South Carolina Board of Nursing

Requirements and Instructions for APRN Prescriptive Authority

For complete requirements visit the Nurse Practice Act, Section 40-33-34(E)(1).

Board Approved Listing for Pharmacotherapeutics Education Providers: https://llr.sc.gov/nurse/PDF/Board_Approved_Listing_for_Pharmacotherapeutics_Education.pdf

A Nurse Practitioner (NP), Certified Nurse-Midwife (CNM), or Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) who applies for prescriptive authority must comply with the following requirements:

• Must be licensed as a SC nurse practitioner, certified nurse mid-wife, or clinical nurse specialist;
• Shall submit a completed application;
• Shall submit the required fee;

Initial Prescriptive Authority Applicant

After obtaining a SC nurse practitioner, certified nurse mid-wife, or clinical nurse specialist license, a prescriptive authority application may be completed with the following requirement(s):

• Provide evidence of completion of forty-five (45) contact hours of education in pharmacotherapeutics acceptable to the board within two (2) years before application. At least fifteen (15) of the forty-five (45) hours should be in controlled substances to pursue a DEA license.
• New graduates (graduated within two (2) years before the application) who have completed a graduate level pharmacology course meet the educational requirements for prescriptive authority and controlled substances.

Endorsement Prescriptive Authority Applicant

(Has an existing out-of-state prescriptive authority license.)

After obtaining a SC nurse practitioner, certified nurse mid-wife, or clinical nurse specialist license, a prescriptive authority application may be completed with the following requirement(s):

• a current state-issued license verification or a current DEA registration that reflects current prescriptive authority licensure;
• show proof of twenty (20) contact hours in pharmacotherapeutics within two (2) years before application. At least fifteen (15) of the twenty (20) hours should be in controlled substances.

Requirements for Reactivating/Reinstating Prescriptive Authority

• Applicants whose privileges have lapsed for less than six (6) months do not require additional contact hours.
• Applicants whose privileges have lapsed for more than six (6) months or who previously held prescriptive authority in another state whose privileges in that state have expired by more than six (6) months, must meet the requirements of a first time applicant (see Initial Prescriptive Authority).

Requirements for Renewing Prescriptive Authority

• Provide evidence of twenty (20) contact hours in pharmacotherapeutics within the two (2) years before application.
• If renewing controlled substances, at least two (2) of the twenty (20) hours must be in controlled substances.

ONLINE APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS:

You will need the following documents to upload to your electronic application:

• Evidence of required educational contact hours as indicated in Requirements.
• Completed New Employment/ Change of Practice/ Prescriptive Authority Form (Form is in Instructions and Forms package), if applicable
• Copy of current state-issued license verification or a current DEA registration that reflects current prescriptive authority licensure, if applicable.

APPLY ONLINE

1. Download and print these instructions and forms BEFORE beginning the online application. They will assist you throughout the application process.
   Instructions and Forms Package: https://llr.sc.gov/nurse/pdf/Prescriptive_Authority_App_Elec_Inst.pdf
2. PLEASE CLICK HERE TO ACCESS THE ONLINE APPLICATION

We recommend following the below application sequence for prescriptive authority:

1. Obtain a SC APRN license.
2. Once employed and if desired, apply for prescriptive authority. You will need the pharmacology hours and the collaborating Physician.
3. Once prescriptive authority is granted and if you desire a DEA license, apply for the Controlled Substance Registry through SC DHEC.
4. Apply for DEA license.