If you’re a healthcare professional—be it a physician, physician assistant, or nurse—looking to practice medicine in South Carolina, you’ll need to secure a medical license. The state offers various types of licenses tailored to your qualifications and specific needs. Here’s a breakdown:
Permanent License: This is the standard license that grants you unrestricted medical practice rights. To qualify, you must:
Submit a completed application with the required documents and a $400 application fee. An initial license fee of $200 is also required. Applications can be submitted online or by mail.
This temporary license allows you to practice under specific conditions or for a limited duration. There are two sub-categories:
Academic License: This permits you to practice as a faculty member at an accredited medical school or teaching hospital. Requirements are similar to those of a permanent license, but the application fee is $100, and the annual renewal fee is $50. Applications must be mailed.
14-Day Limited License: This allows you to practice for up to 14 days per year. The requirements are the same as for a permanent license, but the application fee is $100. There is no renewal fee, and you can apply online or by mail.
Navigating the medical licensing process in South Carolina can be complex, but it’s a necessary step for a rewarding medical career in the state.
Physicians: Must complete 40 hours of Category 1 CME accredited by ACCME or AOA. An additional 40 hours can be Category 2 CME. The biennial renewal fee is $200, with a $100 late fee.
Physician Assistants: Required to complete 50 hours of Category 1 CME biennially, with at least 20 hours related to their practice area. They must also maintain NCCPA certification. The renewal fee is $100, and the late fee is $100.
Nurses: Must complete 30 contact hours of CE biennially, with at least 15 hours related to pharmacotherapeutics. They must also maintain certification by the ANCC or another recognized body. The renewal fee is $65, and the late fee is $100.
To practice telemedicine in the state, physicians must hold a valid South Carolina medical license. However, it’s noteworthy that the physician doesn’t need to be a resident of South Carolina to offer telehealth services.
State Licensure: Physicians must be licensed in South Carolina, even if they are providing telemedicine services from another state.
Patient Relationship: Before initiating telemedicine services, a physician-patient relationship must be established, which usually involves a face-to-face consultation. Subsequent consultations may be conducted remotely.
Technology: The technology used for telemedicine must be HIPAA-compliant to ensure patient confidentiality. This typically includes secure video conferencing tools and encrypted data storage solutions.
Prescriptions: Physicians can prescribe medications via telemedicine, but they must adhere to the same prescribing laws as they would in an in-person consultation. Controlled substances may have additional restrictions.
Documentation: Just like in-person visits, telemedicine consultations must be documented and stored in the patient’s medical record. This includes diagnosis, treatment, and prescriptions.
Billing and Reimbursement: South Carolina Medicaid reimburses for live video consultations, but policies can vary for private insurance companies. It’s advisable to check with individual insurance providers for their specific reimbursement policies.
Liability and Malpractice: Physicians practicing telemedicine are subject to the same liability laws as in-person consultations. Therefore, they must ensure that their malpractice insurance covers telehealth services.
South Carolina offers a variety of platforms for verifying medical licenses, but the good news is that a single primary resource can be used for most healthcare professionals. This includes doctors, dentists, pharmacists, nurses, physician assistants, optometrists, podiatrists, chiropractors, physical therapists, and occupational therapists. The primary tool provides comprehensive search results, including the licensee’s name, license number, professional designation, and city of practice.
For those looking to verify licenses for health facilities like hospitals, or for health insurance professionals, separate dedicated online tools are available. Below are the respective links for each category:
Navigating South Carolina’s medical licensing landscape can be challenging. That’s where MedicalLicensing.com comes in. Our team of experts is committed to guiding you through every step, ensuring a smooth and efficient process. We handle all administrative tasks with precision, allowing you to focus on delivering exceptional patient care.
Stop hunting state medical board for answers and see how our team can help you:
Check out individual state requirements by clicking the links down below.