Professional Licensure – South Carolina

Licensing Agency

South Carolina Commission on Higher Education

Georgia Southern University is authorized to operate in South Carolina through mutual participation in the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA). 

Athletic Training 

South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (Athletic Trainer)

Completion of Georgia Southern University’s Master of Science in Athletic Training meets educational requirements to qualify for Athletic Trainer licensure in South Carolina. Upon graduation eligible students must take and pass the Board of Certification Examination to obtain licensure in South Carolina. 

Accounting

South Carolina Board of Accountancy

Distance Education Disclosure
Georgia Southern University is authorized to deliver the online Master of Accounting (WebMAcc) program in South Carolina through mutual participation in the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA).

Exam Requirements 

Applicants for the uniform CPA exam in South Carolina must complete120 semester hours of postsecondary education to include 24 hours of accounting in courses that cover financial accounting, managerial accounting, taxation and auditing and 24 hours of business courses. 

Licensure Requirements

Applicants for a CPA license in South Carolina must complete at least 150 semester hours of postsecondary education, including completion of a baccalaureate or higher degree that includes an accounting concentration or equivalent conferred by a regionally or AASCB-accredited institution.

Coupled with an undergraduate accounting degree or an appropriate number of accounting courses, completion of either Georgia Southern University’s Master of Accounting or Georgia Southern University’s online Master of Accounting (WebMAcc) meets educational requirements to apply for the uniform CPA exam and/or apply for a CPA license in South Carolina.

South Carolina requires the AICPA ethics exam to obtain a CPA license. Georgia Southern University’s Master of Accounting program meets the educational requirements for ethics education that prepare students to sit for the appropriate ethics exams.

Communication Sciences and Disorders 

South Carolina Board of Examiners in Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology

Completion of Georgia Southern University’s Master of Science in Communication Sciences Disorders meets educational requirements for Speech-Language Pathologist in South Carolina.

Education

South Carolina State Department of Education

Distance Education Disclosure

Georgia Southern is authorized to offer the following online programs in Alabama through mutual participation in the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA): Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education, Master of Arts in Teaching, Master of Education in Curriculum Instruction – Accomplished Teaching, Master of Education in Educational Leadership, Master of Education in Instructional Technology, Graduate Certificate in Instructional Technology, Graduate Certificate in Educational Leadership, Graduate Certificate in School Library Media

Licensure Disclosure (Distance Education Programs)

Completion of Georgia Southern University’s Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education does NOT meet educational requirements for Elementary Education teaching certification in South Carolina. Educators that have completed a traditional, approved preparation program through a regionally accredited institution of higher education (IHE) may apply for an Initial certificate through completion of South Carolina’s required content knowledge and pedagogy knowledge assessments. 

• The IHE must be Regionally Accredited; and
• The IHE must be approved either by that state’s licensing authority or by NCATE/CAEP; and
• The program must be approved for certification by the educator licensing agency in the state in which the IHE is located; and
• The program must include student teaching or an internship. Prior to beginning a program, educators must request approval using My SC Educator Portal. Once a program approval request is submitted through the portal, educators must upload a PDF copy of program description information to the portal. This is generally available through the provider’s website or academic bulletin; please contact the provider if you encounter difficulties locating their program description information.

Completion of Georgia Southern University’s Master of Arts in Teaching does NOT meet educational requirements initial teaching certification in South Carolina. Educators that have completed a traditional, approved preparation program through a regionally accredited institution of higher education (IHE) may apply for an Initial certificate through completion of South Carolina’s required content knowledge and pedagogy knowledge assessments. 

• The IHE must be Regionally Accredited; and
• The IHE must be approved either by that state’s licensing authority or by NCATE/CAEP; and
• The program must be approved for certification by the educator licensing agency in the state in which the IHE is located; and
• The program must include student teaching or an internship. Prior to beginning a program, educators must request approval using My SC Educator Portal. Once a program approval request is submitted through the portal, educators must upload a PDF copy of program description information to the portal. This is generally available through the provider’s website or academic bulletin; please contact the provider if you encounter difficulties locating their program description information.

Completion of Georgia Southern University’s Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction – Accomplished Teaching Teaching does NOT meet educational requirements for Curriculum and Instruction teaching certification in South Carolina because that is not a recognized pathway in South Carolina.

