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South Carolina · Nurse Practitioner

Nurse Practitioner CE requirements in South Carolina

Medium-high confidenceLast verified June 4, 2026

Requirements at a glance

Licensing board
Renewal cycle
Every 2 years
Total CE hours
Updated national certification PLUS 20 hrs pharmacotherapeutics (for Rx authority)
Pharmacology hours
20 contact hours pharmacotherapeutics; 2 on prescribing controlled substances
Accepts AANP or ANCC in lieu
Required (and serves as core competency)

State-mandated CE topics

  • Controlled substances: 2 hrs — Within the 20.

Sources

Every figure on this page is compiled from the primary board and national certification sources below, cross-checked against reputable aggregators. Requirements change often and some boards publish only in PDFs or login-walled portals — confirm current rules directly before relying on them for renewal.

South Carolina licensing boardSouth Carolina Board of Nursing (LLR)
AANP certification (national)aanpcert.org/recert
ANCC certification (national)nursingworld.org/globalassets/certification/renewals/ancc-certrenewalrequirements.pdf
DEA MATE Act (federal)samhsa.gov/substance-use/treatment/statutes-regulations-guidelines/mate-act
DEA MATE Act (federal)dea.gov
Verify with South Carolina Board of Nursing (LLR)

How this fits the national picture

Independent of South Carolina, every NP maintains national certification through AANP (100 CE hours over 5 years including 25 pharmacology, plus 1,000 practice hours) or ANCC (75 CE hours over 5 years including 25 pharmacotherapeutics). State CE sits on top of that.

Keep exploring

Frequently asked questions

How many CE hours do nurse practitioners need in South Carolina?

Updated national certification PLUS 20 hrs pharmacotherapeutics (for Rx authority). Renewal cycle: Every 2 years.

Does South Carolina accept AANP or ANCC certification in lieu of state CE?

Required (and serves as core competency).

What topic-specific CE does South Carolina require for nurse practitioners?

Controlled substances: 2 hrs — Within the 20.

How many pharmacology hours do nurse practitioners need in South Carolina?

20 contact hours pharmacotherapeutics; 2 on prescribing controlled substances.

Informational only, not legal or compliance advice. Continuing education rules change frequently. Confirm current requirements with the South Carolina Board of Nursing (LLR) and your certifying body before relying on any figure here.