Resources · Path to Licensure

Step-by-step licensure pathways in South Carolina.

South Carolina licenses its behavioral-health professions through the Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation (LLR). A distinctive feature is that counseling, marriage & family therapy, AND addiction counseling all share a single combined board — the Board of Examiners for Licensure of Professional Counselors, Marriage and Family Therapists, Addiction Counselors and Psycho-Educational Specialists — so all three follow the same two-step Associate → full-license structure under near-identical rules (Reg. Chapter 36). Each of those three professions starts as a two-year “Associate” (LPC Associate, LMFT Associate, or Addiction Counselor Associate) who practices only under an approved clinical-supervision plan while accruing post-master’s hours, then upgrades to the full license. Notably, addiction counseling in South Carolina is a genuine STATE LICENSE (Licensed Addiction Counselor) issued by that combined board — not merely an IC&RC/SCAADAC certification — though the state license uses the IC&RC AADC or NAADAC MAC examination. Social work runs the standard ASWB ladder (LBSW → LMSW → LISW-CP/LISW-AP), psychology is a doctoral license requiring the EPPP plus a structured oral examination, and South Carolina has NO state license for behavior analysts (a licensure bill stalled in committee), so behavior analysts practice on BACB certification alone.

Want the one-line summary instead? See the South Carolina licensure overview →
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Professional CounselingAddiction & Substance Use CounselingSocial WorkMarriage & Family TherapyPsychology

Professional Counseling

Prep for the NCMHCE / NCE →
LPC Associate

Professional Counselor Associate

Required exam: Pass either the National Counselor Examination for Licensure and Certification (NCE) or the National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Examination (NCMHCE), both administered by NBCC. The exam is required to obtain the Associate license (the Associate cannot practice until the supervision plan is approved after passing the exam).

Scope: South Carolina’s entry-tier counseling credential. A Professional Counselor Associate may practice professional counseling only under supervision, pursuant to a Board-approved clinical-supervision plan. It is a two-year license and is the vehicle for accruing the post-master’s supervised hours required for full LPC licensure (an Associate Extension may be requested before expiration if hours are not yet complete).
  1. EducationEither graduation from a Clinical Mental Health counseling program accredited by CACREP at the time of graduation; OR a master’s, specialist’s, or doctoral degree with a minimum of 60 graduate semester hours primarily in counseling from a CACREP (or substantially similar) program, at a regionally accredited institution. Non-CACREP applicants must document coursework on the Coursework Description and Verification Form and the Practicum and Internship Review Form (LPC Non-CACREP Accredited Education Documents package).
  2. Supervision / experienceNo prior post-degree experience is required to obtain the Associate license; it is the credential under which supervised hours are accrued. The applicant submits the LPC Plan for Clinical Supervision of Post-Master’s Clinical Experience, which must be effective once the exam is passed and the Associate license is issued.
  3. ExamPass the NBCC NCE or NCMHCE. After the application and education are approved, the Board sends instructions on how to register for the exam (if not already passed).
  4. ApplicationSubmit the Professional Counselor Associate electronic application (eservice.llr.sc.gov/NewAppsV3) with the fee, official transcripts, the clinical-supervision plan, and (if non-CACREP) the coursework and practicum/internship verification forms.
LPC

Licensed Professional Counselor

Required exam: The NCE or NCMHCE is passed at the Associate stage; no additional national or state examination is required to convert from Associate to full LPC. (South Carolina does not administer a separate counseling jurisprudence/law examination.)

Scope: South Carolina’s full, independent professional-counseling license under S.C. Code Title 40 Chapter 75, authorizing the practice of professional counseling including assessment and treatment of clients with the more serious problems categorized in standard diagnostic nomenclature.
  1. EducationSame education as the Associate tier — CACREP Clinical Mental Health counseling degree, or a 60-graduate-semester-hour counseling degree meeting the Board’s non-CACREP coursework standards.
  2. Supervision / experienceA minimum of 1,500 hours of post-master’s clinical experience and clinical supervision in professional counseling, completed over not fewer than two (2) years, including at least 1,380 hours of documented direct client contact and at least 120 hours of documented supervision. At least 60 of the supervision hours must be individual/triadic; the remaining 60 may be individual/triadic or group. Supervision must be by a Licensed Professional Counselor Supervisor (LPCS) or other Board-approved qualified licensed mental health practitioner (an LMFT Supervisor, Addiction Counselor Supervisor, psychologist, or medical doctor).
  3. ExamNo new exam at this stage (the NCE/NCMHCE was passed for the Associate license).
  4. ApplicationAfter completing supervised clinical experience, submit the ‘LPC Associate to Licensed Professional Counselor’ electronic application (eservice.llr.sc.gov/NewAppsV3) with the Associate Supervision Log and the LPC Confirmation of Clinical Supervision of Post-Master’s Client Contact form.

