Frequently Asked Questions

Board staff deals with a myriad of questions, issues and problems on a daily basis. Those that cannot be resolved by staff or which require board action are considered by the board at its monthly meetings. Among the questions and issues brought to the board during this fiscal year, those following below are recurring.

1. May an individual work while an intern license application is pending? 
(Policy on Un-Licensed Practice)

No. It is illegal to PRACTICE in any category without a license in South Carolina. 

Yes. An applicant may work in a practice setting but may not be involved with patients.

2. May an individual currently licensed in another state practice while an application for a South Carolina license is pending?

No. This is unlicensed practice and is illegal.

3. May bachelor level assistants be used to provide support services to either speech pathologists or audiologists?

Yes. The current practice act provides for the licensure of speech-language assistants.

4. Must an individual certified by the Department of Education to work in the schools be licensed?

No. If the individual is an employee of and works only in the public school system, he/she is exempt from board licensure.

Yes. If the individual's relationship with the state school system is as a private contractor, or the individual sees clients as a private practitioner, he/she is required to be licensed. The same holds true for any of the other exempt categories.

5. Why does the state force/require membership in a private organization as a condition of licensure?

The state does not require membership in any organization as a condition of licensure. Because the state's requirements are comparable to those of a national certification organization, the board accepts their certification of clinical competence as prima facie evidence of meeting the state's requirements. This eliminates applicants having to provide the same information twice.

6. Is continuing education a condition of license renewal?

Yes. Continuing education credit is a requirement for renewal. Go to Continuing Education for detailed information.

7. Why do I have to pay a late renewal fee when the only reason that I'm late is because I did not receive a renewal notice? This is definitely not fair.

Maintaining licensure is the responsibility of each licensee. Renewal cards all carry the license expiration date. Not receiving a renewal form does not relieve the licensee of this responsibility.