• Licensing Requirements
  
   -  Resident Surplus Lines Brokers
   -  Non-Resident Surplus Lines Brokers
   -  Non-Resident Surplus Lines Broker General Information 
   
• Premium Tax Forms and Instructions
• Printing Licenses
• Printing Letter of Certification
• License or Appointment Verification
• License Renewal
• Address Change Request 
• Exam Content Outlines
• SCDOI Contact Information

Licensing 

 Title 38, Chapter 45 of the South Carolina Code of Laws details the regulations and requirements for brokers and surplus lines insurance. 

Resident Surplus Lines Brokers

1. Application for Brokers, Form 3520 [pdf 102k]
    
2. Biennial License fee of $200
   The fee is not pro-rated and is non-refundable and non-transferable.
    
3. $10,000 Surety Bond, Form 3535 [pdf 1561k]
     
4. Exam Report from PSI
   Contact PSI directly at 800-733-9267 or online at www.psiexams.com to register for the state licensing examination.  The exam report expires 12 months after the date of issuance.
   Exam Content Outlines
    
   Only individuals may be licensed as brokers in South Carolina.  
    

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Non-Resident Surplus Lines Brokers

1. Application for Brokers, Form 3520 [pdf 37k]
    
2. Biennial License fee of $200
   The fee is not pro-rated and is non-refundable and non-transferable.
   Fees are retaliatory under South Carolina law.
      
3. Letter of Certification
   If the license status cannot be verified on the State Producer Licensing Database (SPLD), certification from the applicant's home state will be required.  The certification, less than 90 days old, must indicate that the applicant is licensed as a surplus lines broker.
    
    

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Non-Resident General Information

• Only individuals may be licensed as brokers in South Carolina. 
   
• Brokers representing brokerage firms or agencies must secure an agency license issued by this Department.
   
• South Carolina law provides that no individual shall be licensed as an insurance broker unless they are licensed as a broker in their home state.

Premium Tax Forms and Instructions

The South Carolina Code of Laws requires brokers licensed in South Carolina to report their business records for statistical, tax collection and distribution purposes.  The required forms are below.

Please take link to Taxation Page 

Questions regarding premium and tax returns should be addressed to Sharon Waddell at  swaddell@doi.sc.gov or 803-737-4910 or Gloria Akram at gakram@doi.sc.gov or 803-737-6136 or Angela Davis at adavis@doi.sc.gov or 803-737-6279 in the Department's Taxation Office.

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Printing Licenses

The Department will no longer print or mail hard copies of licenses.  Licensed individuals must print copies of their license via the Department's SCDOI Online Services found on our website.  There is no charge for printing the licenses, and copies of duplicate or amended licenses can be obtained at anytime.

1. Click SCDOI Online Services.
   This link is also available at the top left corner of the home page.
    
2. Select "Print License" under the General Public heading. 
    
3. You must accept the License Certification Terms of Use before proceeding.  If you agree with the terms, click "I Accept" at the bottom of the page. 
    
4. Key in the Social Security Number and Date of Birth in the format as shown next the fields and then click "Login." 
    
5. Choose License Type in the drop down menu and then click "next."
    
6. Click "Print."

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Printing Letters of Certification

The Department will no longer print or mail hard copies of Letters of Certification.  Licensed individuals must print copies of their certification letters via the Department's SCDOI Online Services found on our website.  There is no charge for printing the letters, and copies of duplicate or amended letters can be obtained at anytime.

1. Click SCDOI Online Services.
   This link is also available at the top left corner of the home page.
    
2. Select "Generate Certificate of Authority/Letters of Clearance for Individuals" under the General Public heading.
    
3. You must accept the License Certification Terms of Use before proceeding.  If you agree with the terms, click "I Accept" at the bottom of the page.
    
4. Enter the Social Security Number and Date of Birth in the format as shown next the fields on the page and then click "Next."
    
5. Select the State(s) for the Letter of Certification and then click "Next."
    
6. Click "Continue" on the Application Fees page.
    
7. Click "Save and Print Letter" on the Confirmation page.
   The Letter of Certification will open in PDF format.

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License or Appointment Verification

1. Click Search SCDOI Database.
    This link is also available at the top of the home page.
    
2. Click "Search for Individuals."
    
3. Enter the Individual Number or Last Name and then click "Search."
    
4. Click on the individual's name.
    
5. Click on "Type of License" (in blue) to the see the license and appointment information.

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License Renewal

Broker licenses are renewed in May of even numbered years and the fee is $200. 

• Broker Renewal Memorandum
  
• Individual Surplus Lines Broker Renewal Application

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Address Change Request

South Carolina law requires all licensees to notify the Department of any change in address within (30) days.  Failure to notify the Department with the 30-day statutory timeframe constitutes a violation of the South Carolina insurance laws.  It is the statutory responsibility of the licensees to make certain their mailing, home and/or business address records with the South Carolina Department of Insurance are up-to-date.  Having inaccurate address and other contact information on file with the Department may result in licensees not receiving important notices and other communications.  Licensees may be subject to administrative disciplinary action for not timely notifying the Department of an address change.  In accordance with Section 38-2-10 of the South Carolina Code of Laws, individuals could be subject to administrative penalties up to $2,500 for each violation of South Carolina insurance laws.

Effective July 1, 2009, the Department will no longer accept paper requests for address changes. 

Procedures for Making an Address Change

1. Go to Address Change Request (ACR) page on the National Insurance Producer Registry (NIPR) website.
   https://www.nipr.com/ACR/SignIn
    
2. Fill out your
   Home/Resident State
   Resident State License Number
   Last Name
    
3. Click "Sign In" and follow the on-screen instructions.

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SCDOI Contact Information

Phone: 803-737-6095
Email: agntmail@doi.sc.gov

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