State Requirements

South Carolina – Fingerprint / FBI Criminal History Requirements

• Certain South Carolina individual license types require completion of a fingerprint-based FBI criminal history check prior to license approval.
  NIPR does not issue fingerprint codes, schedule fingerprint appointments, or receive fingerprint results.
• Questions regarding fingerprint requirements, scheduling, or results must be directed to the South Carolina Department of Insurance or the state’s designated fingerprint vendor.

• Resident Insurance Producer Applicants
• After submitting a Resident Producer License application through NIPR, applicants will receive an email with instructions on how to schedule fingerprinting.
• Applicants should not obtain fingerprints prior to submitting an application.
• For additional fingerprinting information, visit: South Carolina Resident Producer Fingerprinting Information
• Professional Bondsman & Runner Bondsman Applicants
• Applicants must contact IdentoGO to schedule and complete fingerprinting.
• Fingerprinting must be completed before the license can be approved.
• For scheduling and fingerprinting instructions, visit: IdentoGO South Carolina Fingerprinting
• For additional licensing requirements, visit: South Carolina Bondsman Licensing Information
• Surety Bondsman Applicants
• Surety Bondsman applicants must hold an active South Carolina Insurance Producer license prior to applying.
• Because fingerprinting is completed as part of the producer licensing process, repeat fingerprinting is typically not required.
• For additional licensing details, visit: South Carolina Surety Bondsman Information

Adjusters, Public Insurance Adjusters, and Appraiser license applicants are required to submit South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) report.

• Please visit SC State Law Enforcement Division for more information on SLED requirements.

Applicant must be at least eighteen (18) years old or older as determined from the applicant's date of birth.

No more than six (6) digits allowed for business phone number extensions.

Applicant must not already have an active equivalent license for the requested LOA(s) in South Carolina.

Applicant must not hold another active resident license in another state.

Applicant must not have an active non-resident license in the state of South Carolina.

Applicant must provide a residence and/or business address in South Carolina.

All bondsman applicants - Professional Bondsman, Surety Bondsman, and Runner Bondsman - must have resident, business, and mailing address in South Carolina.

Residence and business address must not be P.O. Box.

All non-citizen applicants must provide a copy of green card or work authorization or resident card to work in the U.S. Please email proof to: agentmail@doi.sc.gov.

Insurance Producer applicants applying for Variable Life and Variable Annuity must supply FINRA CRD number on application. Applicants must also actively hold an Insurance Producer license with a Life line of authority (LOA) or apply simultaneously.

Applicants may not hold SC Adjuster and SC Public Insurance Adjuster licenses simultaneously.

Surplus Lines Broker applicant must actively hold a Resident Insurance Producer license with a Property and Casualty LOA in South Carolina.

Surplus Lines Broker applicants must email Original Bond and Power of Attorney to South Carolina Department of Insurance before the review can be completed.

Before a license is issued to a Professional Bondsman, Surety Bondsman, or Runner Bondsman, the applicant must provide a complete set of fingerprints and a recent passport-size, full-face photograph.  The applicant must also undergo a state criminal records check. Please retain the copy of the receipt for your records.  Normal processing time is 24-72 business hours once all documentation has been received.

Applicants requesting to apply for the Runner Bondsman license can only represent one (1) Professional Bondsman or one (1) Surety Bondsman.

Professional Bondsman licensees must take exam and must deposit $10,000 cash with their resident county clerk of court or where their primary business will be located. Cash or Certificate of Deposit is required before any property is pledged.

Professional Bondsman and Runner Bondsman applicants are exempt from exam if already actively licensed for either Professional Bondsman, Surety Bondsman, or Runner Bondsman license.

Surety Bondsman applicants must have an Insurance Producer license with Property or Casualty line of authority or Surety line of authority before applying for a Surety Bondsman license.

Pre-Need Insurance applicants must be actively licensed as a Funeral Director prior to applying. Pre-Need Insurance applicants must also provide a copy of the South Carolina Funeral Director's license and submit letter of employment from a South Carolina licensed Funeral Home before the review can be completed.

Applicant with a resident South Carolina license in an inactive status and no longer eligible for late renewal, may reapply for their license at normal license fee.

If applicant responds "yes" to one of the background questions, please submit supporting documents electronically via NIPR's Attachments Warehouse. The documents may also be submitted to the state via mail, email, or fax.