Occupational Therapist Licensure in South Carolina
-
Timeline 4-6 weeks
-
Initial Costs $241
-
Renewal Costs $100
-
CE Requirements 16 Hours
-
Compact No
How to apply
To secure your Travel Occupational Therapist license in South Carolina, you'll be working with the South Carolina Board of Occupational Therapy. You will submit your application through the LLR Application Portal. Before you start, I recommend initiating your background check and requesting your transcripts to get the ball rolling.
Step-by-Step Guide
- Get Your Documents Moving: Request your official transcripts from your university and your score transfer from NBCOT to be sent directly to the Board. These are third-party documents, so you can't upload them yourself—request them early to avoid delays.
- Ace the Jurisprudence Exam: You must pass the online Jurisprudence Exam, which tests your knowledge of the South Carolina Practice Act and Regulations. Head over to the Board's website to access the exam and study materials.
- Handle the Background Check: South Carolina uses IdentoGO for criminal background checks. If you are currently in South Carolina, you can schedule a live scan appointment. If you are out of state, you will need to follow the specific "non-resident" instructions to mail in your fingerprint cards.
- Submit Your Application: Create an account on the online portal, fill out the application, and upload your personal documents (like your photo and ID). Once everything is entered and your fee is paid, hit submit.
What You'll Need & Key Details
- Documents to Have Ready: A recent passport-style photo, a copy of your Driver's License, and your Social Security Number.
- Items to Request: Official Transcripts (sent directly from the school), NBCOT Score Transfer, and Verification of Licensure from every state where you have held a license.
- Exams: You must pass the South Carolina Jurisprudence Exam (online).
Initial Costs
Here is the breakdown of what you can expect to spend to get licensed in South Carolina:
- Application Fee: $135
- Background Check / Fingerprinting: $51 (approximate)
- Jurisprudence Exam: $0
- Verifications: $55 (approximate)
- Total Estimated Initial Cost: $241
Note: Fees are subject to change by the Board, but this gives you a solid estimate to plan your budget!
Renewals
When to Renew: South Carolina Occupational Therapist renewal happens every two years and is due by March 15th of odd-numbered years.
Cost: The renewal fee is approximately $100.
Note: Watch out—late fees are assessed immediately if you renew after the March 15th deadline!
CE Requirements
16 Contact Hours required every two years (biennial).
Deadline: March 15th of odd-numbered years.
Live vs. Online: Great news for Travel Occupational Therapist pros: you can do all of these online! The South Carolina Board defers to NBCOT standards for acceptable activities, which allow for 100% of your Travel Occupational Therapist CEUs to be completed via home-study or online webinars.
Provider Restrictions: Courses must be relevant to the practice of occupational therapy. The Board recognizes courses from AOTA-approved providers, the South Carolina Occupational Therapy Association (SCOTA), and other state or national OT associations. General portals like MedBridge are accepted and widely used by travelers to meet these requirements.
Mandatory Topics
- Clinical Competency (16 hours): All hours must be relevant to the practice of occupational therapy.
- NBCOT Certification: You must maintain an active, "in good standing" certification with NBCOT to renew your South Carolina license.
- Jurisprudence: No specific law or ethics exam is required for standard biennial renewal.
- No other specific mandatory topics—choose what interests you!
Unit Conversion: South Carolina tracks requirements in "Contact Hours." If a provider issues certificates in CEUs, note that 1 CEU = 10 Contact Hours.
Excluded Topics: Courses related to the business aspects of practice (billing, coding, marketing, or management), personal development, and CPR/First Aid are strictly excluded from the 16-hour requirement.
New Licensee Rule: If you are licensed for the first time during the second year of the biennium (the year leading up to the deadline), you are exempt from continuing education requirements for your first renewal.
Reporting: South Carolina utilizes CE Broker for tracking and auditing. While you do not need to mail certificates unless audited, it is best practice to upload them to your CE Broker account as you complete them. Maintain your physical or digital records for at least 4 years.
Board Information
Need to reach out with questions or send in documents? Here are the direct details for the South Carolina Board of Occupational Therapy:
- Address: PO Box 11329 Columbia, SC 29211-1329
- Website: Visit Board Website
- Phone: (803) 896-4683
- Fax: (803) 896-4719
- Email: Contact.OT@llr.sc.gov
Ready to start? Click here to go directly to the Application Portal.
