South Carolina State Characteristics of Licensure Law

The information below is collected from state licensure boards or regulatory agencies responsible for regulating the professions of SLP and/or AUD. It is intended for informational use only, and should not be construed as legal advice.

Contact the state's licensure board or regulatory agency for exact licensure, certification, or registration requirements in your jurisdiction.

Initial Licensure Requirements

1. Postgraduate degree in speech-language pathology or audiology from an accredited school
2. Completion of 9 months of supervised professional employment
3. Passage of an examination

Exemptions

1. State employees
2. Federal employees
3. Students
4. Hearing aid dealers/fitters
5. Physicians
6. Registered nurses, LPNs or other technicians under the direction of a physician, otological consultants, or licensed audiologists
7. Other persons licensed by the state whose scope of practice overlaps with the practice of speech-language pathology or audiology

Reciprocity

The Board may issue a license to

1. A person licensed in another state with equivalent standards and if the person satisfies any other requirements prescribed by the Board, including continuing education
2. CCC holders

Interim Practice/Temporary Licensure

Clinical fellows must obtain an intern license.

Continuing Education for Licensure Renewal

License holders must complete 16 hours of continuing education per license period.

Hearing Aid Dispensing

Audiologists may dispense hearing aids under an audiology license.

Support Personnel

1. Speech-language pathology assistants must present evidence of a bachelor's degree in speech-language pathology, including a core curriculum of 36 semester hours and not less than 100 clock hours of clinical practicum.
2. The 36-hour core curriculum must include 6 semester hours in directed teaching in speech correction, 12 semester hours in speech pathology courses, 3 semester hours in audiology, 6 semester hours in psychology, and 3 semester hours in public speaking.
3. No speech-language pathology assistant may begin working in direct contact with clients without the Board's written approval of a supervisory agreement and on-the-job training plan.
4. A licensee may supervise no more than two full time or three part-time assistants.
5. Following on-the-job training, there must be at least 15% (6 hours per 40 hour week) of documented direct, visual supervision; 5% indirect supervision is also required (2 hours per 40 hour week) and must include review of written records.
6. Speech-language pathology assistants must complete 8 hours of continuing education per license renewal period (biennial).

Note

• The abbreviation SLP or SP stands for Speech Language Pathology or Pathologist, as appropriate, the abbreviation AUD stands for Audiology or Audiologist, as appropriate, and the abbreviation HAD stands for Hearing Aid Dealer.
• All jurisdictions require applicants to achieve a passing score on a national exam, and all but Nevada, North Dakota, and Virginia require applicants to complete a post graduate professional experience requirement.
• The term "clinical fellow," used throughout, means a person completing the post graduate professional experience requirement.

Questions concerning data contained in this document can be addressed by calling 800-498-2071 and asking to speak to someone on the State Policy Team.