Official Professional Counseling resources

Addiction & Substance Use Counseling

Prep for the MAC / NCAC exam →
AC Associate

Addiction Counselor Associate

Required exam: Pass either the NAADAC Master Addiction Counselor (MAC) examination OR the IC&RC Advanced Alcohol and Drug Counselor (AADC) examination. The exam is required to obtain the Associate license.

Scope: South Carolina’s entry-tier addiction-counseling credential, issued by the same combined Counselors board. An Addiction Counselor Associate may practice addiction counseling only under supervision, pursuant to a Board-approved clinical-supervision plan. It is a two-year license used to accrue the post-master’s supervised hours toward the full Licensed Addiction Counselor (an Associate Extension may be requested before expiration).
  1. EducationEither completion of an addiction-counseling program accredited by CACREP at the time of graduation; OR a master’s, specialist’s, or doctoral degree with a minimum of 48 graduate semester hours primarily in counseling or a related field from a program accredited by NASAC, CACREP, or one following similar standards. Non-CACREP applicants must document 27 of the 48 hours across specified content areas (including 6 hours of substance-use-disorder/addiction-specific coursework), a 100-hour practicum, and a 600-hour internship (of which 300 hours / 120 direct-contact hours must be with the SUD population), on the LAC Coursework Review and LAC Practicum and Internship Review forms.
  2. Supervision / experienceNo prior post-degree experience is required to obtain the Associate license; it is the credential under which supervised hours are accrued. The applicant submits the LAC Plan for Clinical Supervision, effective once the exam is passed and the Associate license is issued.
  3. ExamPass the NAADAC MAC exam or the IC&RC AADC exam.
  4. ApplicationSubmit the Addiction Counselor Associate application package with the fee, official transcripts, the clinical-supervision plan, and (if non-CACREP) the coursework and practicum/internship review forms.
LAC

Licensed Addiction Counselor

Required exam: The MAC or AADC exam is passed at the Associate stage; no additional examination is required to convert from Associate to full LAC.

Scope: South Carolina’s full, independent addiction-counseling STATE LICENSE under S.C. Code Title 40 Chapter 75, issued by the combined Counselors board (this is a genuine state license, distinct from an IC&RC/APSC certification), authorizing the independent practice of addiction counseling including assessment and treatment of clients with the more serious problems categorized in standard diagnostic nomenclature.
  1. EducationSame education as the Associate tier — CACREP addiction-counseling degree, or a 48-graduate-semester-hour counseling/related degree meeting the Board’s non-CACREP coursework, practicum, and internship standards.
  2. Supervision / experienceA minimum of 1,120 hours of post-master’s clinical experience and clinical supervision in addiction counseling, completed over not fewer than two (2) years, including at least 1,000 hours of direct client contact with clients presenting addiction issues and at least 120 hours of supervision. At least 60 of the supervision hours must be individual/triadic; the remaining 60 may be individual/triadic or group. Supervision must be by a Licensed Addiction Counselor Supervisor (LACS) or other Board-approved qualified licensed mental health practitioner.
  3. ExamNo new exam at this stage (the MAC/AADC was passed for the Associate license).
  4. ApplicationAfter completing supervised clinical experience, submit the ‘LAC Associate to Licensed Addiction Counselor’ electronic application (eservice.llr.sc.gov/NewAppsV3) with the Associate Supervision Log and the LAC Confirmation of Clinical Supervision form.

Official Addiction & Substance Use Counseling resources

Social Work

Prep for the ASWB exam →
LBSW

Licensed Baccalaureate Social Worker

Required exam: ASWB Bachelors examination (exam fee $230). An Application for Licensure must be approved by the Board before the candidate is admitted to the exam.

