South Carolina Registered Nurse (RN) Continuing Education Requirements
Requirements Overview
South Carolina requires 30 contact hours of continuing education per biennial renewal cycle for registered nurses. However, the state recognizes four distinct pathways to demonstrate continuing competency: completing 30 CE hours from approved providers, holding certification or recertification from a Board-recognized national body, completing an academic nursing program, or having an employer certify your competency and practice hours on a Board-approved form.
CE courses must come from South Carolina Board of Nursing-approved activities or ANCC-accredited providers. The state uses CE Broker for tracking and submitting CE completions, which simplifies the audit process. CE records must be retained for at least 4 years.
South Carolina is a Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) state, and online renewal is available through the NurseGateway portal. The renewal fee is $75.
Renewal Pathways
How You Can Complete Your CE
Provider Requirements
CE must be from South Carolina Board of Nursing-approved activities or ANCC-accredited providers. CE completions can be tracked through CE Broker.
Tips for South Carolina RNs
- If you hold a current national nursing certification (e.g., CCRN, CEN), you may use it to satisfy the competency requirement without completing 30 CE hours.
- Use CE Broker to track your completions. It's the Board's official system, and keeping it current simplifies the process if you're selected for audit.
- Retain CE certificates for at least 4 years — that's longer than many states require. Set a reminder to archive rather than discard.
- The employer verification pathway can be a good option if you work full-time. Ask your supervisor about completing the Board-approved competency form.