Verify a South Carolina Nurse—or Fix a Missed 2026 Renewal
Most visitors are not looking for a long explanation of nursing law. They need to know whether a nurse can work today, where a pending application is stuck or what to do because the April 30 renewal deadline has already passed.
South Carolina separates those tasks across LLR Licensee Lookup, Online Services, Nursys, CE Broker and Board application pages. This guide brings the important instructions, deadlines, fees and troubleshooting details together before sending you to the exact official action.
Timely 2026 nursing renewal ended on April 30, 2026, and online renewal access ended on May 31, 2026. A nurse who missed those dates must now follow the applicable reinstatement process, which includes additional fees and a new criminal background check.
Verify an SC nurse
Check license type, number, current status and expiration through LLR.
Reinstate a lapsed license
Use this route after missing the April 30 and May 31 online windows.
Check application status
Review pending examination, endorsement, APRN or other application tasks.
Apply by endorsement
Check NLC residency, verification, competency, fingerprints and temporary-license rules.
Verify an SC nursing school
Check the exact program, campus, Board approval and recent NCLEX results.
Manage an existing license
Change contact details, print a card, submit documents or recover portal access.
South Carolina nursing-license facts to check first
As of July 20, 2026: the normal online-renewal period is closed. A nurse who did not renew must not select an old renewal link and assume the license remains valid; the correct process is reinstatement.
Public lookup and private portal are different
Licensee Lookup shows the public record. E-Services is used for application status, address changes, renewal, documents and printable cards.
A lapsed license does not authorize practice
Do not work, accept an assignment or complete nursing orientation unless the required South Carolina or compact authority is current.
Compact status depends on residency
A multistate privilege depends on the nurse’s primary state of residence and continuing Nurse Licensure Compact eligibility.
Thirty hours are not the only option
South Carolina allows several competency pathways, including national certification, academic study or approved employer certification.
CE Broker offers a free basic account
CE Broker is the Board’s official continuing-education tracking system for searching courses and recording competency activity.
CNA records use a different agency
South Carolina nursing-assistant registry questions are not handled through the RN, LPN and APRN Board license routes.
What do you need from the South Carolina Board today?
Choose the closest task. The result identifies the correct public lookup, portal, reinstatement, endorsement, Nursys, school or CNA route.
Choose your situation
This helper does not access private records or submit an application.
How to verify an RN, LPN or APRN license in South Carolina
Use the official LLR Licensee Lookup for the current South Carolina public record. Search by license number whenever possible to avoid confusing people with similar names.
Open the nursing-specific lookup
Start from the LLR nursing search rather than an unofficial directory or saved screenshot.
Open Official Licensee LookupEnter the strongest identifier
Use the license number when known. Otherwise enter the current legal name and test a former surname if needed.
Match the correct credential
Confirm whether the result is an LPN, RN or APRN record. One professional may hold more than one credential.
Check status and expiration together
A familiar name or license number is not enough. The displayed status and expiration date determine whether the record is current.
Verify compact authority separately
Use Nursys when employment depends on a multistate privilege or a license issued by another compact home state.
Open Nursys QuickConfirmDocument the verification date
Employers should retain the official result, source and date checked under their credentialing procedure.
| Result or situation | What it means | What to do next |
|---|---|---|
| Active / current | The displayed credential is current under the listed details. | Confirm license type, expiration, compact status and any Board orders. |
| Lapsed / expired | The credential does not currently authorize practice. | Stop practice and complete the applicable reinstatement process. |
| Inactive | The nurse chose a status that does not authorize active practice. | Complete reactivation before accepting nursing duties. |
| Single-state license | The license authorizes practice in South Carolina but does not itself grant NLC multistate privilege. | Check residency and uniform multistate requirements if compact authority is needed. |
| Multistate privilege | The nurse meets NLC requirements through the primary state of residence. | Verify the current home-state license and privilege through Nursys. |
| Temporary license | Time-limited authority was issued while an application was being completed. | Verify directly with the issuing state because Nursys does not track temporary licenses. |
No result found? Recheck the license number, try a previous legal name, confirm the credential type and determine whether the person is practising through another compact state’s multistate license.
