South Carolina CE Requirements

South Carolina Board of Pharmacy licensees must renew their licenses annually to maintain the right to practice. All renewal materials are due by March 31 of each year.

The South Carolina Pharmacist Renewal Application can be found here.

Annual Continuing Education Requirements

Excess hours beyond the requirement can be applied as credit in the following license year, but not beyond that.

Additional Certification CE Requirements

Immunization CE Requirements

Pharmacists who administer immunizations are required to complete a minimum of one hour of ACPE continuing education specifically focused on immunization administration.

Hormonal Contraceptives CE Requirements

Pharmacists who dispense and administer hormonal contraceptives based on the Pharmacy Access Protocol must complete a minimum of one hour of continuing education specifically focused on hormonal contraceptives. However, pharmacists who routinely dispense contraceptives through patient-specific prescriptions as part of their regular practice are exempt from the contraceptive continuing education requirement.

What is CPE Monitor?

CPE Monitor is an electronic tracking system provided by ACPE and the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP). It allows pharmacists and pharmacy technicians to easily track their completed continuing pharmacy education (CPE) credits.

How does it work?

Continuing education providers report credits to CPE Monitor after a participant completes their program using the participant’s NABP e-Profile ID and date of birth. The South Carolina Board of Pharmacy can then use CPE Monitor to electronically validate the completed credits.

Click here to learn more about CPE Monitor.

Code of Regulations: CHAPTER 99. Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation – State Board of Pharmacy

(Statutory Authority: 1976 Code Section Section 40-43-60 and 40-1-70)

99-15. Display of Annual Renewal Certificate.

Any person who is a licensed pharmacist and who has charge of or is employed in a pharmacy or other permitted facility within this State shall display his annual renewal certificate in a conspicuous place in the primary pharmacy or other permitted facility of which he is in charge or in which he is employed, so that the annual renewal certificate is easily and readily observable by the public.

HISTORY: Amended by State Register Volume 8, Issue No. 4, eff April 27, 1984; State Register Volume 13, Issue No. 4, eff April 28, 1989; State Register Volume 24, Issue No. 5, eff May 26, 2000.

99-43. Facility Permit Classifications.

A. Definitions

1. Unless otherwise indicated, “Board” shall mean the South Carolina Board of Pharmacy.
2. “Practice Act” shall mean the South Carolina Pharmacy Practice Act, as set forth in S.C. Code Section 40-43-10, et. seq.
3. Unless otherwise indicated, for purposes of this regulation, all words shall be defined in accordance with the definitions set forth in the Practice Act.
4. For purposes of this regulation, the word “device” is limited to devices dispensed to a patient. “Device” shall not include devices used by practitioners in the normal course of treating patients, such as dental appliances, surgical equipment, etc.

B. Pharmacy Permits

1. Resident Pharmacy Permit.

• A pharmacy located in South Carolina must obtain a Resident Pharmacy Permit issued by the Board to dispense legend drugs and/or devices to a patient or a patient’s agent.
• To obtain a Resident Pharmacy Permit, an applicant located in South Carolina must:
  • (1) submit a written application in the form prescribed by the Board along with the appropriate application fee; and
  • (2) undergo an inspection by the Board in which the applicant demonstrates that it is in compliance with the applicable provisions of the Practice Act.

