South Carolina Nursing CE Requirements for RNs, LPNs, CNAs & HHAs

RNs and LPNs may satisfy South Carolina’s continued competency requirement by completing 30 contact hours of continuing education during the two-year licensure period from a provider recognized by the Board. Online and computerized courses may be used, and South Carolina does not place a limit on the number of qualifying hours that may be completed online.

C-E-U.com offers self-paced online nursing continuing education that can be used toward South Carolina’s 30-hour continuing education pathway when the selected courses are relevant to nursing practice. C-E-U.com is a Florida Board of Nursing continuing education provider, Provider #50-47308, and South Carolina recognizes continuing education approved by any state Board of Nursing.

South Carolina nurses only need to complete one of the Board’s four continued competency options during the renewal period. In addition to 30 contact hours of continuing education, nurses may qualify through maintenance or renewal of an approved national certification, completion of a qualifying academic program in nursing or a related field, or employer verification of competency using the Board-approved form.

South Carolina CNAs are listed on the South Carolina Nurse Aide Registry (administered through Credentia), and certification renews every 24 months based on employment rather than continuing education: aides must document at least 8 hours of paid nursing or nursing-related work during the 24-month period. South Carolina does not require CE hours for registry renewal.

A lapsed certification within 24 months can usually be reactivated by retesting; a longer lapse, or a lapse without completion of the state’s 100-hour training program, requires completing an approved training program and retesting. Separately, CNAs in Medicare- or Medicaid-certified nursing facilities must receive at least 12 hours of in-service education each year under federal rules (42 CFR §483.95(g)).

C-E-U.com offers self-paced online courses South Carolina CNAs can use toward facility-required annual in-service education and employer training — including dementia and Alzheimer’s care, infection prevention, communication, documentation, resident safety, and professionalism. Certificates download immediately and include verification details your employer can confirm online.

Because South Carolina does not require CE for registry renewal, these courses support employer and facility requirements — confirm with your employer or facility educator that a course fits its in-service plan before enrolling.

Home health aides working for Medicare-certified home health agencies in South Carolina must meet the federal training standard: at least 75 hours of training, including a minimum of 16 hours of supervised practical training, plus a competency evaluation (42 CFR §484.80). South Carolina does not add a separate state CE-hour requirement on top of the federal standard.

After certification, federal rules require at least 12 hours of in-service training during each 12-month period, which may be furnished while the aide is providing care and must be supervised by a registered nurse. Agencies are responsible for documenting these hours.

C-E-U.com offers online courses home health aides and their agencies can use toward the 12-hour annual in-service requirement — including Alzheimer’s and dementia care, infection prevention, safe transfers and mobility, communication, documentation, and home-care safety. Certificates download immediately with verification details agencies can confirm online.

Agencies remain responsible for RN supervision of in-service training and for competency documentation, so confirm with your agency that a course fits its in-service plan before enrolling.