Employer verification checklist
South Carolina nursing renewal deadlines and what happened after them
South Carolina RN, LPN and APRN licenses renew every even-numbered year by April 30. The 2026 timely-renewal period and extended online access are now both closed.
| Date | What the date meant | Current consequence |
|---|---|---|
| April 30, 2026 | Final date to complete timely biennial renewal. | Applications submitted after this date became subject to reinstatement requirements and higher fees. |
| May 1–31, 2026 | The online system remained accessible for the applicable late/reinstatement route. | This online access period has also ended. |
| After May 31, 2026 | Online renewal access ended. | Use the paper reinstatement process and complete a new criminal background check. |
| Next regular cycle | South Carolina nursing licenses renew in even-numbered years. | A lapsed 2026 license cannot simply wait for 2028; it must be reinstated before practice resumes. |
A nurse who missed the 2026 deadline should not continue working merely because an employer has an old copy of the license. The live LLR status controls.
What timely renewal required
Current portal access
A valid LLR user ID, password and email address connected to the license.
Competency evidence
One of the Board’s accepted competency pathways for the biennial period.
Accurate renewal answers
Correct personal, disciplinary, practice and credential information.
Required payment
The exact non-refundable amount generated for RN, LPN or APRN renewal.
Proxy payment: the online renewal system allowed a licensee to designate another person to make payment. The licensee remained responsible for completing the application accurately and confirming payment.
Active-duty military: personnel requesting the statutory continuing-education or license-fee exemption could not complete the exempt process entirely online and were directed to contact NurseRenewal@llr.sc.gov.
How to reinstate a South Carolina nursing license after May 31, 2026
The ordinary online-renewal route is no longer available. Reinstatement depends on license type, how long the license has been lapsed, competency evidence and the required criminal background check.
Check the live license status
Confirm that the license is lapsed or expired and record the credential type and expiration date.
Check Current StatusStop nursing practice on the lapsed credential
Do not accept shifts, orientation, telehealth assignments or other nursing duties until valid authority is restored.
Identify the correct reinstatement category
RN and LPN fees differ based on whether the license has been lapsed for less than five years or five years and longer. APRN reinstatement has separate fees.
Check Reinstatement FeesPrepare continued-competency evidence
Use an accepted pathway completed within the required period, such as 30 contact hours, certification, academic study or approved employer verification.
Review Competency OptionsComplete the new criminal background check
The Board states that post-May 31 reinstatement requires a new background check. Follow the instructions supplied for the reinstatement application.
Submit the full paper reinstatement package
Include the correct form, supporting evidence and payment. Keep copies and delivery proof.
Open Licensure FormsBefore sending the package
Information not publicly provided as one universal processing time by the official website. Processing depends on whether the application is complete, the background check is received and additional review is required.
“I hold a South Carolina _____ license number _____. My public record shows _____ and expired on _____. I missed the 2026 online-renewal period. Please confirm the exact reinstatement form, competency evidence, criminal-background-check instructions and total fee required for my license type.”
Four ways to meet South Carolina nursing competency requirements
A nurse does not necessarily need to use 30 contact hours. The Board recognizes several ways to demonstrate competency for renewal, endorsement or reinstatement.
| Accepted pathway | What qualifies | Evidence to retain |
|---|---|---|
| Thirty contact hours | Completion of 30 contact hours from a continuing-education provider recognized by the Board. | Certificates showing nurse name, course, date, provider and awarded hours. |
| National certification | Maintenance of certification or recertification by a national certifying body recognized by the Board. | Current certification or recertification verification. |
| Academic study | Completion of an academic program of study in nursing or a related field recognized by the Board. | Official transcript or completion record. |
| Employer certification | Verification of competency through the Board-approved employer certification form. | Completed and signed Board employer-certification form. |
Use CE Broker to organize hours
CE Broker is the official tracking system used by the South Carolina Board of Nursing. A free basic account is available.
