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

South Carolina Physical Therapist License Requirements

Compiled from official public sources by the publisher.

Requirements, fees, and renewal timing for this license, sourced from state board records.

PlainCredential home → About this data

Evaluates and treats movement disorders and injuries. Requires doctoral degree.

What the South Carolina data shows for Physical Therapists

Becoming a licensed physical therapist in South Carolina means clearing a defined set of hurdles: 3,216 training hours, a passing score on NPTE (National Physical Therapy Exam), plus a background history check once the applicant turns 18. South Carolina regulators place this credential inside their licensing framework, which classifies the training track as "Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT)".

The initial price tag is $134, and renewal costs $124 every 2 years. Maintaining the license requires 30 hours of continuing education per 2-year cycle, an ongoing cost applicants often underestimate when budgeting the career.

For physical therapists, the reciprocity picture is: PT Licensure Compact: 30+ member states.

Licensing Ease Score

D
Licensing Ease Score
43/100
Physical 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
$134
One-time application/license fee
Renewal Burden D
$62/yr
$124 every 2 years
Continuing Education F
15.0 hrs/yr
30 hours every 2 years
Experience Required A+
None required
Supervised work experience required before licensure

Licensing Requirements in South Carolina

Education / Training Hours
Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT)
3,216 hours
Exam Requirement
NPTE (National Physical Therapy Exam)
Required
Initial License Fee
$134
Renewal Fee
$124
Renewal Cycle
Every 2 years
Continuing Education
30 hrs/cycle
Criminal History Check
Required
Minimum Age
18 years

Compare & Explore

Compare all states for Physical 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 Physical Therapist in South Carolina? ▼
In South Carolina, the license path calls for 3216 education/training hours, a passing score on NPTE (National Physical Therapy Exam), and a $134 initial fee. A criminal background check is required as well.
How do I get certified as a Physical Therapist in South Carolina? ▼
Certification as a physical therapist in South Carolina means clearing the state's checklist: 3216 hours of education, and a passing exam score. The South Carolina licensing board can confirm the current details.
Can I transfer my Physical Therapist license to South Carolina from another state? ▼
For physical therapists, the reciprocity landscape looks like this: PT Licensure Compact: 30+ 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 Physical Therapist licensing? ▼
Background screening is part of the physical 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 Physical Therapist in South Carolina? ▼
To stay licensed as a physical therapist in South Carolina, plan on 30 hours of continuing education per 2-year renewal cycle; renewal itself runs $124.

Related Guides

What to do with this physical therapist license

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

  • See how South Carolina's physical therapist requirements compare to every other state before relocating. Physical Therapist in every state
  • Confirm whether your out-of-state physical 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.