South Carolina Auctioneers' Commission

All applicants for an Auctioneer or Auctioneer Apprentice license in South Carolina must submit a statewide criminal background check from the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) and/or the equivalent agency in any state the applicant has lived or worked in for the five years immediately preceding the application.

Auction Firm License

To be licensed as an auction firm, a business entity must:

(1) submit a notarized application along with the required fee;

(2) provide the commission with an authorization by the South Carolina Secretary of State's office to transact business in this State;

(3) if owned or managed by a:

(a) licensed auctioneer, provide the commission with the name of the auctioneer and written evidence of the auctioneer's authority to make the decisions affecting the manner in which the firm does business; or

(b) person not licensed as an auctioneer under this chapter, must achieve a passing score on a written examination approved by the commission intended to demonstrate a thorough understanding of the law relating to the conduct of the auction business and other matters the commission considers appropriate.

(4) A complete the Escrow/Trust Account Certification Affidavit that is notarized.

(5) Out-of-state firms applying for a license, complete the Designation of Agent for the Service of Process form provided. The form must be notarized. Partners or officers of a firm or company must sign as principals for the firm or company.

Note for Firm License:

• A sole proprietorship is exempt from auction firm licensure.
• Licensed real estate brokers-in-charge and real estate firms are exempt from auction firm licensure, if they employ a licensed auctioneer to handle those aspects of the transactions peculiar to the auctioneer profession.

Auctioneer License: The applicant must be eighteen years of age or older and the following must be included with the written notarized application:

(1)The required fee, and photograph;

(2) Satisfactory completion of one of the following:

(a) one year of apprenticeship; or

(b) eighty hours of classroom instruction in a course in auctioneering at an institution approved by the commission, or the substantial equivalent) The Applicant must submit either a copy of diploma or signed evaluation statement from apprentice supervisor;

(3) provide a criminal history conviction record from the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division and/or the equivalent agency in any state the applicant has lived or worked in for the five years immediately preceding the application that affirms that the applicant has not been convicted of a felony or any other crime involving fraud or moral turpitude during the preceding five years;

(4) A satisfactory credit report obtained by the Commission.

(5) A completed Escrow/Trust Account Certification Affidavit that is notarized.

Apprentice Auctioneer License: The applicant must be eighteen years of age or older and the following must be including in the written notarized application form:

(1) the required application fee and photograph;.

(2) Information completed by a licensed Auctioneer to serve as the supervisor of the apprentice;

(3) a criminal history conviction record from the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division and/or the equivalent agency in any state the applicant has lived or worked in for the five years immediately preceding the application that affirms that the applicant has not been convicted of a felony or any other crime involving fraud or moral turpitude during the preceding five years;

(4) A satisfactory credit report obtained by the Commission.

Important Note: No apprentice auctioneer may enter into an agreement to conduct an auction or conduct an auction without the express written approval of the supervisor of the apprentice auctioneer. The supervisor shall review, at regular intervals, the records that the apprentice auctioneer is required to maintain to ensure they are current and accurate.

Reciprocal Auctioneer license applicants (No firm or apprentice):

(A) Complete a notarized application with a photograph and fee;

(B) Documentation that the requirements of the state of licensure were, on the date of initial licensure, substantially equivalent to the requirements of this chapter.

(C) The applicant provides a certification letter from the resident state's licensing board or commission indicating the auctioneer license in that state is current and in good standing.

All Non-resident licensing applicants: Along with the required written application requirements, the non-resident must complete the Designation of Agent for the Service of Process form provided. This form must be notarized.

No licensing application will be considered for testing or licensing until the entire packet is completed.

You will be notified by email or mail of your scheduled examination date, if required.

Return the completed Application packets to:

S.C. Dept. Of Labor, Licensing and Regulation
Auctioneers' Commission
Post Office Box 11329
Columbia, South Carolina 29211-1329
(803) 896-4670 FAX (803) 896-4554

Applications and Forms