How Does Fingerprinting Work for a South Carolina Insurance License?

How do you schedule a South Carolina fingerprinting appointment?

Once SCDOI emails you, you have two options:

1. Online: Go to the IdentoGO South Carolina portal, search by ZIP code, select the SC Department of Insurance, and enter the service code provided in your email (currently listed as SC920124Z for producer licensing). Pick a date, time, and location. Pay the processing fee at registration.
2. Phone: Call IdentoGO at (866) 254-2366, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. ET. Have your email instructions handy.

IdentoGO operates a network of centers across South Carolina, including in Columbia, Charleston, Greenville, Myrtle Beach, Spartanburg, and Florence. Walk-ins are not accepted. You must have a scheduled appointment.

What happens at the appointment?

You will be asked to present a government-issued photo ID. An enrollment agent will capture your prints electronically using a live scan system. There is no ink, no paper card. The appointment itself usually takes 10 to 15 minutes.

You will receive a receipt with a tracking number. Keep the original. Your prints are transmitted electronically to the SCDOI, which forwards them to the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division for a state check and to the FBI for a national check under Title 28 CFR 16.34.

How long does processing take?

Background check results typically return from SLED and the FBI within a few business days. SCDOI reviews complete applications — exam, NIPR application, fingerprint results — in the order received, usually within 1 to 5 business days. You will not receive a notification when your fingerprints have been received. You will hear from SCDOI when your application is approved, denied, or requires more information.

To check your application status, use the NAIC State Based Systems License Manager. Once approved, you can print your license directly from SBS.

Do you need to fingerprint again at renewal?

No, provided your license remains active and in good standing. SCDOI keeps your prints on file and automatically receives updates if you are charged with a new crime. That is one of the reasons the state went to live scan: ongoing monitoring, not just a one-time check.

You will have to fingerprint again only in limited circumstances: if your license lapses for more than six months and has been canceled, if your original prints are no longer usable, or if SCDOI directs you to under the statute. For most working agents, one fingerprinting session covers the life of their license.

What if you cannot be fingerprinted in person?

IdentoGO offers a mail-in ink card option for applicants who are out of state or physically unable to be digitally printed. This is the only exception. In-state applicants who are physically able to attend a live scan appointment cannot use the mail-in process. The SCDOI also allows the director to waive fingerprinting entirely if an applicant has a medically certified physical injury that makes fingerprinting impossible, per SC Code § 38-43-100(F)(5)(a).

What can slow down the licensing process in South Carolina?

• Scheduling fingerprints before submitting your NIPR application. Prints are destroyed if they cannot be matched to an active application.
• Using the wrong service code at IdentoGO. The bondsman and producer codes are different and prints sent under the wrong code will not reach the correct department.
• Prior misdemeanor or felony convictions that require SCDOI review. Under SC Code § 38-43-130, certain financial- or insurance-related offenses within the last five years can be grounds for denial.
• Missing or incomplete NIPR application materials. Processing does not start until everything is in.
• Applying more than 12 months after passing the Pearson VUE exam. Exam results expire and you will have to retest.

How South Carolina compares to other states

South Carolina is in line with the majority of states on fingerprinting, but the sequence is stricter than some. States like Florida and Texas also require fingerprinting for new producers through IdentoGO, but the timing and service codes vary. Michigan, by contrast, does not require fingerprinting at all for producer applicants. If you are already licensed in another state and want to transfer your resident license to South Carolina, you will still need to fingerprint. Your existing license does not exempt you.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need to fingerprint before or after I pass the South Carolina insurance exam?

After. You pass the Pearson VUE exam first, then submit your application through NIPR, then receive SCDOI's email with fingerprinting instructions. Prints submitted before your application is on file will be destroyed.

Can I use fingerprints from another state or another job?

No. SCDOI only accepts fingerprints submitted through IdentoGO under the correct SCDOI service code. Prints from another state's licensing process, an employer background check, or a different vendor will not count.

What if I fail the background check?

A criminal record does not automatically disqualify you. SCDOI reviews each case individually under SC Code § 38-43-100. You have the right to change, update, or challenge the accuracy of your FBI record under Title 28 CFR 16.34. Contact the SCDOI directly if you are concerned about a past conviction.

How much does fingerprinting cost?

You pay a processing fee directly to IdentoGO when you register for your appointment. The fee covers the cost of the SLED and FBI background checks. Rates are set by IdentoGO and are subject to change, so check the current rate at registration.

How long are my fingerprint results good for?

As long as your South Carolina insurance license remains active, your prints stay on file and do not expire. If your license is canceled and you reapply as a new candidate, you will need to fingerprint again.

Get licensed without the delays

South Carolina does not require pre-licensing education. But the Pearson VUE exam covers the same depth of material as states that mandate 40 or more hours. That is where most first-time applicants lose time — they underestimate the exam, fail the first attempt, and push their fingerprinting and license start date back by weeks.

Aceable Insurance's South Carolina exam prep is built for that exact problem: structured, mobile-friendly, and focused on what actually shows up on the test. Pass on the first attempt, schedule your fingerprinting, and get to work. Your first-year earnings start the day your license is active, not the day you pass the exam.

Reviewed by the Aceable Insurance Licensing Team
Our content is researched and fact-checked against primary sources from state departments of insurance, NIPR, and federal regulators. Last reviewed: 2026.