Start your job search
Find vetted recruiters who have the jobs you want!
Get matched with vetted recruiters from multiple agencies who have the most jobs in your preferences!
How to Apply
To secure your Travel Occupational Therapist license in South Carolina, you'll be working with the South Carolina Board of Occupational Therapy. You will submit your application through the LLR Application Portal. Before you start, I recommend initiating your background check and requesting your transcripts to get the ball rolling.
Step-by-Step Guide
- Get Your Documents Moving: Request your official transcripts from your university and your score transfer from NBCOT to be sent directly to the Board. These are third-party documents, so you can't upload them yourself—request them early to avoid delays.
- Ace the Jurisprudence Exam: You must pass the online Jurisprudence Exam, which tests your knowledge of the South Carolina Practice Act and Regulations. Head over to the Board's website to access the exam and study materials.
- Handle the Background Check: South Carolina uses IdentoGO for criminal background checks. If you are currently in South Carolina, you can schedule a live scan appointment. If you are out of state, you will need to follow the specific "non-resident" instructions to mail in your fingerprint cards.
- Submit Your Application: Create an account on the online portal, fill out the application, and upload your personal documents (like your photo and ID). Once everything is entered and your fee is paid, hit submit.
What You'll Need & Key Details
- Documents to Have Ready: A recent passport-style photo, a copy of your Driver's License, and your Social Security Number.
- Items to Request: Official Transcripts (sent directly from the school), NBCOT Score Transfer, and Verification of Licensure from every state where you have held a license.
- Exams: You must pass the South Carolina Jurisprudence Exam (online).
Initial Costs
Here is the breakdown of what you can expect to spend to get licensed in South Carolina:
- Application Fee: $135
- Background Check / Fingerprinting: $51 (approximate)
- Jurisprudence Exam: $0
- Verifications: $55 (approximate)
- Total Estimated Initial Cost: $241
Note: Fees are subject to change by the Board, but this gives you a solid estimate to plan your budget!
Renewals
When to Renew: South Carolina Occupational Therapist renewal happens every two years and is due by March 15th of odd-numbered years.
Cost: The renewal fee is approximately $100.
Note: Watch out—late fees are assessed immediately if you renew after the March 15th deadline!
CE Requirements
16 Contact Hours required every two years (biennial).
Deadline: March 15th of odd-numbered years.
Live vs. Online: Great news for Travel Occupational Therapist pros: you can do all of these online! The South Carolina Board defers to NBCOT standards for acceptable activities, which allow for 100% of your Travel Occupational Therapist CEUs to be completed via home-study or online webinars.
Provider Restrictions: Courses must be relevant to the practice of occupational therapy. The Board recognizes courses from AOTA-approved providers, the South Carolina Occupational Therapy Association (SCOTA), and other state or national OT associations. General portals like MedBridge are accepted and widely used by travelers to meet these requirements.
Mandatory Topics
- Clinical Competency (16 hours): All hours must be relevant to the practice of occupational therapy.
- NBCOT Certification: You must maintain an active, "in good standing" certification with NBCOT to renew your South Carolina license.
- Jurisprudence: No specific law or ethics exam is required for standard biennial renewal.
- No other specific mandatory topics—choose what interests you!
Unit Conversion: South Carolina tracks requirements in "Contact Hours." If a provider issues certificates in CEUs, note that 1 CEU = 10 Contact Hours.
Excluded Topics: Courses related to the business aspects of practice (billing, coding, marketing, or management), personal development, and CPR/First Aid are strictly excluded from the 16-hour requirement.
New Licensee Rule: If you are licensed for the first time during the second year of the biennium (the year leading up to the deadline), you are exempt from continuing education requirements for your first renewal.
Reporting: South Carolina utilizes CE Broker for tracking and auditing. While you do not need to mail certificates unless audited, it is best practice to upload them to your CE Broker account as you complete them. Maintain your physical or digital records for at least 4 years.
Board Information
Need to reach out with questions or send in documents? Here are the direct details for the South Carolina Board of Occupational Therapy:
- Address: PO Box 11329 Columbia, SC 29211-1329
- Website: Visit Board Website
- Phone: (803) 896-4683
- Fax: (803) 896-4719
- Email: Contact.OT@llr.sc.gov
Ready to start? Click here to go directly to the Application Portal.