, read 2026-09-16. Fees and rules change; confirm against South Carolina Department of Insurance before you file.
- Application fee
- $25 (amendment $25, reinstatement $25) (Insurance Producer)
- State exam
- Insurance Producer exams are required for Life, Accident & Health, Property, Casualty, Personal Lines, Crop, Surety, Pre-Need and Title, and not required for Variable Life and Annuity, Credit or Travel. Adjuster exams cover Property, Casualty, Personal Lines, Crop, Workers Compensation, Surety, Marine and Commercial Lines. Public Insurance Adjuster sits the Property exam and Surplus Lines Broker the Property and Casualty exams.
- Fingerprints and background check
- Several South Carolina licence types require a fingerprint-based FBI criminal history check before approval, and producers are emailed scheduling instructions after the application is submitted. Adjusters, Public Adjusters and Appraisers must submit a South Carolina Law Enforcement Division report.
- How to apply
- Apply electronically through NIPR's Resident License application.
South Carolina application fees, by license class
- Insurance Producer$25 (amendment $25, reinstatement $25)
- Public Insurance Adjuster$80 (reinstatement $80)
- Adjuster$80 (reinstatement $80)
- Appraiser$80 (reinstatement $80)
- Surplus Lines Broker$200 (reinstatement $200)
Source: NIPR, South Carolina resident licensing requirements, individual, read 2026-09-16. Anything absent above is something that page does not state, which is not the same as the state not requiring it.
What's actually on the exam
Section weights below are derived from Pearson VUE publication #125010, effective 2025-09-02 - not a national average. Our practice questions and final exam are sampled to the same proportions.
- I. Types of Policies14.667% (11 of 75)
- II. Policy Riders, Provisions, Options, and Exclusions17.333% (13 of 75)
- III. Completing the Application, Underwriting, and Delivering the Policy16% (12 of 75)
- IV. Premiums, Proceeds, and Beneficiaries5.333% (4 of 75)
- V. Annuities6.667% (5 of 75)
- VI. Federal Tax Considerations for Life Insurance and Annuities4% (3 of 75)
- VII. Qualified Plans and Federal Retirement Plans2.667% (2 of 75)
- VIII. South Carolina Insurance Code Pertinent to Life Insurance13.333% (10 of 75)
- IX. South Carolina Statutes Pertinent to Life Insurance Producers20% (15 of 75)
Source: Pearson VUE #125010 eff. 2025-09-02.
Frequently asked questions
How many questions are on the South Carolina Life exam?
South Carolina administers the South Carolina Life Insurance Producer, 75 scored questions, a 120-minute time limit, administered by Pearson VUE. The exam fee is $59.
What score do I need to pass?
South Carolina does not publish a passing score for this examination, so treat the candidate handbook as the authority rather than any figure quoted elsewhere.
Does South Carolina require state-approved prelicensing education?
No. South Carolina does not mandate prelicensing education for the Life license - passing the exam is what qualifies you. Exam prep alone is sufficient.
Is the practice exam built to the real South Carolina exam's format?
Yes. Our practice questions and final exam are weighted to match Pearson VUE #125010 eff. 2025-09-02, section by section - not a generic national blueprint with a state label on it.
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