Completion of Georgia Southern University’s Master of Education in Educational Leadership does NOT meet educational requirements for Tier 1 teacher/leader certification in South Carolina. In South Carolina, educational leadership is divided into Elementary and Secondary, which is not the case in Georgia. For licensure in South Carolina, students must have:  “Master’s degree, Valid South Carolina Educator’s Professional Certificate at the elementary level or secondary level, Minimum qualifying score(s) on the area examinations required by the State Board of Education, Verification of three years’ teaching experience, including at least one year of teaching in required grades, and Completion of an advanced program approved by the State Board of Education for the training of elementary or secondary principals and supervisors.”

Completion of Georgia Southern University’s Master of Education in Instructional Technology does NOT meet educational requirements for Instructional Technology teaching certification in South Carolina because that is not a recognized pathway in South Carolina.

Completion of Georgia Southern University’s Graduate Certificate in Instructional Technology does NOT meet educational requirements for Instructional Technology teaching certification in South Carolina because that is not a recognized pathway in South Carolina.

Completion of Georgia Southern University’s Graduate Certificate in Educational Leadership does NOT meet educational requirements for Tier 1 teacher/leader certification in South Carolina because that is not a recognized pathway in South Carolina.

Completion of Georgia Southern University’s Graduate Certificate in School Library Media does NOT meet educational requirements for School Library Media teacher/leader certification in South Carolina because it is not a recognized pathway in South Carolina.

Licensure Disclosure (On-Campus Programs)

Completion of Georgia Southern University’s Bachelor of Science in Health and Physical Education does NOT meet educational requirements for Health and Physical Education teaching certification in South Carolina. Educators that have completed a traditional, approved preparation program through a regionally accredited institution of higher education (IHE) may apply for an Initial certificate through completion of South Carolina’s required content knowledge and pedagogy knowledge assessments. 

• The IHE must be Regionally Accredited; and
• The IHE must be approved either by that state’s licensing authority or by NCATE/CAEP; and
• The program must be approved for certification by the educator licensing agency in the state in which the IHE is located; and
• The program must include student teaching or an internship. Prior to beginning a program, educators must request approval using My SC Educator Portal. Once a program approval request is submitted through the portal, educators must upload a PDF copy of program description information to the portal. This is generally available through the provider’s website or academic bulletin; please contact the provider if you encounter difficulties locating their program description information.

Completion of Georgia Southern University’s Bachelor of Science in Middle Grades Education does NOT meet educational requirements for Middle Grades Education teaching certification in South Carolina. Educators that have completed a traditional, approved preparation program through a regionally accredited institution of higher education (IHE) may apply for an Initial certificate through completion of South Carolina’s required content knowledge and pedagogy knowledge assessments. 

• The IHE must be Regionally Accredited; and
• The IHE must be approved either by that state’s licensing authority or by NCATE/CAEP; and
• The program must be approved for certification by the educator licensing agency in the state in which the IHE is located; and
• The program must include student teaching or an internship. Prior to beginning a program, educators must request approval using My SC Educator Portal. Once a program approval request is submitted through the portal, educators must upload a PDF copy of program description information to the portal. This is generally available through the provider’s website or academic bulletin; please contact the provider if you encounter difficulties locating their program description information.

Completion of Georgia Southern University’s Bachelor of Science in Secondary Education does NOT meet educational requirements for Secondary Education teaching certification in South Carolina. Educators that have completed a traditional, approved preparation program through a regionally accredited institution of higher education (IHE) may apply for an Initial certificate through completion of South Carolina’s required content knowledge and pedagogy knowledge assessments. 

• The IHE must be Regionally Accredited; and
• The IHE must be approved either by that state’s licensing authority or by NCATE/CAEP; and
• The program must be approved for certification by the educator licensing agency in the state in which the IHE is located; and
• The program must include student teaching or an internship. Prior to beginning a program, educators must request approval using My SC Educator Portal. Once a program approval request is submitted through the portal, educators must upload a PDF copy of program description information to the portal. This is generally available through the provider’s website or academic bulletin; please contact the provider if you encounter difficulties locating their program description information.

