Licensure guide · South Carolina

How to get a South Carolina physical therapy license

Physical therapists in South Carolina are licensed by the South Carolina Board of Physical Therapy Examiners. Below is what the board requires, from education to renewal, with every requirement linked to the board page it comes from. Checked October 22, 2026.

Step by step

Getting licensed

Education: Applicants must be graduates of a board-approved physical therapy educational program, or show that their education is equivalent to that of physical therapists educated in United States programs. [2]
National exam: Applicants for initial licensure must pass the National Physical Therapy Exam (NPTE), registering and paying for it through FSBPT; a person who has failed it six or more times may not be licensed. [3]
Background check: Since February 1, 2023, all applicants for a license with the South Carolina Board of Physical Therapy Examiners are subject to a state and national fingerprint criminal background check. [4]
Fees: The initial license application fee is $110 for a physical therapist. [5]
Where to apply: First-time applicants can apply through the board's electronic application system, which accepts document uploads and card or electronic check payment. [9] Open the application →

Moving to the state

Already licensed somewhere else?

South Carolina is a PT Compact member and is issuing compact privileges: physical therapists and physical therapist assistants licensed in another member state can obtain a privilege to practice in South Carolina without applying for a new state license.

Licensed in another state: The board may license, without examination, a physical therapist licensed in another state or territory whose licensure requirements were equivalent; endorsement applicants must have exam scores reported directly to the board and undergo state and FBI fingerprint criminal records checks. [6]
Interstate compact: South Carolina is an active member of the PT Compact, which lets eligible PTs and PTAs work in member states beyond their home state without applying for a license in each one; practitioners apply for a privilege to practice through the PT Compact. [8]

Before your full license

New graduates and clinical fellows

Temporary or provisional license: The board may issue a provisional license, for example to an applicant who has met all requirements except the clinical practice hours or the official transcript; it is valid for up to one year, cannot be renewed, and requires supervision by a physical therapist licensed in South Carolina. [6]

After you are licensed

Keeping the license active

Renewal: Physical therapist licenses are renewed every two years; the current reporting period runs January 1, 2025 to December 31, 2026, and the renewal deadline is December 31, 2026. [7]
Continuing education: Physical therapists must earn 3.0 CEUs (30 hours) of continuing education per biennium, including 15 hours of certified activities, three hours of which must be in ethics or professionalism. [7]

Working in South Carolina

Pay and openings

Physical therapists in South Carolina earn a mean of $98,100 a year (BLS). Most of our South Carolina searches are confidential and never posted; tell us what you want and we will match you quietly.

Sources

Every requirement above was checked against the official page listed here on October 22, 2026. Boards change fees and rules, so confirm with the South Carolina board before you apply. This page is a guide, not legal advice.

Other South Carolina licenses

Physical therapy licenses in other states

State-by-state license guides →

Getting licensed in South Carolina for a move?

Tell us the setting and the city you want. We will tell you which employers are hiring and how long they will wait for a license.

Start a confidential conversation