South Carolina Respiratory Therapist Licensing Guide
License Snapshot
Processing Time
3-6 weeks
From complete application
Application Fee
$110
Renewal: $35 · Temp license available
Credential
NBRC
Required national certification
Renewal
15 hours
Every 1 year
Overview
South Carolina does not participate in an interstate compact for respiratory therapy. Travelers must obtain an individual South Carolina license through the endorsement process before practicing in the state, regardless of what licenses they hold elsewhere.
Endorsement Process
South Carolina uses an online portal (https://apply.llr.sc.gov/ for first-time applicants) or paper respiratory_care_application_package.pdf. sc issues a single respiratory care practitioner license; there is no separate 'endorsement' application track for out-of-state rts (they use the same application and submit out-of-state license verifications via the state license verification form). endorsement process for respiratory therapists already licensed in another state. You'll need to submit your completed application along with supporting documents and the $110 application fee.
- Submit endorsement application via South Carolina board portal
- Request license verification from current state (via NBRC or direct) (can run concurrently)
- Complete any state-specific requirements (jurisprudence exam, background check, etc.) (can run concurrently)
- Await board review and license issuance
License verification is handled through NBRC or direct board verification. South Carolina requires verification from every state where you hold or have held a respiratory therapist license, so request verification early to avoid delays.
Background check requirements vary by applicant — confirm the current fingerprinting and screening steps with the South Carolina Board of Medical Examiners (Respiratory Care Practitioners). Where fingerprinting applies, submit your authorization as early as possible, since background check processing is one of the most common sources of delay.
Jurisprudence Exam Required: South Carolina requires a mandatory Respiratory Therapy Jurisprudence Examination covering South Carolina-specific law. This cannot be waived regardless of your experience level or compact status. Schedule this early — no license (temporary or permanent) will issue until you've passed it.
After all components are received, the Board reviews applications on a rolling basis. Check the South Carolina Board of Medical Examiners (Respiratory Care Practitioners) website for status updates on your application.
Fees
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Endorsement Application | $110 |
| Renewal | $35 (every 1 year) |
Travelers should factor these licensing costs into their assignment budgeting. Many staffing agencies, including Fusion Medical Staffing, offer licensure reimbursement programs to help offset these expenses.
Temporary License
South Carolina issues temporary respiratory therapy licenses valid for Emergency Temporary License: duration of the Governor-declared state of emergency only (expires when emergency expires). Limited License: tied to NBRC exam attempt/graduation timeline, with 30 days post-graduation to submit proof of graduation or the Limited License is void., allowing respiratory therapists to begin practicing while their permanent endorsement application is being processed. For travelers, this is often the fastest path to starting an assignment.
Eligibility requirements:
- Complete endorsement application submitted via SC board portal
- Current valid respiratory therapist license from another US state or NBRC RRT/CRT credential
- Background check initiation (may be concurrent with application)
- Identification of work location or notation that location is unknown at this time
Issuance timeline:
- Complete application received by SC board
- Background check cleared or initiated without disqualifying findings
- NBRC verification or current state license verification received
Denial risks:
- Disqualifying criminal history identified in background check
- Missing NBRC credentials or invalid/expired source state license
- Application incomplete after 30-day correction notice window
Important for travelers: Temporary license expires after 3 months or upon issuance/denial of permanent license, whichever comes first. Working at unlisted or different facility than stated on temp license application may trigger immediate revocation; must notify board in writing of work location before beginning employment. Failure to complete permanent licensure application may result in temp license expiration without automatic renewal.
Processing Time
South Carolina respiratory therapist endorsement applications typically take 3-6 weeks to process. The timeline is subject to moderate variability depending on the completeness of your application and external factors.
In the best-case scenario, processing can be as fast as 3 weeks.
Common sources of delay:
- Board meets monthly with a standard 3-6 week processing window; applications received after cutoff must wait until next meeting cycle
- Background check processing times vary; SC-specific fingerprinting or third-party verification can add 2-3 weeks if not submitted concurrently with application
- NBRC verification requests to other states may be slow; direct board-to-board contact is faster but requires manual board coordination
South Carolina does not offer an expedited processing track. The best way to minimize your wait time is to ensure all application components — fingerprints, verification, and any required exams — are completed before or immediately after submitting your application.
Continuing Education
South Carolina requires 15 contact hours of continuing education every 1 year for respiratory therapist license renewal.
- Traveler tip: Keep all CE documentation organized and easily accessible — South Carolina may audit compliance at any time
Renewal Process
- Renewal cycle: Every year — $35
- Renewal timing: Current renewal cycle expires May 31, with a 12-month late renewal window through May 31 of the following year (reactivation required after that). Regulation 81-202 still references a March 1 date but the LLR renewals page reflects the current May 31 deadline.
- Late penalty: Additional $65 late renewal fee on top of the $35 renewal fee, and late renewal window runs June 1 through May 31 of the following year, after which reactivation is required
- Traveler tip: Track your South Carolina license expiration date carefully — a lapsed license can disrupt active assignments
Official Resources
South Carolina Board of Medical Examiners (Respiratory Care Practitioners)
Board Website·Application Portal·License Verification
Phone: (803) 896-4500
Email: [email protected]
Frequently Asked Questions
Please note that while Fusion Medical Staffing strives to provide the most current and accurate information, we cannot guarantee the completeness or timeliness of the information provided. Requirements and processes can change frequently. Healthcare professionals are strongly encouraged to verify details directly with South Carolina Board of Medical Examiners (Respiratory Care Practitioners)'s official website.
Resources
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