Notary Public / South Carolina
2026 data South Carolina board official source

South Carolina Notary Public License Requirements

Compiled from official public sources by the publisher.

State-board requirements, fees, and renewal cycle drawn from official regulator records.

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Authorized to perform notarizations. Commissioned in all 50 states.

What the South Carolina data shows for Notary Publics

To practice as a notary public in South Carolina, the state licensing board requires board-approved training, a passing score on a state-approved exam. A criminal history background check is also part of the application. The regulation sits under South Carolina's professional licensing framework, which classifies the training track as "Varies".

Upfront cost is $75 on a 4-year cycle. South Carolina doesn't require continuing education for this license, so upkeep costs stay confined to the renewal fee itself.

South Carolina evaluates out-of-state credentials case-by-case rather than through a published reciprocity list.

Licensing Ease Score

A-
Licensing Ease Score
83/100
Notary Public · South Carolina

A higher score means this specific license is LESS burdensome to obtain and maintain here than the national requirement corpus, based on education hours, fees, continuing education, and experience requirements, not an overall judgment of the profession or the state.

Education & Training A+
None required
Documented education/training hours required
Initial Fee B+
$75
One-time application/license fee
Renewal Burden N/A
N/A
Renewal fee annualized over the renewal cycle
Continuing Education N/A
N/A
Continuing-education hours annualized over the renewal cycle
Experience Required N/A
N/A
Supervised work experience required before licensure

Licensing Requirements in South Carolina

Education / Training Hours
Varies
Not specified
Exam Requirement
Required
Initial License Fee
$75
Renewal Fee
N/A
Renewal Cycle
Every 4 years
Continuing Education
Not required
Criminal History Check
Required

Compare & Explore

Compare all states for Notary Public All South Carolina licenses
Data sources: NCSL Occupational Licensing Database, Institute for Justice, state licensing boards. Verify current requirements with South Carolina licensing authorities before making career decisions.

Frequently Asked Questions

What license do I need for Notary Public in South Carolina? ▼
South Carolina requires, passing an exam, and an initial fee of $75. A criminal background check is also required.
How do I get certified as a Notary Public in South Carolina? ▼
Certification as a notary public in South Carolina means clearing the state's checklist, and a passing exam score. The South Carolina licensing board can confirm the current details.
Can I transfer my Notary Public license to South Carolina from another state? ▼
South Carolina evaluates out-of-state notary public licenses on a case-by-case basis. Many professions are covered by interstate licensing compacts that facilitate portability. Contact the South Carolina licensing board for specific reciprocity details.
Does South Carolina require a background check for Notary Public licensing? ▼
Background screening is part of the notary public licensing process in South Carolina. The state licensing board determines which offenses disqualify an applicant and how appeals are handled.

Related Guides

What to do with this notary public license

Notary Public in South Carolina is one requirement row in a notary public-wide, 50-state comparison.

Requirements shown are compiled from NCSL and Institute for Justice research; verify current rules with the South Carolina licensing board before making career decisions.

Source: NCSL Occupational Licensing Database, Institute for Justice License to Work (3rd Ed.), state licensing board websites

According to the National Conference of State Legislatures and the Institute for Justice, the PlainCredential comparison corpus (current as of May 15, 2026) maps 4,947 state licensing requirement records; see the methodology.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.