Returning to Nursing in South Carolina

Built by Keegan, a travel RN · verified against official board sources

Reinstatement and refresher requirements · Verified against the South Carolina Board of Nursing · 2026-07-13

The South Carolina RN reinstatement fee is $135, plus any back renewal fees. What else your return takes depends on how long the license has been lapsed: short lapses are paperwork and CE, long ones can add a refresher course.

Grace period: No formal grace period; failure to renew by April 30 results in a lapsed license and practicing is prohibited

What your lapse length means in South Carolina

Lapsed	Status	Estimated cost
2 months lapsed	Reinstatement required	Reinstatement fee (South Carolina: $135) plus back fees for missed renewal cycles. Total typically $300–$800.
1 year lapsed	Reinstatement required	Reinstatement fee (South Carolina: $135) plus back fees for missed renewal cycles. Total typically $300–$800.
3 years lapsed	Reinstatement + likely refresher course	Reinstatement fee (South Carolina: $135) + refresher course tuition ($500–$2,500) + back fees. Total usually $1,500–$4,000.
6 years lapsed	Deep lapse: refresher course + possible re-application	If reinstatement is allowed: $1,500–$4,500 (fees + refresher). If re-application is required: $300–$800 in application fees plus NCLEX retake costs.

Size your exact situation with the reinstatement calculator, which uses the same board data.

Reinstating usually means catching up on continuing education. Earn it cheaply: free CE in South Carolina.

Refresher course rules in South Carolina

What the board publishes

Board-sourced

When a refresher applies: License lapsed or inactive for more than 5 years: you must show, within the preceding 2 years, either a board approved refresher course or a new passing NCLEX. Five years or less: a five option menu where the refresher is only one path (30 contact hours plus a board approved legal aspects course, current national certification, an academic nursing program, employer verified practice hours in another jurisdiction, or the refresher). A nurse holding a current license in another US state or jurisdiction may instead document any one competency requirement from the statute's full menu within the preceding 2 years, including the ordinary renewal options, so an out of state license escapes the refresher and NCLEX routes regardless of lapse length.
What it takes: A board approved refresher course completed within the 2 years preceding the reinstatement application. The board publishes no hour count for the refresher in its competency documents.
Re-examination: Past 5 years lapsed or inactive, passing the NCLEX appropriate to the licensure level is the alternative to the refresher course; it is one of two accepted routes, never the sole requirement.
CE catch-up: For reinstatement within 5 years, one accepted route is 30 CE contact hours plus a board approved legal aspects in nursing course, both within the preceding 2 years. The legal aspects course is reinstatement specific; the ordinary renewal menu requires the 30 hours alone.

South Carolina applies the same competency framework to lapsed and inactive licenses. Statutory basis is Section 40-33-40.

Source: South Carolina Board of Nursing (LLR), competency requirements, last checked 2026-06-11. Rules change; confirm with the board before enrolling in anything.

Steps to reinstate in South Carolina

1Stop practicing immediately if you haven't already.
2Pull your CE records together: every certificate, every approved provider.
3Submit the reinstatement application through the board portal.
4Pay reinstatement fee + any back renewal fees.
5Expect a fingerprint background check (most states require one at reinstatement).
6Plan for 2–8 weeks of processing before you can return to work.

Start at the source: South Carolina Board of Nursing or the online renewal portal.

South Carolina reinstatement FAQ

How much does it cost to reinstate a lapsed RN license in South Carolina?: The South Carolina RN reinstatement fee is $135, plus any back renewal fees the board assesses. A refresher course, where required, adds tuition on top (typically $500 to $2,500 nationally). Confirm the current total with the South Carolina Board of Nursing before applying.
Do I need a refresher course to reinstate my South Carolina nursing license?: License lapsed or inactive for more than 5 years: you must show, within the preceding 2 years, either a board approved refresher course or a new passing NCLEX. Five years or less: a five option menu where the refresher is only one path (30 contact hours plus a board approved legal aspects course, current national certification, an academic nursing program, employer verified practice hours in another jurisdiction, or the refresher). A nurse holding a current license in another US state or jurisdiction may instead document any one competency requirement from the statute's full menu within the preceding 2 years, including the ordinary renewal options, so an out of state license escapes the refresher and NCLEX routes regardless of lapse length. A board approved refresher course completed within the 2 years preceding the reinstatement application. The board publishes no hour count for the refresher in its competency documents.
Will I have to retake the NCLEX to get my South Carolina license back?: Past 5 years lapsed or inactive, passing the NCLEX appropriate to the licensure level is the alternative to the refresher course; it is one of two accepted routes, never the sole requirement.
Is there a grace period after my South Carolina license expires?: South Carolina's published rule: No formal grace period; failure to renew by April 30 results in a lapsed license and practicing is prohibited. A grace or late window is not permission to practice; check your status with the board before working.
How long does South Carolina license reinstatement take?: Short lapses usually process in 2 to 8 weeks once the application is complete. If a refresher course is involved, plan around the course length, often 3 to 9 months end to end. The South Carolina Board of Nursing publishes processing updates on its portal.