Open CE BrokerCheck the correct two-year period
Endorsement and competency guidance commonly requires qualifying activity completed within the preceding two years.
Do not rely on a course receipt
A payment receipt alone does not prove completion. Retain the actual certificate, transcript, certification or employer form.
Active-duty military personnel can qualify for statutory continuing-education and license-fee exemptions. Contact the Board for the paper process rather than making an unsupported online attestation.
APRNs must also maintain the national certification and other requirements attached to their advanced-practice role and prescriptive authority.
South Carolina nursing renewal, reinstatement and application fees
Fees are non-refundable. Use the exact current amount shown by the Board for the transaction, and remember that background checks, Nursys or examination registration may involve separate charges.
| Transaction | Official fee | Important note |
|---|---|---|
| RN or LPN timely renewal | $75 | The April 30, 2026 timely-renewal period has ended. |
| RN/LPN reinstatement under 5 years | $135 | Used when a lapsed license is less than five years old. |
| RN/LPN reinstatement 5 years or more | $145 | Additional practice or refresher requirements may apply. |
| Reactivate inactive license under 5 years | $50 | For an inactive rather than lapsed license. |
| Reactivate inactive license 5 years or more | $60 | Additional competency review may apply. |
| RN/LPN endorsement without temporary license | $100 | Verification and background-check costs may be separate. |
| RN/LPN endorsement with temporary license | $110 | The temporary portion is $10 and eligibility restrictions apply. |
| RN examination without temporary license | $90 | Pearson VUE NCLEX registration is separate. |
| LPN examination without temporary license | $70 | Pearson VUE NCLEX registration is separate. |
| APRN renewal without prescriptive authority | $105 | APRN national certification must remain current. |
| APRN renewal with prescriptive authority | $145 | Includes the credential configuration shown by the Board. |
| APRN reinstatement without prescriptive authority | $195 | Background-check and supporting-document requirements also apply. |
| APRN reinstatement with prescriptive authority | $235 | Prescriptive-authority restoration requirements must also be satisfied. |
| Official inactive status request | $15 | Inactive status does not authorize nursing practice. |
A returned-check charge of $30 is listed by the Board. Do not mail cash or use a fee copied from an old third-party page.
Check an SC nursing application and identify the missing item
Application status is available through the private LLR E-Services account. A pending application will not become an active public license merely because the fee was paid.
Use the original application account
Sign in with the user ID connected to the submitted application rather than creating a duplicate profile.
Open Application StatusOpen the correct transaction
Select the RN, LPN, APRN, examination, endorsement, reinstatement or other application already submitted.
Read each requirement individually
Look for identity documents, legal-name proof, lawful-presence forms, education, verification, competency and background-check tasks.
Confirm who must send the document
A school, licensing authority, credential evaluator or Nursys may need to submit the item directly.
Follow the criminal-background-check instructions
The Board sends fingerprint and background-check instructions after receiving an application when the requirement applies.
Contact the Board with dates, not a vague request
State the exact application, item, sending organization, date sent and current portal wording.
| Pending item | What to verify | Useful next action |
|---|---|---|
| License verification | Whether the original state of licensure submitted verification through Nursys or an accepted direct method. | Order or resend through the required official source. |
| Education record | Whether the nursing program sent the required endorsement or graduation documentation. | Ask the school for the exact sending date and method. |
| Competency | Whether one accepted pathway was documented within the required period. | Upload the certificate, certification, transcript or employer form requested. |
| Background check | Whether the applicant followed the instructions sent by the Board after application. | Do not repeat fingerprints unless instructed. |
| Legal-name mismatch | Whether the application name matches birth, marriage, divorce or court documents. | Submit the correct legal-name evidence. |
| Foreign education | Whether credential evaluation, English proficiency and original-country verification were sent correctly. | Have the approved organization send the required report directly. |
The official website does not publish one guaranteed turnaround time for every nursing application. Criminal history, discipline, foreign education, missing verification or Board review can extend processing.
“I applied for South Carolina _____ licensure on _____. My application number is _____. The portal shows _____ as incomplete. The document was sent by _____ on _____ through _____. Please confirm whether it has been matched and identify the exact remaining requirement.”
