Nursing Schools and Licensing Requirements in South Carolina
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Despite having almost 60,000 licensed registered nurses in South Carolina, according to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing, the US Department of Health and Human Services predicts South Carolina will fall short of demands by 2025. To meet expanding nursing needs, the state recently passed the Critical Needs Nursing Initiatives Act to provide funding for faculty procurement and nursing scholarship aid. Individuals who are considering a career in nursing, or looking to advance in the field, can use the following guide to find out about educational and licensure requirements in South Carolina.
Top 10 Nursing Schools and Licensing Requirements in South Carolina 4-Year Colleges
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Methodology +
BEST 2-YEAR NURSING SCHOOLS
The top nursing programs listed in this state’s ranking were determined by comparison of three primary, equally-weighted criteria including
Student-to-faculty ration
In-state tuition
Graduation rate
Additional details for each school were included:
Count of programs available
Public and not-for-profit schools
Normalized on a 100 percent curve
The methodology used for tie-break is as follows…
Ties are broken based on lowest average net price for full-time, first-time undergraduates paying in-state tuition (average cost of tuition and expenses after grants and scholarships).
If necessary, the lowest in-state tuition rate is used as a second tie-break
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With 30 state-approved undergraduate programs for individuals looking to become registered nurses, prospective students have no shortage of options available in South Carolina. Nurses who have been working in the field and are now considering an advanced role can also choose from several master’s and doctoral degree programs. Use the search tool below to locate an approved nursing school and program in South Carolina that’s matched to your specific needs.StateDegree LevelSchool TypeEnvironmentClear All Filters
South Carolina Licensure: How to Apply
The South Carolina Board of Nursing is the state’s Department of Labor agency charged with overseeing the licensing of registered nurses, licensed practical nurses and advanced practice nurses. The board is also responsible for licensing renewals and overseeing the Nurse Licensure Compact agreement that allows nurses from other member states to transfer their licenses to South Carolina. Here you’ll find a list of requirements for those seeking a nursing license for the first time in South Carolina, as well as how to renew it when it is time.
Requirements
Complete a state-approved nursing education program
Submit an application form along with the following items:
Recent 2” x 2” passport-type photo that is signed and dated
Copy of birth certificate or valid passport
Copy of social security card, permanent resident card, or resident alien identification card
Copy of documents for changes in name (if applicable)
Provide dates of completion for all coursework completed at a nursing school in South Carolina
Request official transcripts be sent directly from the awarding institution to the Board
Register to take the NCLEX exam via Pearson VUE and pay a fee of $200
Pay the $90 fee
Once an Authorization to Test has been received from Pearson VUE, applicants must sign up for a testing time
Submit to a criminal background check conducted by the State Law Enforcement Division and the FBI
Applicants hailing from a member-state of the National Licensure Compact (NLC) must apply for multistate licensure in their state. Those from a state that is not part of the NLC must apply for a single-state license.
Renewing A South Carolina License
South Carolina-based nurses are required to renew their license on every even-numbered year by midnight on April 30. Candidates for renewal must show they have completed 30 hours of approved continuing education credits during the previous two years. The fee to renew an RN license is $75.
If a nurse needs to reinstate or reactive his or her license, he or she must complete the appropriate application and pay $60 for reinstatement or $50 for reactivation. They will also need to complete a new criminal background check.
Advanced Practice Nurse Licenses in South Carolina
Many RNs in South Carolina choose to go back to school and earn additional certifications or licenses to work in a specialized area. These steps allow them to move into roles as nurse anesthetists, nurse practitioners, clinical nurse specialists, or certified nurse-midwives. In order to be licensed as an APRN, nurses must meet the following criteria:
Hold a current license in South Carolina
Have a master’s degree or higher from an accredited nursing program in the specialty for which they are applying
Hold national certification in the specialty
More information about earning and renewing an advanced practice nursing license is available at the South Carolina Board of Nursing.
South Carolina Salaries for RNs
According to the Office for Healthcare Workforce Analysis and Planning, the number of registered nurses in South Carolina has consistently grown since 1996, and this isn’t expected to change anytime soon. Nurses in the state are part of a flourishing industry, with attractive salaries and options for advancement. Review the following statistics to learn about the range of salaries and positions throughout the state.
Top-Paying Areas for RNs in South Carolina
Area
Hourly Median Wage
Annual Median Wage
Charleston-North Charleston-Summerville
$30.86
$64,180
Florence
$30.15
$62,710
Low Country South Carolina nonmetropolitan area
$28.96
$60,240
Greenville-Mauldin-Easley
$27.90
$58,020
Anderson
$26.92
$56,000
Columbia
$26.91
$55,970
Myrtle Beach-North Myrtle Beach-Conway
$26.81
$55,760
Pee Dee South Carolina nonmetropolitan area
$26.73
$55,590
Upper Savannah South Carolina nonmetropolitan area
$26.59
$55,310
Sumter
$26.23
$54,570
Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2014
South Carolina vs. National Numbers
[graph block]
Salary
Year
Annual salary(25th percentile)
Annual salary(median)
Annual salary(75th percentile)
Annual salary(25th percentile)
Annual salary(median)
Annual salary(75th percentile)
Registered Nurse
$48,690
$58,350
$69,930
$0
$54,620
$66,640
$81,080
Certified Nurse Midwife
$56,810
$80,970
$99,670
$0
$82,580
$96,970
$114,090
Nurse Anesthetist
$132,800
$150,280
$179,960
$0
$132,380
$153,780
$181,860
Nurse Practitioner
$77,700
$88,390
$99,200
$0
$82,720
$95,350
$113,470
Sources: Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2014
Employment
TOTAL EMPLOYMENT (2014)
Type
South Carolina
National
Registered Nurse
41,270
2,687,310
Certified Nurse Midwife
60
5,110
Nurse Anesthetist
500
36,590
Nurse Practitioner
1,260
122,050
2022 OCCUPATIONAL OUTLOOK
Type
South Carolina
National
Registered Nurse
51,940
3,238,400
Certified Nurse Midwife
30
7,700
Nurse Anesthetist
740
43,900
Nurse Practitioner
1,730
147,300
AVG. ANNUAL OPENINGS (2012 – 2022)
Type
South Carolina
National
Registered Nurse
1,670
105,260
Certified Nurse Midwife
0
290
Nurse Anesthetist
20
1,560
Nurse Practitioner
70
5,850
Sources: Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2014 and Projections Central
Founded to promote continuing education among CRNAs in South Carolina, this organization also provides legal support and a voice in the legislature for nurses and their patients.
The South Carolina Association of School Nurses is a member organization for school nurses in South Carolina. Its mission is to promote and advance the quality of school health services and health education throughout the state.
The South Carolina Nurses Association is an affiliate of the American Nurses Association and is dedicated to furthering the careers of nurses in South Carolina and advocating for better health care policy.
SCONL is an affiliate of the South Carolina Hospital Association and is open to all registered nurses in the state. The organization aims to improve nursing practices and create networking opportunities for its members.
This pre-professional organization for nursing and pre-nursing students provides leadership experience, educational opportunities, networking events, and information about careers in nursing.
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