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Returning to Nursing in South Carolina

Reinstatement and refresher requirements · Verified against the South Carolina Board of Nursing · 2026-07-13

Grace period: No formal grace period; failure to renew by April 30 results in a lapsed license and practicing is prohibited

What your lapse length means in South Carolina

Lapsed	Status	Estimated cost
2 months lapsed	Reinstatement required	Reinstatement fee (South Carolina: $135) plus back fees for missed renewal cycles. Total typically $300–$800.
1 year lapsed	Reinstatement required	Reinstatement fee (South Carolina: $135) plus back fees for missed renewal cycles. Total typically $300–$800.
3 years lapsed	Reinstatement + likely refresher course	Reinstatement fee (South Carolina: $135) + refresher course tuition ($500–$2,500) + back fees. Total usually $1,500–$4,000.
6 years lapsed	Deep lapse: refresher course + possible re-application	If reinstatement is allowed: $1,500–$4,500 (fees + refresher). If re-application is required: $300–$800 in application fees plus NCLEX retake costs.

Size your exact situation with the reinstatement calculator, which uses the same board data.

Reinstating usually means catching up on continuing education. Earn it cheaply: free CE in South Carolina.

Refresher course rules in South Carolina

What the board publishes

Board-sourced

When a refresher applies: License lapsed or inactive for more than 5 years: you must show, within the preceding 2 years, either a board approved refresher course or a new passing NCLEX. Five years or less: a five option menu where the refresher is only one path (30 contact hours plus a board approved legal aspects course, current national certification, an academic nursing program, employer verified practice hours in another jurisdiction, or the refresher). A nurse holding a current license in another US state or jurisdiction may instead document any one competency requirement from the statute's full menu within the preceding 2 years, including the ordinary renewal options, so an out of state license escapes the refresher and NCLEX routes regardless of lapse length.
What it takes: A board approved refresher course completed within the 2 years preceding the reinstatement application. The board publishes no hour count for the refresher in its competency documents.
Re-examination: Past 5 years lapsed or inactive, passing the NCLEX appropriate to the licensure level is the alternative to the refresher course; it is one of two accepted routes, never the sole requirement.
CE catch-up: For reinstatement within 5 years, one accepted route is 30 CE contact hours plus a board approved legal aspects in nursing course, both within the preceding 2 years. The legal aspects course is reinstatement specific; the ordinary renewal menu requires the 30 hours alone.

South Carolina applies the same competency framework to lapsed and inactive licenses. Statutory basis is Section 40-33-40.

Source: South Carolina Board of Nursing (LLR), competency requirements, last checked 2026-06-11. Rules change; confirm with the board before enrolling in anything.

Steps to reinstate in South Carolina

1Stop practicing immediately if you haven't already.

2Pull your CE records together: every certificate, every approved provider.

3Submit the reinstatement application through the board portal.

4Pay reinstatement fee + any back renewal fees.

5Expect a fingerprint background check (most states require one at reinstatement).

6Plan for 2–8 weeks of processing before you can return to work.

South Carolina reinstatement FAQ

How much does it cost to reinstate a lapsed RN license in South Carolina?

The South Carolina RN reinstatement fee is $135, plus any back renewal fees the board assesses. A refresher course, where required, adds tuition on top (typically $500 to $2,500 nationally). Confirm the current total with the South Carolina Board of Nursing before applying.

Do I need a refresher course to reinstate my South Carolina nursing license?

License lapsed or inactive for more than 5 years: you must show, within the preceding 2 years, either a board approved refresher course or a new passing NCLEX. Five years or less: a five option menu where the refresher is only one path (30 contact hours plus a board approved legal aspects course, current national certification, an academic nursing program, employer verified practice hours in another jurisdiction, or the refresher). A nurse holding a current license in another US state or jurisdiction may instead document any one competency requirement from the statute's full menu within the preceding 2 years, including the ordinary renewal options, so an out of state license escapes the refresher and NCLEX routes regardless of lapse length. A board approved refresher course completed within the 2 years preceding the reinstatement application. The board publishes no hour count for the refresher in its competency documents.

Will I have to retake the NCLEX to get my South Carolina license back?

Past 5 years lapsed or inactive, passing the NCLEX appropriate to the licensure level is the alternative to the refresher course; it is one of two accepted routes, never the sole requirement.

Is there a grace period after my South Carolina license expires?

South Carolina's published rule: No formal grace period; failure to renew by April 30 results in a lapsed license and practicing is prohibited. A grace or late window is not permission to practice; check your status with the board before working.

How long does South Carolina license reinstatement take?

Short lapses usually process in 2 to 8 weeks once the application is complete. If a refresher course is involved, plan around the course length, often 3 to 9 months end to end. The South Carolina Board of Nursing publishes processing updates on its portal.

Returning to Nursing in South Carolina

What your lapse length means in South Carolina

Refresher course rules in South Carolina

Steps to reinstate in South Carolina

South Carolina reinstatement FAQ

Related guides

More for South Carolina nurses

Never let it lapse again

Track your path back to active practice, free

Returning to Nursing in South Carolina

What your lapse length means in South Carolina

Refresher course rules in South Carolina

Steps to reinstate in South Carolina

South Carolina reinstatement FAQ

Related guides

More for South Carolina nurses

Never let it lapse again

Track your path back to active practice, free