South Carolina licensure by endorsement: documents and work restrictions
A nurse who needs South Carolina endorsement must have current authority before beginning work. The Board explicitly treats orientation—including classroom instruction and policy review—as nursing practice.
Do not begin orientation without authority. A current South Carolina license, eligible compact privilege or qualifying temporary license must be in place before orientation starts.
Determine whether an SC license is required
Check whether you already hold a valid multistate license from another compact primary state of residence.
Review SC NLC InformationReview endorsement eligibility
South Carolina requires approved nursing education, the appropriate U.S. licensing examination and other statutory requirements.
Open Endorsement RequirementsSubmit the application and identity documents
Prepare identification, Social Security or permitted immigration documents, legal-name proof, affidavits and lawful-presence documentation.
Order original-state license verification
Use Nursys where available. The Board requires verification from the original state of licensure by examination.
Order Nursys VerificationProvide competency evidence
Complete one accepted pathway within the preceding two years, such as 30 contact hours, certification, academic study or employer certification.
Complete the background check and monitor status
Follow the Board’s fingerprint instructions and check the private portal until every requirement is complete.
Temporary-license rules
Maximum duration
The Board may issue a temporary nursing license for up to 60 days while an endorsement application is being completed and approved.
When a temporary license may be unavailable
Prior or pending criminal matters, current or pending nursing-board action, license restrictions and certain foreign-education situations can prevent temporary issuance.
Nursys does not track temporary licenses. An employer must verify temporary authority directly with the state that issued it.
How South Carolina multistate nursing privileges work
South Carolina participates in the Nurse Licensure Compact. Multistate authority is tied to the nurse’s primary state of residence—not merely the state where an employer is located.
| Situation | Likely license route | What to verify |
|---|---|---|
| SC is your primary state of residence | Apply for or maintain South Carolina licensure and request multistate privileges if eligible. | SC residency evidence and uniform multistate requirements. |
| Another compact state is your primary residence | Normally rely on the home-state multistate license for practice in SC. | Home-state license is active and carries multistate privileges. |
| You are moving permanently to SC | Apply for South Carolina licensure by endorsement and submit proof of SC primary residence. | Driver’s license, voter registration, tax return, military form or accepted residency evidence. |
| You apply before establishing SC residence | The Board may initially issue a single-state license until acceptable SC residency proof is received. | Submit the Declaration of Primary State of Residence after the move. |
| You provide telehealth to an SC patient | You need authority to practise where the patient receives care. | SC license or valid compact privilege and South Carolina practice rules. |
Examples of primary-residence evidence
An RN compact privilege does not automatically create South Carolina APRN authority. Advanced-practice licensure and prescriptive authority must be verified separately.
Check a South Carolina practical or registered nursing program
The Board approves South Carolina prelicensure practical and registered nursing programs. Verify the exact campus and program before paying tuition or assuming NCLEX eligibility.
Open SC Schools of Nursing
The official page separates Practical Nursing and Registered Nursing program lists.
Open SC Program ListsChoose PN or RN
Match the program to the LPN or RN license the student intends to pursue.
Match the exact campus
A college or private school can operate more than one campus with different approval details.
Read the approval status
Distinguish full, initial or conditional approval and note the effective date shown by the Board.
Check accreditation separately
Board approval and national nursing accreditation are different. Review both when future education or employment depends on accreditation.
Compare recent NCLEX pass rates
Use the Board’s RN or PN statistics rather than a school’s selected marketing percentage.
Review NCLEX StatisticsA school appearing on the state list does not answer every student question. Confirm the exact campus, current approval, accreditation, graduation eligibility and total cost in writing.
Recover your LLR account, update details and print a license card
Forgot the user ID
Use the “Forgot username” option on the LLR login page when a valid email is already connected to the account.
Forgot the password
Use the official reset link rather than creating a second license or application account.
Email is not current
Email nurseboard@llr.sc.gov with your name, license number and current email. The renewal page asks users to allow 5–7 business days for the update.
