Licensure
A current South Carolina license is required to practice in this state.
Persons exempt from the licensure requirement are listed in Section 40-75-290:
(1) salaried employees performing duties for which they were trained and hired solely within a federal, state, county, or local:
(a) governmental agency;
(b) licensed mental health or alcohol or drug abuse facility;
(c) accredited academic institutions;
(d) licensed, formally accredited nonprofit agencies; or
(e) research institutions.
(2) persons pursuing a course of study in a regionally accredited educational or training facility as a formal part of a process to obtain a license associated with this article, if the services constitute a part of a supervised course of study;
(3) nonresidents, appropriately licensed or credentialed in their home state, who offer services within this State, if these services are performed for no more than five days a month, and no more than thirty days in any calendar year;
(4) volunteers accountable to a sponsoring agency;
(5) qualified members of other professionals licensed in this State including, but not limited to, attorneys, physicians, psychologists, registered nurses, or social workers performing duties consistent with the laws of this State, their training, and any code of ethics of their profession if they do not represent themselves as being licensed pursuant to this article;
(6) a minister, priest, rabbi, or clergy person of any religious denomination or sect, when the activities are within the scope of performance of his or her regular or specialized ministerial duties, and no fee is received by him or her; or when these activities are performed, with or without compensation, by a person under the auspices or sponsorship of an established church, denomination, or sect and when the person rendering services remains accountable to the established authority and does not hold himself or herself out to the public as possessing a license issued pursuant to this article; or
(7) members of peer groups or self-help groups when engaging in or offering self-help assistance as part of peer support groups or self-help organizations including, but not limited to, Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) or Narcotics Anonymous (NA), AA or NA sponsorship, or other uncompensated alcohol or other drug abuse or dependent services.
Requirements for Licensure for Professional Counselor (LPC) and Associates:
1. LPC Application and Education Review Form
- Copy of your driver’s license
- Copy of your social security card
- Affidavit of Eligibility
2. LPC Application and Education Review Fee of $170
3. Official Transcript
4. Coursework descriptions
5. Clinical Supervision
Associate Applicants
- Plan and Arrangements for Clinical Supervision of Post-Master’s Clinical Experience in Counseling
Endorsement Applicants
- Log for Clinical Supervision of Post-Master’s Clinical Experience
- Confirmation of Clinical Supervision Form
6. Examination Scores (if already taken; if not, once educational review is completed and approved you will be authorized to register)
7. Official License Verification (from each state you are currently and any state you have ever been licensed)
Licensure for Professional Counselor Supervisor:
Requirements for Licensure for Marriage and Family Therapist and Associates:
1. LMFT Application and Education Review Form
- Copy of your driver’s license
- Copy of your social security card
- Affidavit of Eligibility
2. LMFT Application and Education Review Fee of $170
3. Official Transcript
4. Coursework descriptions
5. Clinical Supervision
- Associate Applicants
- Plan and Arrangements for Clinical Supervision of Post-Master’s Clinical Experience in Marriage and Family Therapy
- Endorsement Applicants
- Log for Clinical Supervision of Post-Master’s Clinical Experience
- Confirmation of Clinical Supervision Form
6. Examination Scores (if already taken; if not, once educational review is completed and approved you will be authorized to register)
7. Official License Verification (from each state you are currently and any state you have ever been licensed)
Licensure for Marriage and Family Therapy Supervisor:
Licensure for Psycho-Educational Specialist:
Endorsement from Another State
Licensure by Endorsement:
Applications for Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) Associate License, LPC Endorsement License and License Marriage & Family Therapist (LMFT) Associate and LMFT Endorsement should be mailed to Center for Credentialing and Education in Greensboro, NC as outlined on the application. All other applications should be mailed to SC LLR.
Application fee must be attached to application form at time it is submitted and is non-refundable.
LPC, LMFT - $ 170
LPES - $ 130
LPC/S, LMFT/S - $ 100
Examination Fees
Applicable when applicant has not previously taken and passed the appropriate examination. Due upon notification by the Board that approval to sit for the examination has been given, please contact the professional examination vendor for fees for each profession.
Licensure Fees
Licensure Fees Payable upon notification by the Board that licensure has been approved. License is not valid until licensure fee has been received. The fee does not exceed $150.00 for LPC, LMFT, or LPES licenses. The fee does not exceed $100.00 for LPC-Supervisor or LMFT-Supervisor.
Miscellaneous Fees
Copy of Documents (exam scores, supervision forms, etc.) - $10
Duplicate Wall Certificate - $25
Duplicate Pocket Card - $10
Name Change and New Pocket Card - $10
Returned Check Fee - $30
License Verification to another State Board - $5
Licensee List Request - $10