Verified October 9, 2026 against the practice act, board rules and sources cited below. The board decides every application. All states
What dentists miss in South Carolina
- The credentials application fee is $2,000; the board may waive $1,500 for a dentist who agrees to practice only in a designated rural county for two consecutive years.
- A credentials license is automatically revoked if the dentist does not establish an active South Carolina practice within two years.
- South Carolina licenses specialties: advertising as a specialist without the board's special license is not allowed.
Can a dentist licensed elsewhere get a South Carolina license by credentials?
License by credentials requires a board-approved state or regional clinical exam, the South Carolina jurisprudence exam, an unrestricted license elsewhere, five years of active practice at 1,200 hours a year, 70 CE hours over the past five years, no discipline, no disqualifying convictions and an NPDB release.
- Licensure by credentials available
- Practice required: 5 years immediately before applying, at least 1,200 hours a year
Citation: S.C. Code 40-15-275
Which clinical exams does South Carolina accept?
ADEX lists South Carolina as accepting its dental exam. The board may also license, without further examination, dentists from states that belong to the same regional testing services it does.
- ADEX accepted
Does South Carolina require a jurisprudence exam?
Credentials applicants pass a jurisprudence exam on South Carolina dental law and regulations, given in English.
- Jurisprudence or law exam
Is South Carolina in the dental compact?
South Carolina is not a dental compact member.
- Not a compact member
Does South Carolina require a sedation permit?
Moderate enteral sedation, moderate parenteral sedation and deep sedation/general anesthesia each need a board permit, with set training hours, case counts and ACLS or PALS. The board inspects permit facilities every two years. Local anesthesia, nitrous oxide and minimal sedation need no permit.
- Separate sedation permit
Does South Carolina issue specialty licenses?
A dentist must hold a special license from the board to advertise as a specialist or as limiting practice to an ADA-recognized specialty, and must already hold a South Carolina dental license.
- Specialty license or permit
What hygienists need to know in South Carolina
A licensed hygienist may give local infiltration anesthesia under a dentist's direct supervision; the statute sets no separate permit. Monitoring nitrous oxide takes board certification.
Do dental assistants need a South Carolina registration?
Expanded duty dental assistants work under South Carolina law and, once certified under board regulation, may monitor nitrous oxide under direct supervision.
Does South Carolina offer a temporary or restricted dental license?
South Carolina issues restricted instructor licenses, restricted dental auxiliary instructor licenses and a restricted volunteer license for certain dentists and hygienists.
- Temporary or restricted license available
Licensing in South Carolina?
For a license, we prepare every supporting document and a question-by-question guide, request your verifications, and track it to a decision; you complete, sign and submit the application. License by credentials is $799 per state.
Sources
- compact (South Carolina not listed)
- clinicalExam.adexAccepted
- credentials (40-15-275), clinicalExam (40-15-270), exams, sedation (40-15-400, 40-15-410), hygienist (40-15-80, 40-15-105), assistants (40-15-105), specialty (40-15-220, 40-15-230), temporaryLicense (40-15-175 to 40-15-177), notes
- credentials (board checklist: CPR, jurisprudence), notes ($2,000 fee, rural waiver, two-year practice rule)