Change address or email
Use E-Services to update contact information so renewal notices and Board communications reach the correct account.
Legal name changed
Submit a written or electronic request with a marriage certificate, divorce decree, court order or other accepted legal document.
Print a license card
The Manage My License portal includes a printable-license-card service for an existing licensee.
Do not email Social Security numbers, passwords or full identity documents unless the official Board instruction specifically requires that method and address.
South Carolina Board of Nursing phone, email and office
Check the public record or application portal before calling. Have the license or application number, exact task wording and document-submission date ready.
General South Carolina Board of Nursing licensing and regulatory questions.
General licensing, account-email and Board correspondence.
Renewal, military-exemption and current reinstatement-route questions.
Synergy Business Park, Kingstree Building, Columbia, SC 29210.
Call before travelling. An office visit does not guarantee same-day review.
Columbia, SC 29211. Check the current form before mailing original or certified documents.
“I am contacting the South Carolina Board of Nursing about my _____ license or application. My license or application number is _____. The public record or portal shows _____. The document named _____ was sent by _____ on _____. Please confirm the exact remaining action, form and fee.”
Before visiting: confirm whether your task can be completed through E-Services, email or mail. Staff may not be able to issue a license, match a background check or complete a reinstatement during a walk-in visit.
South Carolina Board of Nursing FAQ
How do I verify a South Carolina nursing license?
Use the official South Carolina LLR nursing Licensee Lookup. Search by license number when possible, match the RN, LPN or APRN credential and check status and expiration.
When was the 2026 nursing renewal deadline?
The timely deadline was April 30, 2026. Online access ended May 31, 2026. A nurse who missed both dates must now use the applicable reinstatement process.
Can I still renew online in July 2026?
No. The Board states that online access ended May 31, 2026. After that date, a paper reinstatement application and new criminal background check are required.
How much was RN or LPN renewal?
The published timely RN and LPN renewal fee was $75. Reinstatement fees are higher and depend on how long the license has been lapsed.
How much is RN or LPN reinstatement?
The published fee is $135 when the license has been lapsed for less than five years and $145 when it has been lapsed for five years or more.
How many continuing-education hours are required?
Thirty contact hours from a recognized provider is one option. A nurse may instead qualify through recognized certification, academic study or an approved employer-certification pathway.
Does South Carolina use CE Broker?
Yes. CE Broker is the official continuing-education tracking system listed by the South Carolina Board of Nursing, and a free basic account is available.
How do I check my nursing application status?
Sign in through the LLR Application Status portal using the account connected to the original application. Open the correct transaction and review each incomplete task.
Can I start nursing orientation while endorsement is pending?
No. South Carolina considers orientation to be the practice of nursing. Valid South Carolina authority, an eligible compact privilege or a qualifying temporary license is required before orientation begins.
How long is a South Carolina temporary nursing license valid?
The Board may issue a temporary license for up to 60 days while an endorsement application is completed and approved.
Does Nursys show temporary licenses?
No. The South Carolina endorsement guidance says Nursys does not track temporary licenses, so an employer must verify temporary authority directly with the issuing state.
Is South Carolina a Nurse Licensure Compact state?
Yes. Multistate authority depends on the nurse’s primary state of residence and compliance with uniform NLC requirements.
How do I verify a South Carolina nursing school?
Use the Board’s SC Schools of Nursing page, select practical or registered nursing, match the exact campus and review approval status and NCLEX statistics.
What is the South Carolina Board of Nursing phone number?
The main Board phone number is (803) 896-4550. The general Board email is nurseboard@llr.sc.gov.
South Carolina LLR pages used for this guide
Fees, forms, deadlines and portal instructions can change. Recheck the relevant official page immediately before submitting an application, reinstatement package, verification request or payment.
For employers and the public
Use the live South Carolina record, match the correct nurse and credential, verify compact authority where relevant and document the date checked.
For nurses and applicants
Use the secure LLR portal for applications, account changes and documents. A nurse who missed the 2026 renewal period must complete reinstatement before returning to practice.