Physician Assistant / South Carolina
2026 data South Carolina board official source

South Carolina Physician Assistant License Requirements

Compiled from official public sources by the publisher.

State-board requirements, fees, and renewal cycle drawn from official regulator records.

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Practices medicine under physician supervision. Requires PANCE exam and masters degree.

What the South Carolina data shows for Physician Assistants

South Carolina's path to physician assistant licensure runs through 3,324 hours of approved instruction and a passing score on PANCE (Physician Assistant National Certifying Exam), plus a criminal history screening before applicants younger than 18 can be licensed. South Carolina folds the credential into its broader occupational licensing statute, which classifies the training track as "Masters Degree (MPAS or MMS)".

Upfront cost is $165, with renewal running $154 on a 2-year cycle. The license also carries an ongoing 100-hour continuing-education requirement per 2-year cycle that adds to the true cost of staying licensed.

For physician assistants, the reciprocity picture is: PA Licensure Compact: adoption underway in many states.

Licensing Ease Score

F
Licensing Ease Score
31/100
Physician Assistant · 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
3,324 hours
Documented education/training hours required
Initial Fee F
$165
One-time application/license fee
Renewal Burden F
$77/yr
$154 every 2 years
Continuing Education F
50.0 hrs/yr
100 hours every 2 years
Experience Required A+
None required
Supervised work experience required before licensure

Licensing Requirements in South Carolina

Education / Training Hours
Masters Degree (MPAS or MMS)
3,324 hours
Exam Requirement
PANCE (Physician Assistant National Certifying Exam)
Required
Initial License Fee
$165
Renewal Fee
$154
Renewal Cycle
Every 2 years
Continuing Education
100 hrs/cycle
Criminal History Check
Required
Minimum Age
18 years

Compare & Explore

Compare all states for Physician Assistant 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 Physician Assistant in South Carolina? ▼
South Carolina's requirements cover 3324 hours of education or training, the PANCE (Physician Assistant National Certifying Exam) exam, and an initial fee of $165. Applicants also go through a criminal background check.
How do I get certified as a Physician Assistant in South Carolina? ▼
To become a licensed physician assistant in South Carolina, you must meet the state's requirements including 3324 hours of education. You must also pass the required examination. Contact the South Carolina licensing board to verify current requirements.
Can I transfer my Physician Assistant license to South Carolina from another state? ▼
Here's how reciprocity typically plays out for physician assistants: PA Licensure Compact: adoption underway in many 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 Physician Assistant licensing? ▼
Yes, South Carolina requires a criminal background check as part of the physician assistant licensing process. Disqualifying offenses and review criteria are determined by the state licensing board.
What are the continuing education requirements for Physician Assistant in South Carolina? ▼
To stay licensed as a physician assistant in South Carolina, plan on 100 hours of continuing education per 2-year renewal cycle; renewal itself runs $154.

Related Guides

What to do with this physician assistant license

Physician Assistant in South Carolina, with a documented reciprocity path, is one requirement row in a physician assistant-wide, 50-state comparison.

  • See how South Carolina's physician assistant requirements compare to every other state before relocating. Physician Assistant in every state
  • Confirm whether your out-of-state physician assistant 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.