South Carolina Insurance CE Requirements by License Type

Keeping your South Carolina insurance license active requires more than paying a renewal fee every 2 years. You need to complete continuing education (CE) on schedule, using approved courses, and have it reported correctly. Miss the mark, and your license can lapse — costing you time, money, and lost business.

Here's a clear breakdown of South Carolina's insurance CE requirements.

The Basic Framework

Under S.C. Code Ann. § 38-43-106, the South Carolina Department of Insurance (SCDOI) requires licensed insurance producers to complete continuing education every 2 years, tied to their license renewal cycle.

The standard requirement for South Carolina resident producers is:

24 hours of CE every 2 years

3 hours must be in Ethics

Minimum 8 hours in each line of authority held

The remaining hours can be in approved insurance-related topics

This framework applies across major license types — Life, Accident & Health, Property, Casualty, and Personal Lines.

Your License Term

Your South Carolina license term ends on the last day of your birth month, based on your odd or even birth year:

If you were born in an odd-numbered year, your license expires at the end of your birth month in odd-numbered years

If you were born in an even-numbered year, your license expires at the end of your birth month in even-numbered years

This makes tracking your renewal deadline straightforward — it's tied to information you already know.

CE by License Type

Life, Accident & Health Producers. 24 hours every 2 years, including 3 hours Ethics, with at least 8 hours covering content in each line of authority held.

Property and Casualty Producers. 24 hours every 2 years, including 3 hours Ethics, with at least 8 hours in each line of authority held.

Multiple lines of authority. If you hold licenses in multiple lines (for example, Life/Health AND Property/Casualty), your total CE requirement is still 24 hours — you don't double it. However, you must complete at least 8 hours in each line of authority.

Personal Lines only. 24 hours every 2 years with the 3-hour Ethics requirement.

The 3-Hour Ethics Requirement

South Carolina requires 3 hours of Ethics CE as part of every 2-year renewal cycle. This requirement is:

Non-negotiable — you can't substitute other coursework

Must be completed through an SCDOI-approved ethics course

Applies to every renewal cycle, not just once in your career

Does not carry over to the next renewal cycle even if you complete extra ethics hours

The Ethics course covers fiduciary duty, agent conduct standards, conflicts of interest, confidentiality, and recognition of unethical practices.

Carryover Rules

South Carolina allows limited carryover of CE hours:

Maximum 18 credit hours can be carried over into the next compliance period

Ethics credits do NOT carry over — you must complete 3 fresh ethics hours each cycle

A course cannot be repeated within 2 calendar years of the initial completion date

Carryover gives you some flexibility, but don't rely on it as a shortcut. Plan to complete your full requirement each cycle.

Specialty Training Requirements

Beyond standard CE, South Carolina has specialty training requirements for specific product types:

Long-Term Care Partnership Training. Before selling Long-Term Care Insurance, producers must complete a state-approved one-time 8-hour training course. After that, producers must complete a 4-hour ongoing training every 24 months from the initial completion date.

Flood Insurance Training. South Carolina licensed producers (P&C or Personal Lines) who sell National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) policies must complete a one-time 3-hour flood insurance course by the end of their first renewal period after starting to sell flood.

Annuity Best Interest Training. Before selling, soliciting, or negotiating any annuity products, South Carolina licensed producers must complete a one-time 4-hour Annuity Best Interest course.

These specialty training hours count toward your 24-hour CE requirement — they're not additional on top.

Non-Resident Producers

Non-resident South Carolina producers are not required to take CE in South Carolina if:

They have completed CE in their home state

They remain in good standing in their home state

If a non-resident's home state does not have a CE requirement, the non-resident must comply with South Carolina's CE requirement.

Exception: A non-resident who has not taken a Long-Term Care Partnership training course in another state must take South Carolina's LTC Partnership training course before selling LTC in South Carolina.

CE Exemptions

South Carolina offers CE exemptions in specific circumstances:

Non-residents (under home-state reciprocity described above)

Individuals age 65 or older may apply for an exemption online at the SCDOI website

Other exemptions may apply in limited situations (military deployment, medical hardship). Contact the SCDOI to confirm eligibility.

What Counts as Approved CE

Only courses approved by the SCDOI count toward your CE requirement. Approved courses cover topics like:

Life insurance products, provisions, and planning

Health insurance, Medicare, and specialty coverage

Annuities and annuity suitability (including Best Interest)

Long-term care insurance

South Carolina-specific law and regulation

Ethics and professional conduct

Federal regulations affecting insurance (HIPAA, ERISA, ACA)

Flood insurance (NFIP)

Property and casualty topics (for P&C licensees)

Before enrolling, confirm the course is on the SCDOI's approved list. Non-approved courses don't count regardless of quality.

How CE Hours Get Reported

You don't submit CE hours to the SCDOI yourself. Approved course providers report completions electronically — often within 1 business day of completion. This automated reporting is a core requirement of maintaining SCDOI approval.

You can verify your CE transcript online at statebasedsystems.com or through the SCDOI's portal at doi.sc.gov.

What Happens If You Miss the Deadline

If you don't complete your CE hours by your renewal deadline:

Your license will not renew until CE is complete

You cannot conduct insurance business with a non-renewed license

Reinstatement procedures may apply for extended non-compliance

Extended non-compliance may require reapplication from scratch

Best Practices for CE Compliance

Complete CE throughout the cycle, not at the end. Spreading hours across the 2-year period builds habit and prevents last-minute panic.

Check your CE status quarterly. Log into statebasedsystems.com or doi.sc.gov to confirm hours are being reported correctly.

Keep every completion certificate. Save digital copies plus printed copies as backup.

Don't wait until the final month. Even with fast reporting, build in a 30-day buffer before your deadline.

Use reputable, SCDOI-approved providers. JustInsurance is SCDOI-approved Provider #500031569.

5 Frequently Asked Questions

• When exactly is my South Carolina CE due? Your CE is due before your license expires on the last day of your birth month, based on odd/even birth year. Confirm your specific renewal date through doi.sc.gov or statebasedsystems.com.
• Can I carry over extra CE hours to the next renewal cycle? Yes, up to 18 credit hours can be carried over. However, ethics credits do NOT carry over.
• Are online CE courses accepted in South Carolina? Yes. The SCDOI accepts approved online courses, and most agents complete CE online at their own pace.
• Does the Ethics requirement apply every cycle? Yes. The 3-hour Ethics requirement applies to every 2-year cycle, and ethics credits don't carry over.
• What if I hold licenses in multiple lines of authority? Your total CE requirement is still 24 hours — you don't double it. But you must complete at least 8 hours in each line of authority you hold.

Stay Compliant Without the Stress

South Carolina CE is manageable with a plan. At JustInsurance (SCDOI Provider #500031569), our South Carolina CE courses are SCDOI-approved, current with S.C. Code Ann. § 38-43-106, and cover the mandatory 3-hour ethics requirement — so you can renew your license without last-minute scrambling.

Enroll in our South Carolina CE courses today and keep your license active with confidence.