Ditch the Pitch
Checkout DCA's guide for guarding against scams
Learn More
Background
The South Carolina Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA) is the administrator and enforcer of the law governing consumer credit transactions and also has responsibility for approximately fifteen industries. Review the descriptions below for basic information about the industries required to be licensed or registered. Click on the industry name to learn more.
Need to file with DCA? Click to access the new online licensing system.
Businesses/Regulated Industries required to be licensed or registered
| Industry Type | Description |
|---|---|
| Athlete Agents | Contracts with a student-athlete or recruits or solicits a student-athlete to enter into an agency contract. |
| Continuing Care Retirement Communities | Provides lodging along with nursing, medical, or other health-related services to people 65 years of age or older. Includes independent living, assisted living, and skilled nursing care. |
| Credit Counselors | Offers to improve credit rating, reduce debt, or eliminate debt. Includes credit repair, debt consolidation, debt management, debt negotiation, debt settlement, foreclosure assistance, and loan modification. |
| Discount Medical Plan Organizations | Offers discount programs for health care services with participating providers (doctors, pharmacies, etc.). Does not include insurance. |
| Earned Wage Access Providers | Provides consumer-directed wage access services or employer-integrated wage access services, or both. |
| Mortgage Brokers | Brings a borrower and mortgage lender together. Includes loan correspondents and third-party loan processors and underwriters. |
| Motor Clubs | Offers memberships for motor club services or reimbursement for motor club services including towing, emergency roadside, emergency travel expense, travel, guaranteed hotel/motel rates, new car pricing, etc. |
| Motor Vehicle Dealers | Sells or attempts to effect the sale of any motor vehicle. |
| Pawnbrokers | Lends money for goods or personal property that may be redeemed or repurchased at a later date. |
| Physical Fitness Service Providers | Includes personal trainers, gyms, health or exercise centers, clubs, studios, or classes; health spas; weight control centers, tanning centers; and athletic or sport clubs. |
| Preneed Funeral Contract Providers | Sells contracts for purpose of: (1) performing funeral services for, or (2) providing merchandise or services in connection with the final disposition of, a person who is alive at the time of the contract. |
| Prepaid Legal | Offers contracts for legal services or reimbursement for legal services for a predetermined, specific, periodic (ie: monthly) fee. |
| Professional Employer Organizations | Shares employment responsibilities with a client company that outsources certain tasks to the PEO (ie: payroll, benefits, recruiting, training and insurance services). |
| Registered Creditors | Credit Grantor Notification Maximum Rate Schedules |