Real Estate License from Massachusetts to South Carolina: Does It Transfer? (2026)
Last verified: 2026-07-21 · source: South Carolina Real Estate Commission (SCREC) / SC Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation (LLR) ↗
A real estate license transfers from Massachusetts to South Carolina by endorsement — there is no automatic reciprocity, but you do not start over. Apply to the South Carolina Real Estate Commission (SCREC) / SC Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation (LLR), verify your Massachusetts license, and meet South Carolina's endorsement requirements. Georgia reciprocity applicants who were licensed by written exam and reside in Georgia are exempt from ALL South Carolina examinations; North Carolina reciprocity applicants take only the SC state portion; any other non-resident holding an active out-of-state license (or one expired no more than 6 months) is exempt from the national portion and takes only the SC state exam per S.C. Code Ann. Section 40-57-320(B)(6).
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Verdict
Licensure by endorsement
South Carolina publishes no agreement covering Massachusetts, but it does evaluate out-of-state licensees individually — so this move runs on South Carolina's endorsement judgment rather than a guarantee. The requirements below are what the South Carolina Real Estate Commission (SCREC) / SC Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation (LLR) commits to in writing; for anything discretionary (exam waivers, education credit), get the commission's answer in writing before you rely on it.
What changes, Massachusetts → South Carolina
| Massachusetts (current) | South Carolina (destination) | |
|---|---|---|
| Training hours | 40 | 90 |
| Application fee | $134–$181 (Reciprocal Salesperson Application Fee $31 plus a Reciprocal Salesperson Initial License fee prorated by the applicant's date of birth in the range $103-$150 (two-year cycle), for a combined $134-$181. A separate vendor convenience fee applies to online payments.) | $25 (salesperson/associate application fee payable to SC Real Estate Commission; a separate SLED/FBI fingerprint background-check vendor fee applies) |
| Processing time | Board does not publish a processing time; applications and required documents are submitted and reviewed through the eLIPSE portal. | Commission does not publish a fixed processing-time estimate; a submitted application remains valid for one year |
| Licensing authority | Massachusetts Board of Registration of Real Estate Brokers and Salespersons (Division of Occupational Licensure) | South Carolina Real Estate Commission (SCREC) / SC Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation (LLR) |
The destination column is what you must satisfy — South Carolina sets the rules for this move.
Step by step
- Confirm South Carolina's current requirements on the South Carolina Real Estate Commission (SCREC) / SC Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation (LLR) website (linked below) — rules change.
- Submit the endorsement application to the South Carolina Real Estate Commission (SCREC) / SC Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation (LLR) (application linked below).
- Arrange license verification from your current state.
- Be at least 18 years old and hold a high school diploma or recognized equivalent.
- Complete a state and federal fingerprint-based (SLED/FBI) background check.
- Reciprocity/non-resident applicants: submit a certified license history from every jurisdiction where currently or previously licensed.
- Non-resident applicants must file a Consent to Jurisdiction (irrevocable consent to service of process).
- Georgia reciprocity applicants are exempt from the 90-hour education requirement and all exams; North Carolina applicants qualify per the SC-NC reciprocal agreement.
- Pay the fees ($25 (salesperson/associate application fee payable to SC Real Estate Commission; a separate SLED/FBI fingerprint background-check vendor fee applies)) and allow Commission does not publish a fixed processing-time estimate; a submitted application remains valid for one year.
Official links
Related guides
Frequently asked questions
Does South Carolina accept a Massachusetts real estate license?
A real estate license transfers from Massachusetts to South Carolina by endorsement — there is no automatic reciprocity, but you do not start over. Apply to the South Carolina Real Estate Commission (SCREC) / SC Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation (LLR), verify your Massachusetts license, and meet South Carolina's endorsement requirements. Georgia reciprocity applicants who were licensed by written exam and reside in Georgia are exempt from ALL South Carolina examinations; North Carolina reciprocity applicants take only the SC state portion; any other non-resident holding an active out-of-state license (or one expired no more than 6 months) is exempt from the national portion and takes only the SC state exam per S.C. Code Ann. Section 40-57-320(B)(6).
Which exams will I take moving from Massachusetts to South Carolina?
Georgia reciprocity applicants who were licensed by written exam and reside in Georgia are exempt from ALL South Carolina examinations; North Carolina reciprocity applicants take only the SC state portion; any other non-resident holding an active out-of-state license (or one expired no more than 6 months) is exempt from the national portion and takes only the SC state exam per S.C. Code Ann. Section 40-57-320(B)(6).
What does the move cost?
$25 (salesperson/associate application fee payable to SC Real Estate Commission; a separate SLED/FBI fingerprint background-check vendor fee applies) (salesperson/associate application fee payable to SC Real Estate Commission; a separate SLED/FBI fingerprint background-check vendor fee applies).
Can I keep selling in Massachusetts after I'm licensed in South Carolina?
Yes — real estate licenses stack. Keep the Massachusetts license active (renewals and CE continue separately) and you hold both; many border-market agents do exactly this.
Sources
Primary sources only — official boards and compact commissions. Data last verified 2026-07-21.
- SC Real Estate Commission - Reciprocity Alert (Feb 16, 2024) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- SC REC - Associate/Salesperson Licensure Requirements and Application Process (v2.1, 09/29/2025) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- SC REC - South Carolina / Georgia Reciprocal Licensing Memorandum ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- SC REC - South Carolina / North Carolina Reciprocal Licensing Agreement ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- Massachusetts DOL - Apply for reciprocity as an out-of-state Real Estate Broker or Salesperson License (reciprocal state list per 254 CMR 2.00, requirements, and fees) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- Massachusetts DOL - Prepare for and schedule your real estate license exam (salesperson must complete 40 hours of real estate education) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- Massachusetts DOL - Real Estate Brokers and Salespersons Licensing (hub) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
Reviewed by Billy Reiner, Editor · verified against primary sources 2026-07-21
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