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July 1st marked the beginning of a new era in South Carolina continuing education requirements.
For the first time in years, SC real estate agents have a choice when it comes to their mandatory 4-hour core course. Instead of one required core course that everyone must take, agents can now choose between two specialized options: the SC Residential Core 2026–2028 or the SC Commercial Core 2026–2028.
It’s a significant change. And here’s what makes it even more significant: Pinnacle Real Estate Academy created both of them!
We spent countless hours developing curriculum, designing resources, and testing the student experience to ensure these courses not only meet South Carolina Real Estate Commission requirements but actually prepare you for the real work you do every day.
Let’s talk about what this means for you as a South Carolina real estate professional.
The Change: From One Core to Two Options
For the past two years, every SC real estate agent had to take the same mandatory core course: Legal Hot Tips. It was required with no alternatives.
That course served its purpose. It kept agents current on the laws and regulations affecting their practice. But it treated all agents the same, regardless of whether they specialized in residential or commercial real estate, or both.
The South Carolina Real Estate Commission recognized that real estate professionals operate in different environments with different challenges. And so, starting July 1st, 2026, agents now have a choice.
If your practice focuses primarily on residential real estate, the SC Residential Core 2026–2028 is designed with you in mind.
If your practice focuses primarily on commercial real estate, the SC Commercial Core 2026–2028 is designed with you in mind.
But here’s what’s important to understand: you’re not restricted to taking only the course that matches your specialty. The point of having two options is to give you choice. If you’re a residential specialist who wants to expand your knowledge into commercial real estate, take the commercial core. If you’re a commercial specialist who wants to deepen your understanding of residential practice, take the residential core.
Both are mandatory four-hour core courses. Both fulfill your core requirement for the 2026–2028 renewal cycle. Both can be combined with 6 hours of elective courses to complete your 10-hour CE requirement by your renewal deadline.
You get to choose which one fits your professional development goals.
That’s the change. And it’s a good one.
The SC Residential Core 2026–2028
This course is designed with residential real estate agents in mind, but it’s valuable for any agent who wants to deepen their understanding of residential practice and compliance.
Using real South Carolina Real Estate Commission case studies and practical examples, this course keeps you current with the latest laws and regulations affecting residential practice. You’ll explore critical topics including agency relationships, advertising compliance, offers and counteroffers, team supervision, artificial intelligence, wholesaling, and other essential residential issues.
But here’s what makes this course different: it doesn’t just tell you what the law requires. It shows you why it matters in your everyday transactions. You’ll analyze actual disciplinary cases. You’ll discuss risk mitigation strategies. You’ll walk away understanding not just the rules, but how to apply them.
Whether you’re a full-time residential agent or someone looking to expand into the residential market, this course will prepare you.
The SC Commercial Core 2026–2028
This course is designed with commercial real estate agents in mind, but it’s valuable for any agent who wants to deepen their understanding of commercial practice and compliance.
Using real-world scenarios and commercial-focused examples, this course recognizes that commercial practitioners operate in a different environment than residential agents. You face different challenges. Different transaction types. Different compliance issues.
This course covers agency relationships, disclosed dual agency, team supervision, advertising compliance, customer service obligations, offers and counteroffers, Broker-in-Charge responsibilities, artificial intelligence, and risk management strategies, all through the lens of commercial real estate practice.
You’ll understand not just what the law requires, but how it applies specifically to commercial transactions and client representation.
Whether you’re a full-time commercial agent or someone looking to expand into the commercial market, this course will prepare you.
Why This Matters (And Why Pinnacle Created Both)
Real estate education is not one-size-fits-all.
An agent who specializes in residential transactions has different concerns than an agent who specializes in commercial deals. They face different regulatory challenges. They handle different contract types. They work with different client expectations.
When the South Carolina Real Estate Commission decided to offer agents a choice between residential and commercial core courses, they recognized this reality. And they needed instructors who understood residential and commercial practice deeply enough to create courses that would actually be valuable.
That’s where Pinnacle came in.
We didn’t just write CE courses that check boxes. We created curriculum that reflects the real work you do. We incorporated actual Commission case studies. We built scenarios based on transactions agents actually encounter. We designed resources that agents can reference long after the course ends.
We spent countless hours on this because we believe continuing education should actually educate you, not just satisfy a requirement.
How This Affects Your License Renewal
Here’s what you need to know about your CE requirements going forward:
As always, you must complete 10 total hours of CE to renew your license.
4 of those hours must be one of the new mandatory core courses: Either the SC Residential Core 2026–2028 or the SC Commercial Core 2026–2028. Your choice. Based on your specialty, your interests, or your professional development goals.
The remaining 6 hours can be any combination of elective courses that you choose based on your interests and professional development needs.
Important: Know Your Renewal Year
Not all agents renew in the same year. Depending on when you first obtained your license, your renewal year is either an odd or even numbered year. It’s critical that you know when your renewal year is so you know by when you need to complete your 10 hours of CE.
If your renewal year is 2027, you must complete your 10 hours by June 30th, 2027.
If your renewal year is 2028, you must complete your 10 hours by June 30th, 2028.
To find out when your renewal year is, check your license record on the South Carolina Real Estate Commission website or call them at (803) 896-4400.
We recommend completing your CE early so you’re not scrambling at the deadline, but knowing your specific renewal date is essential.
What Makes Pinnacle’s Courses Special
We didn’t just create these courses. We created them with intention.
Real Commission Case Studies: Every course incorporates actual cases from the South Carolina Real Estate Commission. You’ll see what violations look like and understand how to avoid them.
Practical Examples: The courses are filled with scenarios you’ll actually encounter in your practice. Residential agents see residential examples. Commercial agents see commercial examples. But both courses provide insights valuable to any agent looking to broaden their expertise.
Interactive Learning: Whether you take our in-person, live Zoom, or self-paced online courses, you’ll experience interactive instruction from our Gold Standard instructors, not just passive content consumption.
Resources You Can Reference: The courses include materials and frameworks you can reference long after you’ve completed the CE requirement.
Register for Your Core Course
SC Residential Core 2026–2028: CLICK HERE
SC Commercial Core 2026–2028: CLICK HERE
Check Your Renewal Year: South Carolina Real Estate Commission website or (803) 896-4400
Questions? (843) 410-3340 | PinnacleRealEstateAcademy.com