Completion of Georgia Southern University’s Bachelor of Science in Special Education does NOT meet educational requirements for Special Education teaching certification in South Carolina. Educators that have completed a traditional, approved preparation program through a regionally accredited institution of higher education (IHE) may apply for an Initial certificate through completion of South Carolina’s required content knowledge and pedagogy knowledge assessments. 

• The IHE must be Regionally Accredited; and
• The IHE must be approved either by that state’s licensing authority or by NCATE/CAEP; and
• The program must be approved for certification by the educator licensing agency in the state in which the IHE is located; and
• The program must include student teaching or an internship. Prior to beginning a program, educators must request approval using My SC Educator Portal. Once a program approval request is submitted through the portal, educators must upload a PDF copy of program description information to the portal. This is generally available through the provider’s website or academic bulletin; please contact the provider if you encounter difficulties locating their program description information.

Completion of Georgia Southern University’s Master of Education in Counseling Education, Concentration in School Counseling does NOT meet educational requirements for School Counselor certification in South Carolina. Educators that have completed a traditional, approved preparation program through a regionally accredited institution of higher education (IHE) may apply for an Initial certificate through completion of South Carolina’s required content knowledge and pedagogy knowledge assessments. 

• The IHE must be Regionally Accredited; and
• The IHE must be approved either by that state’s licensing authority or by NCATE/CAEP; and
• The program must be approved for certification by the educator licensing agency in the state in which the IHE is located; and
• The program must include student teaching or an internship. Prior to beginning a program, educators must request approval using My SC Educator Portal. Once a program approval request is submitted through the portal, educators must upload a PDF copy of program description information to the portal. This is generally available through the provider’s website or academic bulletin; please contact the provider if you encounter difficulties locating their program description information.

Completion of Georgia Southern University’s Master of Education in Counseling Education, Concentration in Clinical Mental Health Counseling does NOT meet educational requirements for either National Certified Counselor (NCC) or Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) certification in South Carolina.

Completion of Georgia Southern University’s Education Specialist in School Psychology does NOT meet educational requirements for School Psychologist certification in South Carolina. School psychologist educator certificates are issued in the fields of School Psychologist I, School Psychologist II, and School Psychologist III. The field issued is determined by the degree level of the program completed. Educators that have completed a traditional, approved preparation program through a regionally accredited institution of higher education (IHE) may apply for an Initial certificate through completion of South Carolina’s required content knowledge and pedagogy knowledge assessments. 

• The IHE must be Regionally Accredited; and
• The IHE must be approved either by that state’s licensing authority or by NCATE/CAEP; and
• The program must be approved for certification by the educator licensing agency in the state in which the IHE is located; and
• The program must include student teaching or an internship. Prior to beginning a program, educators must request approval using My SC Educator Portal. Once a program approval request is submitted through the portal, educators must upload a PDF copy of program description information to the portal. This is generally available through the provider’s website or academic bulletin; please contact the provider if you encounter difficulties locating their program description information.

Completion of Georgia Southern University’s Bachelor of Fine Arts, Art Education does NOT meet educational requirements for Art Education teaching certification in South Carolina.

Completion of Georgia Southern University’s Bachelor of Music in Music Education does NOT meet educational requirements for Music Education teaching certification in South Carolina.

Engineering

South Carolina Board of Registration for Professional Engineers and Surveyors

State licensure as a Professional Engineer (PE) is not required to work in the field of engineering. However, many employment opportunities require a PE license.

Georgia Southern’s Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering, Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering, Bachelor of Science in Construction Engineering, Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering, Bachelor of Science in Manufacturing Engineering, Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering, and Bachelor of Science in Software Engineering are EAC-ABET-accredited.

The minimum requirements for a PE license include completion of a BS degree in Engineering from an EAC-ABET accredited engineering program; successful completion of the Fundamental of Engineering (FE) Exam; successful completion of the Professional Engineer (PE) Exam; and 4-years of work experience as specified by the state’s licensing board.

Completion of Georgia Southern’s Bachelor of Science Programs in Civil Engineering, Construction Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, and Manufacturing Engineering meet the educational requirements to begin the licensure process in New Hampshire, by providing the coursework necessary to sit for the Fundamentals of Engineering Examination. Software Engineering does not have a specific PE examination. It is typically recommended that candidates sit for their FE exam toward the end of their senior year, or soon after graduation.

