The South Carolina Certification of Completion of Premarital Preparation Course is a document issued by the State of South Carolina that verifies that an individual has completed a premarital preparation course. This certification is issued upon the successful completion of a premarital preparation course that meets the state’s requirements for premarital education. This course must be a four-hour course taught by an approved instructor and must include information about communication, conflict resolution, parenting, finance, and other topics related to marriage. The course must also include a minimum of three hours of marriage counseling, where the couple is given the opportunity to discuss and understand their differences. There are two types of South Carolina Certification of Completion of Premarital Preparation Course: in-person and online. The in-person certification is issued when the course is completed in a traditional classroom setting with an approved instructor. The online certification is issued when the course is completed online with an approved instructor. Both certifications must be presented to the County Clerk's office prior to the marriage license being issued.