Scope: South Carolina’s entry-tier (bachelor’s-level) social work license, issued by the Board of Social Work Examiners under S.C. Code Title 40 Chapter 63, authorizing generalist baccalaureate-level social work practice.
  1. EducationA bachelor’s degree in social work from a CSWE-accredited program (or a program whose standards are substantially similar). Applicant must be at least 21 years of age.
  2. Supervision / experienceNo post-degree supervised-experience requirement at the LBSW tier; the license is granted on degree plus examination.
  3. ExamPass the ASWB Bachelors examination (the Board admits the applicant to the exam once the application and degree are verified).
  4. ApplicationSubmit the social work application (online via eservice.llr.sc.gov or by paper) with the $45 application fee, identity documents, and have official transcripts and ASWB test scores sent directly to the Board.
LMSW

Licensed Master Social Worker

Required exam: ASWB Masters examination (exam fee $230).

Scope: South Carolina’s master’s-level (non-clinical) social work license, authorizing master’s-level social work practice. It does not by itself confer independent clinical authority (see LISW-CP).
  1. EducationA master’s degree in social work (MSW) from a CSWE-accredited program (or a program whose standards are substantially similar). Applicant must be at least 21 years of age.
  2. Supervision / experienceNo post-degree supervised-experience requirement to obtain the original master’s-level (LMSW) license; it is granted on the MSW degree plus examination.
  3. ExamPass the ASWB Masters examination.
  4. ApplicationSubmit the social work application with the $45 fee and identity documents, and have official transcripts and ASWB Masters scores sent directly to the Board office.
LISW-CP

Licensed Independent Social Worker — Clinical Practice

Required exam: ASWB Clinical examination (exam fee $260).

Scope: South Carolina’s top clinical social work license, authorizing the independent practice of clinical social work including diagnosis and treatment of mental, emotional, and behavioral disorders under S.C. Code Title 40 Chapter 63.
  1. EducationA master’s degree in social work from a CSWE-accredited (or substantially similar) program, PLUS 45 academic contact hours each of psychopathology and psychodiagnostics from such a program.
  2. Supervision / experienceSatisfactory completion of 3,000 hours of social work practice under clinical supervision in accordance with the Board’s prescribed standards (or equivalent supervised experience in the practice of clinical social work as determined by the Board). LISW applications require a Supervision Contract.
  3. ExamPass the ASWB Clinical examination.
  4. ApplicationSubmit the social work application (LISW applications include the Supervision Contract) with the $45 fee, and have official transcripts and ASWB Clinical scores sent directly to the Board.
LISW-AP

Licensed Independent Social Worker — Advanced Practice

Required exam: ASWB Advanced Generalist examination (exam fee $260).

Scope: South Carolina’s independent advanced-practice (macro/community-and-organizations) social work license — a parallel independent tier to the LISW-CP focused on advanced social work practice with communities and organizations rather than clinical diagnosis and treatment.
  1. EducationA master’s degree in social work from a CSWE-accredited (or substantially similar) program, PLUS 90 academic contact hours of coursework in advanced social work practice with communities and organizations.
  2. Supervision / experienceSatisfactory completion of 3,000 hours of social work practice under advanced-practice supervision in accordance with the Board’s prescribed standards (or equivalent supervised experience in advanced-practice social work as determined by the Board). LISW applications require a Supervision Contract.
  3. ExamPass the ASWB Advanced Generalist examination.
  4. ApplicationSubmit the social work application (with Supervision Contract) and the $45 fee, and have official transcripts and ASWB Advanced Generalist scores sent directly to the Board.

Official Social Work resources

Marriage & Family Therapy

Prep for the National MFT Exam →
LMFT Associate

Marriage and Family Therapist Associate

Required exam: Pass the National Marital and Family Therapy examination (developed by AMFTRB and administered by the Professional Testing Corporation, PTC). The exam is required to obtain the Associate license.

