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Renewal requirements by state › South Carolina
South Carolina license renewal
South Carolina nursing CE renewal requirements
South Carolina RNs renew every two years and must show continued competence. Continuing education is one way to meet it: 30 contact hours.
South Carolina APRNs renew every two years and need 20 contact hours of continuing education each renewal, including 20 contact hours of pharmacology.
✓ Verified October 8, 2026 against South Carolina’s board of nursing, state rules and the Nurse Licensure Compact. Sources are listed below.
At a glance
- Renewal cycle
- Every two years
- RN continuing education
- 30 contact hours or another competence option
- APRN continuing education
- 20 contact hours
- Nurse Licensure Compact
- Yes, a member state
- Reports to CE Broker
- Yes
Required topics
“Part of the total” hours count toward the overall requirement; “on top of the total” hours are extra.
APRNs (in addition to RN requirements)
| Topic | Hours | How often | Counts |
|---|---|---|---|
| Controlled substance prescribingWithin the 20 pharmacotherapeutics hours | 2 | Every renewal | Part of the total |
| PharmacotherapeuticsAPRNs with prescriptive authority | 20 | Every renewal | Part of the total |
RN renewal in detail
- One of: 30 CE contact hours, OR maintain/renew national certification, OR complete an academic program in nursing/related field, OR employer verification of competency and hours practiced (no minimum hours set).
- A current national certification can satisfy the requirement.
- When it expires: 30 April of even-numbered years (current cycle ends 30 Apr 2026).
APRN renewal in detail
- 20 hours pharmacotherapeutics every 2 years for prescriptive authority.
- APRNs must hold a current national certification.
- When it expires: Fixed statewide date.
Using HIVE Nurse for your hours
HIVE Nurse is approved as a provider of continuing nursing education by the Florida Board of Nursing (CE Provider #50-57054). Boards differ on whether they accept CE from a provider approved by another state’s board, so check South Carolina’s rules before you count a course.
The renewal checker builds your own list from these rules and can remind you before your license expires.
Sources
Rules change. Your board’s website is the final word.