Getting a South Carolina nursing license by endorsement

Reviewed by Keegan, RN · ER & NICU travel nurse

Endorsement timeline, fees & requirements · Verified 2026-06-18

Not published. Applications are reviewed in the order received and stay valid one year.

South Carolina endorsement at a glance

What the board publishes

Board-sourced

How it works: South Carolina grants licensure by endorsement to an RN actively licensed elsewhere who moves to South Carolina as a permanent resident (or is licensed in a non-compact state and on assignment), applied for through the LLR online system.
Processing time: Not published. Applications are reviewed in the order received and stay valid one year.
Work while waiting: Yes. The board issues a 60-day single-state temporary license to practice while the application processes, on proof of an active license elsewhere, once all required documents except the background check and license verification are received. It is not issued if any personal-history question is answered yes.
Requirements: Nursys verification (or direct from a non-Nursys board), a fingerprint background check, proof of continued competency within the past two years, a notarized signature affidavit with photo, proof of legal name and lawful presence, and a copy of your active out-of-state license. No state jurisprudence exam.
Fees: $100 endorsement without the temporary license, $110 with it (a $10 add-on).
Compact rules: South Carolina is a compact state. A nurse licensed in another compact state who moves to South Carolina and declares it as their permanent residence must apply by endorsement. If you apply before moving you get a single-state license until you provide the Declaration of Primary State of Residence and proof of residence.

An applicant who has ever held an APRN license elsewhere must endorse as an APRN (which also authorizes RN practice), not as an RN.

Source: South Carolina Board of Nursing, RN endorsement instructions and LLR fees, last checked 2026-06-18. Fees and timelines change; confirm with the board before you rely on a date.

Steps to endorse into South Carolina

1Check whether you even need South Carolina endorsement: if your primary residence stays in another compact state, your multistate license may already cover you.
2Verify every nursing license you have held through Nursys (or the board's paper verification form for non-Nursys states).
3Complete the required criminal background check and fingerprinting.
4Submit the South Carolina Board of Nursing endorsement application and fee, plus any transcripts, state coursework, or jurisprudence exam the board requires.
5Apply for a temporary or interim permit if the state offers one and you need to work before the permanent license issues.

Start at the source: South Carolina Board of Nursing or the online licensing portal. Not sure if you even need to endorse? The compact eligibility quiz sorts compact privilege from a required license in two minutes.

South Carolina endorsement FAQ

How long does it take to get a South Carolina nursing license by endorsement?: Not published. Applications are reviewed in the order received and stay valid one year.
Can I work in South Carolina while my endorsement application is processing?: Yes. The board issues a 60-day single-state temporary license to practice while the application processes, on proof of an active license elsewhere, once all required documents except the background check and license verification are received. It is not issued if any personal-history question is answered yes.
Do I need a South Carolina license if I already hold a compact multistate license?: South Carolina is a compact state. A nurse licensed in another compact state who moves to South Carolina and declares it as their permanent residence must apply by endorsement. If you apply before moving you get a single-state license until you provide the Declaration of Primary State of Residence and proof of residence.
How much does South Carolina endorsement cost?: $100 endorsement without the temporary license, $110 with it (a $10 add-on).

Do I qualify for a compact multistate license?

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South Carolina endorsement at a glance

What the board publishes

Board-sourced

How it works: South Carolina grants licensure by endorsement to an RN actively licensed elsewhere who moves to South Carolina as a permanent resident (or is licensed in a non-compact state and on assignment), applied for through the LLR online system.
Processing time: Not published. Applications are reviewed in the order received and stay valid one year.
Work while waiting: Yes. The board issues a 60-day single-state temporary license to practice while the application processes, on proof of an active license elsewhere, once all required documents except the background check and license verification are received. It is not issued if any personal-history question is answered yes.
Requirements: Nursys verification (or direct from a non-Nursys board), a fingerprint background check, proof of continued competency within the past two years, a notarized signature affidavit with photo, proof of legal name and lawful presence, and a copy of your active out-of-state license. No state jurisprudence exam.
Fees: $100 endorsement without the temporary license, $110 with it (a $10 add-on).
Compact rules: South Carolina is a compact state. A nurse licensed in another compact state who moves to South Carolina and declares it as their permanent residence must apply by endorsement. If you apply before moving you get a single-state license until you provide the Declaration of Primary State of Residence and proof of residence.

An applicant who has ever held an APRN license elsewhere must endorse as an APRN (which also authorizes RN practice), not as an RN.

Source: South Carolina Board of Nursing, RN endorsement instructions and LLR fees, last checked 2026-06-18. Fees and timelines change; confirm with the board before you rely on a date.

Steps to endorse into South Carolina

1Check whether you even need South Carolina endorsement: if your primary residence stays in another compact state, your multistate license may already cover you.

2Verify every nursing license you have held through Nursys (or the board's paper verification form for non-Nursys states).

3Complete the required criminal background check and fingerprinting.

4Submit the South Carolina Board of Nursing endorsement application and fee, plus any transcripts, state coursework, or jurisprudence exam the board requires.

5Apply for a temporary or interim permit if the state offers one and you need to work before the permanent license issues.

South Carolina endorsement FAQ

How long does it take to get a South Carolina nursing license by endorsement?

Not published. Applications are reviewed in the order received and stay valid one year.

Can I work in South Carolina while my endorsement application is processing?

Yes. The board issues a 60-day single-state temporary license to practice while the application processes, on proof of an active license elsewhere, once all required documents except the background check and license verification are received. It is not issued if any personal-history question is answered yes.

Do I need a South Carolina license if I already hold a compact multistate license?

South Carolina is a compact state. A nurse licensed in another compact state who moves to South Carolina and declares it as their permanent residence must apply by endorsement. If you apply before moving you get a single-state license until you provide the Declaration of Primary State of Residence and proof of residence.

How much does South Carolina endorsement cost?

$100 endorsement without the temporary license, $110 with it (a $10 add-on).

Getting a South Carolina nursing license by endorsement

South Carolina endorsement at a glance

Steps to endorse into South Carolina

South Carolina endorsement FAQ

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New state, new renewal clock

Getting a South Carolina nursing license by endorsement

South Carolina endorsement at a glance

Steps to endorse into South Carolina

South Carolina endorsement FAQ

Related guides

More for South Carolina nurses

New state, new renewal clock