    2. Non-Resident Pharmacy Permit

• A pharmacy located outside the geographic boundaries of South Carolina must obtain a Non-Resident Pharmacy Permit issued by the Board to dispense legend drugs and/or devices to a patient, or a patient’s agent, located in South Carolina.
• To obtain a Non-Resident Pharmacy Permit, an applicant must submit a written application in the form prescribed by the Board along with the appropriate application fee. The following information must be submitted with the application:
  • (1) A copy of the resident state pharmacy permit and DEA registration (if applicable) and a list of all additional state permits and controlled substance registrations (if applicable);
  • (2) A copy of all reports from operational inspections conducted within the last two years, as well as any current accreditations and/or certifications by any governmental or third-party entity;
  • (3) A copy of the policy and procedure for shipping refrigerated products;
  • (4) A copy of a dispensed label;
  • (5) Photographs of the exterior of the pharmacy building to include identifiable parts of adjacent buildings, the front end of the pharmacy, the consulting area, drop-off/pickup locations, and the compounding work area (if applicable); and
  • (6) An organizational chart setting forth the applicant’s corporate structure, including its parent company, legal name and trade name. This chart must also identify any individual owners with an ownership interest equal to, or greater than, ten percent of the entity.
• If an applicant for a Non-Resident Pharmacy Permit engages in the compounding of drugs, whether sterile or non-sterile, and regardless of whether the applicant intends to immediately ship compounded drugs into South Carolina at the time of the application, the applicant must submit the following:
  • (1) documentation of continuing education in the science and art of compounding for pharmacists and technicians involved in compounding. This must include six (6) hours of initial training and four (4) hours of annual training thereafter. The training does not have to be ACPE-approved;
  • (2) a diagram and photographs of all compounding areas;
  • (3) environmental control logs, to include (if applicable):
    • (a) refrigerator/freezer temperature monitoring;
    • (b) pressure differential monitoring; and
    • (c) temperature/humidity in compounding area monitoring;
  • (4) logs documenting cleaning of all areas used in the compounding process;
  • (5) formulas and completed logs for the applicant’s top five compounded products with a copy of the actual prescription and label. Labels and beyond use dates must be submitted for each of the following types of sterile compounds produced (if applicable): minibag; large volume; TPN; syringe; and vial. Documentation must show beyond use dating and reasoning for the date assigned;
  • (6) compounding policies and procedures, specific to the applicant’s facility, as applicable, for the following: quality control; sterile compounding technique; cleaning/maintenance of compounding area and equipment; and general compounding; and
  • (7) a copy of the report resulting from the last inspection of the applicant’s hoods, buffer, clean and ante areas (including ISO classification, particle counts, and microbiology) by a qualified individual.
• d. A pharmacist or other individual knowledgeable about all aspects of the applicant’s operations must personally appear at a hearing before the Board, or it duly-authorized committee, to answer questions regarding the applicant’s operations. This appearance shall be in lieu of an in-person inspection of the applicant’s facility and is designed to provide the Board with information that would typically be obtained during an in-person inspection.

C. Non-Resident Non-Dispensing Pharmacy Permit

1. To obtain a Non-Resident Non-Dispensing Pharmacy Permit, an applicant located outside of South Carolina must:

• a. submit a written application in the form prescribed by the Board along with the appropriate application fee;
• b. submit a copy of all reports resulting from operational inspections conducted within the last two years, as well as photographs of the exterior and working area of the facility; and
• c. attend a hearing before the Board, or its duly-authorized committee, in which a pharmacist or other individual knowledgeable about all aspects of the applicant’s operations must answer questions regarding the applicant’s operations. This appearance shall be in lieu of an in-person inspection of the applicant’s facility and is designed to provide the Board with information that would typically be obtained during an in-person inspection.

D. Outsourcing Facility (503B) Permit

1. An Outsourcing Facility Permit is required for a facility engaged in the compounding of sterile drugs which has elected to register with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration as a 503B outsourcing facility. To obtain a permit as an outsourcing facility, a facility must hold, or concurrently apply for, a South Carolina Pharmacy or Manufacturer Permit, whether or not the facility is located in South Carolina.

2. To obtain a Resident Outsourcing Facility Permit, an applicant located in South Carolina must:

• a. submit a written application in the form prescribed by the Board along with the appropriate application fee;
• b. undergo an inspection by the Board in which the applicant demonstrates that it is in compliance with the applicable provisions of the Practice Act;
• 3. To obtain a Non-Resident Outsourcing Facility Permit, an applicant located outside of South Carolina must:
  • a. submit a written application in the form prescribed by the Board along with the appropriate application fee. The following information must be submitted with the application:
    • (1) a copy of the resident state pharmacy permit and DEA registration (if applicable) and a list of all additional state permits and controlled substance registrations (if applicable);
    • (2) a copy of the facility’s most recent FDA inspection report, including any 483s issued and the applicant’s response thereto;
    • (3) a copy of all reports from operational inspections conducted within the last two years; and
    • (4) a copy of the policy and procedures for shipping refrigerated products and monitoring the temperature and humidity; and
  • b. attend a hearing before the Board or its duty-authorized committee in which a pharmacist or other individual knowledgeable about all aspects of the applicant’s operations must answer questions regarding the applicant’s operations. This appearance shall be in lieu of an in-person inspection of the applicant’s facility and is designed to provide the Board with information that would typically be obtained during an in-person inspection.

E. Medical Gas/Legend Device Permit

1. A Medical Gas/Legend Device Permit is required for a facility to dispense medical gases and/or legend devices to a patient or a patient’s agent on the order of a licensed practitioner.

