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Committee approves auctioneer licensing updates including age/experience exemption for continuing education
Summary
The committee voted 6–4 to approve auctioneer regulation updates that add endorsement licensure and an exemption allowing applicants age 65 with 25 years’ experience to waive continuing education; members debated competency and whether licensure is necessary.
The committee approved Document 54 23, a set of updates to auctioneer licensing rules that includes endorsement licensure, clarification of licensing requirements, and an age/experience exemption that would allow auctioneers aged 65 with 25 years’ experience to apply for a waiver from continuing education requirements.
Board staff (Holly) said the exemption was proposed in response to licensee feedback, noting that some older auctioneers had difficulty completing online continuing education and that the real estate commission has a similar exemption. "There's an age and experience waiver added in that if you have practiced for 25, 25 years in the state of South Carolina and you've reached the age of 65, you may apply to waive your continuing education," Holly said.
Members expressed divided views. Representative Taylor and others supported the exemption as appropriate for seasoned practitioners; Representative Duffy and others said continuing education is necessary to maintain competency as technology and practice evolve. Duffy cautioned that exemption could allow licensees to fall behind on new online practices and said competency—not age—should determine exemptions. Holly and staff noted that the auctioneers association funds free continuing education from a recovery fund and that some licensees would continue CE voluntarily.
After debate, the committee voted to approve the regulation package, including the CE exemption, by a 6 to 4 margin. The committee did not remove licensure requirements; staff explained that licensure is set in statute and would require separate legislative action to repeal.