Scope: South Carolina’s entry-tier MFT credential, issued by the combined Counselors board. An MFT Associate may practice marriage and family therapy only under supervision, pursuant to a Board-approved clinical-supervision plan. It is a two-year license used to accrue post-master’s supervised hours toward full LMFT licensure (an Associate Extension may be requested before expiration).
  1. EducationEither graduation from a program accredited by COAMFTE, or from a marriage, couple and family counseling specialty program accredited by CACREP; OR a master’s, specialist’s, or doctoral degree with a minimum of 60 graduate semester hours in marriage and family therapy from a COAMFTE (or substantially similar) program at a regionally accredited institution. Non-COAMFTE/non-CACREP applicants must complete the MFT Non-Accredited Education Verification package with official transcripts.
  2. Supervision / experienceNo prior post-degree experience is required to obtain the Associate license; it is the credential under which supervised hours are accrued. The applicant submits the MFT Plan for Clinical Supervision, effective once the exam is passed and the Associate license is issued.
  3. ExamPass the National Marital and Family Therapy examination (PTC). Instructions to register are sent after the application and education are approved.
  4. ApplicationSubmit the Marriage and Family Therapy Associate application package with the fee, official transcripts, the clinical-supervision plan, and (if non-accredited) the education verification package.
LMFT

Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist

Required exam: The National Marital and Family Therapy examination is passed at the Associate stage; no additional examination is required to convert from Associate to full LMFT.

Scope: South Carolina’s full, independent marriage-and-family-therapy license under S.C. Code Title 40 Chapter 75, authorizing the independent practice of marriage and family therapy including assessment and treatment of clients with the more serious problems categorized in standard diagnostic nomenclature.
  1. EducationSame education as the Associate tier — COAMFTE or CACREP marriage/couple/family specialty degree, or a 60-graduate-semester-hour MFT degree meeting the Board’s non-accredited standards.
  2. Supervision / experienceA minimum of 1,500 hours of post-master’s clinical experience and clinical supervision in marriage and family therapy, completed over not fewer than two (2) years, including at least 1,380 hours of documented direct client contact and at least 120 hours of documented supervision. At least 60 of the supervision hours must be individual/triadic; the remaining 60 may be individual/triadic or group. Supervision must be by a licensed Marriage and Family Therapy Supervisor (LMFT-S) or other Board-approved qualified licensed mental health practitioner.
  3. ExamNo new exam at this stage (the National MFT examination was passed for the Associate license).
  4. ApplicationAfter completing supervised clinical experience, submit the ‘MFT Associate to Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist’ electronic application (eservice.llr.sc.gov/NewAppsV3) with the Associate Supervision Log and the MFT Confirmation of Clinical Supervision form.

Official Marriage & Family Therapy resources

Psychology

Prep for the EPPP →
LP

Licensed Psychologist

Required exam: The Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology (EPPP), with South Carolina’s passing scaled score of 500, PLUS a structured oral examination administered by Board members (South Carolina’s jurisprudence/competency exam). Applicants may sit the EPPP twice in any 12-month period, with a 60-day wait between administrations, and must be Board-approved before sitting.

Scope: South Carolina’s doctoral-level, full independent-practice psychology license, issued by the Board of Examiners in Psychology under S.C. Code Title 40 Chapter 55, authorizing the full scope of psychological practice. (The Board also offers a temporary permit authorizing up to 60 days of practice in a calendar year.)
  1. EducationA doctoral degree in psychology; APA-accredited doctoral programs are accepted directly, while non-APA-accredited applicants must submit supporting materials (program and course descriptions) for Board evaluation. Official terminal transcripts of all graduate coursework must be sent directly from the institution to the Board.
  2. Supervision / experienceTwo (2) years of supervised experience, one year of which must be post-doctoral, for a minimum of 3,000 hours total, with each year comprising at least 1,500 hours of actual work (direct service, training, and supervisory time). A pre-doctoral internship/residency may count as one of the two years. Post-doctoral supervision is at least one hour per week face-to-face from a South Carolina-licensed psychologist in the applicable specialty, under a Board-approved supervision contract.
  3. ExamPass the EPPP (scaled score of 500; scores from out-of-state must be reported through ASPPB), then pass the structured oral examination administered by Board members after all other application materials are complete and approved.
  4. ApplicationSubmit the Preliminary Application for Licensure (the ASPPB Credentialing Requirements Data Form) with a $500 non-refundable fee and a CV; after Board approval, complete the formal application (Application for License, predoctoral supervision form, supervision contract, supervisor’s report, and three professional reference forms — two completed by psychologists).

Official Psychology resources

All licenses

South Carolina licensing portals & background checks.

How to use this page. Each card shows the education, supervised experience, exam, and application steps for one South Carolina license, plus its scope of practice. Licensing rules change — always confirm current requirements with the official board before you apply. Verified against the official state boards in June 2026.

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