Occupational Therapist / South Carolina
2026 data South Carolina board official source

South Carolina Occupational Therapist License Requirements

Compiled from official public sources by the publisher.

Official regulator records behind the requirements, fees, and renewal cycle for this license.

PlainCredential home → About this data

Helps patients develop daily living and work skills. Requires masters or doctoral degree.

What the South Carolina data shows for Occupational Therapists

South Carolina sets the entry bar for occupational therapists at 3,216 training hours and a passing score on NBCOT Certification Exam. A background check is a standard part of the process, and applicants must be 18 or older. The credential is administered under South Carolina's licensing regime, which classifies the training track as "Masters or Doctoral Degree".

Upfront cost is $124, with renewal running $113 on a 2-year cycle. Maintaining the license requires 36 hours of continuing education per 2-year cycle, an ongoing cost applicants often underestimate when budgeting the career.

Reciprocity for this profession works like this: OT Licensure Compact: 25+ member states.

Licensing Ease Score

D
Licensing Ease Score
42/100
Occupational Therapist · South Carolina

A higher score means this specific license is LESS burdensome to obtain and maintain here than the national requirement corpus, based on education hours, fees, continuing education, and experience requirements, not an overall judgment of the profession or the state.

Education & Training F
3,216 hours
Documented education/training hours required
Initial Fee F
$124
One-time application/license fee
Renewal Burden D
$57/yr
$113 every 2 years
Continuing Education F
18.0 hrs/yr
36 hours every 2 years
Experience Required A+
None required
Supervised work experience required before licensure

Licensing Requirements in South Carolina

Education / Training Hours
Masters or Doctoral Degree
3,216 hours
Exam Requirement
NBCOT Certification Exam
Required
Initial License Fee
$124
Renewal Fee
$113
Renewal Cycle
Every 2 years
Continuing Education
36 hrs/cycle
Criminal History Check
Required
Minimum Age
18 years

Compare & Explore

Compare all states for Occupational Therapist All South Carolina licenses
Data sources: NCSL Occupational Licensing Database, Institute for Justice, state licensing boards. Verify current requirements with South Carolina licensing authorities before making career decisions.

Frequently Asked Questions

What license do I need for Occupational Therapist in South Carolina? ▼
South Carolina requires 3216 education/training hours, passing an exam (NBCOT Certification Exam), and an initial fee of $124. A criminal background check is also required.
How do I get certified as an Occupational Therapist in South Carolina? ▼
To become a licensed occupational therapist in South Carolina, you must meet the state's requirements including 3216 hours of education. You must also pass the required examination. Contact the South Carolina licensing board to verify current requirements.
Can I transfer my Occupational Therapist license to South Carolina from another state? ▼
For occupational therapists, the reciprocity landscape looks like this: OT Licensure Compact: 25+ member states. Many professions are also covered by interstate licensing compacts that facilitate portability between states. Contact the South Carolina licensing board to confirm how it applies to your specific credential.
Does South Carolina require a background check for Occupational Therapist licensing? ▼
Background screening is part of the occupational therapist licensing process in South Carolina. The state licensing board determines which offenses disqualify an applicant and how appeals are handled.
What are the continuing education requirements for Occupational Therapist in South Carolina? ▼
To stay licensed as an occupational therapist in South Carolina, plan on 36 hours of continuing education per 2-year renewal cycle; renewal itself runs $113.

Related Guides

What to do with this occupational therapist license

Occupational Therapist in South Carolina, with a documented reciprocity path, is one requirement row in an occupational therapist-wide, 50-state comparison.

  • See how South Carolina's occupational therapist requirements compare to every other state before relocating. Occupational Therapist in every state
  • Confirm whether your out-of-state occupational therapist license transfers under an interstate compact before starting a new application. Reciprocity guide
  • See how South Carolina's overall licensing burden compares to other states, not just this one profession. South Carolina overview

Requirements shown are compiled from NCSL and Institute for Justice research; verify current rules with the South Carolina licensing board before making career decisions.

Source: NCSL Occupational Licensing Database, Institute for Justice License to Work (3rd Ed.), state licensing board websites

According to the National Conference of State Legislatures and the Institute for Justice, the PlainCredential comparison corpus (current as of May 15, 2026) maps 4,947 state licensing requirement records; see the methodology.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.