Paramedic / South Carolina
2026 data South Carolina board official source

South Carolina Paramedic License Requirements

Compiled from official public sources by the publisher.

What the state board actually requires: fees, renewal cycle, and requirements from official records.

PlainCredential home → About this data

Provides advanced emergency medical care in the field.

What the South Carolina data shows for Paramedics

To practice as a paramedic in South Carolina, the state licensing board requires 1,373 documented education or training hours, a passing score on NREMT Paramedic Exam. A criminal history background check is also part of the application. Applicants must be at least 18 years old. The regulation sits under South Carolina's professional licensing framework, which classifies the training track as "Paramedic Training Program".

Upfront cost is $93, with renewal running $82 on a 2-year cycle. Renewal isn't the end of the cost: 72 hours of continuing education are due every 2-year cycle, a recurring time commitment worth planning for.

For paramedics, the reciprocity picture is: Interstate EMS Compact: 30+ states.

Licensing Ease Score

C-
Licensing Ease Score
50/100
Paramedic · 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
1,373 hours
Documented education/training hours required
Initial Fee C
$93
One-time application/license fee
Renewal Burden C+
$41/yr
$82 every 2 years
Continuing Education F
36.0 hrs/yr
72 hours every 2 years
Experience Required A+
None required
Supervised work experience required before licensure

Licensing Requirements in South Carolina

Education / Training Hours
Paramedic Training Program
1,373 hours
Exam Requirement
NREMT Paramedic Exam
Required
Initial License Fee
$93
Renewal Fee
$82
Renewal Cycle
Every 2 years
Continuing Education
72 hrs/cycle
Criminal History Check
Required
Minimum Age
18 years

Compare & Explore

Compare all states for Paramedic 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 Paramedic in South Carolina? ▼
South Carolina's requirements cover 1373 hours of education or training, the NREMT Paramedic Exam exam, and an initial fee of $93. Applicants also go through a criminal background check.
How do I get certified as a Paramedic in South Carolina? ▼
Certification as a paramedic in South Carolina means clearing the state's checklist: 1373 hours of education, and a passing exam score. The South Carolina licensing board can confirm the current details.
Can I transfer my Paramedic license to South Carolina from another state? ▼
Here's how reciprocity typically plays out for paramedics: Interstate EMS Compact: 30+ states. Many occupations are additionally covered by interstate licensing compacts that ease cross-state moves. Check with the South Carolina licensing board for how this applies to you.
Does South Carolina require a background check for Paramedic licensing? ▼
Background screening is part of the paramedic 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 Paramedic in South Carolina? ▼
South Carolina ties continued paramedic licensure to 72 continuing-education hours, due every 2 years, alongside a $82 renewal fee.

Related Guides

What to do with this paramedic license

Paramedic in South Carolina, with a documented reciprocity path, is one requirement row in a paramedic-wide, 50-state comparison.

  • See how South Carolina's paramedic requirements compare to every other state before relocating. Paramedic in every state
  • Confirm whether your out-of-state paramedic 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.