Georgia Southern’s embedded Surveying-Geomatics certificate meets the educational requirements to apply for professional land surveyor license (PLS) in Alabama.

To apply for a professional land surveyor license (PLS) in South Carolina you must meet the following requirements:

“The minimum evidence satisfactory to the board that an applicant is qualified for licensure as a TIER A Professional Surveyor is graduation from a school or college of four or more years with a board‐approved degree, an ABET commission accredited curriculum in a related field, including completed discipline‐specific courses of not less than twelve semester hours or the equivalent in quarter hours satisfactory to the board in each of the disciplines described in Section 40‐22‐20(26) for which the applicant is requesting licensure, a specific record of four or more years of progressive practical experience of a character satisfactory to the board and performed under a practicing registered professional surveyor, and passing the NCEES Fundamentals of Surveying examination and the Principles and Practice of Surveying examination in the discipline for which the applicant is requesting licensure.”

Geology 

South Carolina Board of Registration for Geologists

Completion of Georgia Southern University’s  Bachelor of Science in Geosciences with a Concentration in Geology meets the educational requirements to apply for a Geologist license in South Carolina. Final licensure requires five years or more of full-time experience as a  geologist-in-training in geologic work or at least five years of geologic work germane to public practice satisfactory to the board indicating that the applicant is competent to practice geology, and must pass the ASBOG Practice of Geology Exam.

Interior Architecture and Design

South Carolina does not require NCIDQ certification to be employed as an Interior Designer. 

Medical Laboratory Science 

Distance Education Disclosure

Georgia Southern is authorized to offer the online Bachelor of Science in Medical Laboratory Science, MLT to BSMLS and Fast Track Degree Completion program in South Carolina through mutual participation in the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA).

Licensure Disclosure

Licensure is not required to work in a medical laboratory in South Carolina.

Nursing 

State Board

South Carolina Board of Nursing

Distance Education Programs Disclosure

Georgia Southern is authorized to offer the following online programs in South Carolina through mutual participation in the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA):  RN-BSN, Master of Science in Nursing, Doctor of Nursing Practice, Post-BSN to DNP, or Post-MSN APRN Certificate (Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner, Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner, Family Nurse Practitioner, or Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner).

Licensure Disclosure

Completion of Georgia Southern University’s Bachelor of Science in Nursing does meet educational requirements for Registered Nurse licensure in South Carolina.

Completion of Georgia Southern University’s online Doctor of Nursing Practice program does meet educational requirements for Nurse Practitioner licensure in South Carolina.

Physical Therapy

South Carolina Board of Physical Therapy

Completion of Georgia Southern University’s Doctor of Physical Therapy program does meet educational requirements for Physical Therapist licensure in South Carolina. Upon completion, eligible students must also pass the National Physical Therapist Examination, which is administered by the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy. Additional testing, background clearance, and other requirements may also need to be met prior to applying for admission through the  South Carolina Board of Physical Therapy

Psychology

South Carolina Board of Examiners in Psychology

South Carolina does not require a state board exam for licensure as a Behavior Analyst.

Completion of Georgia Southern University’s Doctor of Psychology in Clinical Psychology does meet education requirements for psychologist licensure in South Carolina. To qualify for licensure, students must have courses in the following specific content areas:  Biological aspects of behavior, Cognitive and affective aspects of behavior, Social aspects of behavior, Cultural and individual diversity, Individual differences in behavior.

Radiologic Sciences 

South Carolina Radiation Quality Standards Association

COMING SOON

Respiratory Therapy

State Board

South Carolina Board of Medical Examiners

Distance Education Disclosure

Georgia Southern University is authorized to offer the online Bachelor of Science in Respiratory Therapy, RRT to BS Career Ladder Degree Completion in South Carolina through mutual participation in the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA).

Licensure Disclosure

Completion of Georgia Southern University’s Bachelor of Science in Respiratory Therapy program does meet educational requirements to qualify for Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) licensure in South Carolina. 
Completion of Georgia Southern University’s online Bachelor of Science in Respiratory Therapy, RRT to BS Career Ladder Degree Completion  does meet educational requirements to qualify for Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) licensure in South Carolina.