2. To obtain a Resident Medical Gas/Legend Device Permit, an applicant located in South Carolina must:

• a. submit a written application in the form prescribed by the Board along with the appropriate application fee; and
• b. undergo an inspection by the Board in which the applicant demonstrates that it is in compliance with the applicable provisions of the Practice Act.

3. To obtain a Non-Resident Medical Gas/Legend Device Permit, an applicant located outside of South Carolina must submit:

• a. a written application in the form prescribed by the Board along with the appropriate application fee;
• b. a copy of the applicant’s resident state pharmacy permit and a list of all additional state permits (if applicable); and
• c. a copy of all reports from operational inspections conducted within the last two years (if applicable).

F. Non-Dispensing Drug Outlet

1. A Non-Dispensing Drug Outlet Permit is required for a facility to store and/or administer legend drugs and/or devices. Facilities requiring a Non-Dispensing Drug Outlet Permit include, but are not limited to, public or private health clinics, infirmaries, correctional institutions, industrial health clinics, and emergency medical service providers. A Non-Dispensing Drug Outlet Permit requires a consultant pharmacist, unless the facility is engaged in manufacturing, wholesaling or distributing.

2. To obtain a Non-Dispensing Drug Outlet Permit, an applicant must:

• a. submit a written application in the form prescribed by the Board along with the appropriate application fee;
• b. undergo an inspection by the Board in which the applicant demonstrates that it is in compliance with the applicable provisions of the Practice Act.

G. Wholesale Distributor Permit

1. A Wholesale Distributor Permit is required for a facility to engage in the wholesale distribution of prescription drugs and/or devices to permitted facilities and licensed practitioners. Entities requiring a Wholesale Distributor Permit include, but are not limited to: repackagers; own-label distributors; private-label distributors; jobbers; brokers; warehouses including manufacturers’ and distributors’ warehouses, chain drug warehouses, and wholesale drug warehouses; independent wholesale drug traders; and retail pharmacies that conduct wholesale distributions.

2. To obtain a Resident Wholesale Distributor Permit, an applicant located in South Carolina must:

• a. submit a written application in the form prescribed by the Board along with the appropriate application fee;
• b. undergo an inspection by the Board in which the applicant demonstrates that it is in compliance with the applicable provision of the Practice Act.

3. To obtain a Non-Resident Wholesale Distributor Permit, an applicant located outside of South Carolina must:

• a. submit a written application in the form prescribed by the Board along with the appropriate application fee. The following information must be submitted with the application:
  • (1) a copy of the resident state permit and DEA registration (if applicable) and a list of all additional state permits and controlled substance registrations (if applicable);
  • (2) a copy of the facility’s most recent FDA inspection report, including any 483s issued and applicant’s response(s) thereto;
  • (3) a copy of all reports from operational inspections conducted within the last two years;
  • 4) a copy of the policy and procedures for shipping refrigerated products and monitoring the temperature and humidity;
  • (5) a copy of the NABP’s Verified-Accredited Wholesale Distributors certification (if applicable) or a notarized statement certifying that the applicant meets the standards necessary to obtain this certification; and
  • (6) a sample Transaction History, Transaction Information, and Transaction Statement (“T3”) report.
• b. attend a hearing before the Board or its duly-authorized committee in which a pharmacist or other individual knowledgeable about all aspects of the applicant’s operations must answer questions regarding the applicant’s operations. This appearance shall be in lieu of an in-person inspection of the applicant’s facility and is designed to provide the Board with information that would typically be obtained during an in-person inspection.

H. Manufacturer/Repackager

1. A Manufacturer/Repackager Permit is required for a facility to engage in the manufacturing of prescription drugs or devices, including any packaging or repackaging of the drugs and/or devices, and/or labeling or re-labeling of containers.

2. To obtain a Resident Manufacturer/Repackager Permit, an applicant located in South Carolina must:

• a. submit a written application in the form prescribed by the Board along with the appropriate application fee; and
• b. undergo an inspection by the Board in which the applicant demonstrates that it is in compliance with the applicable provisions of the Practice Act.

3. To obtain a Non-Resident Manufacturer/Repackager, an applicant must:

• a. submit a written application in the form prescribed by the Board along with the appropriate application fee. The following information must be submitted with the application:
  • (1) a copy of the resident state pharmacy permit and DEA registration (if applicable) and a list of all additional state permits and controlled substance registrations (if applicable);
  • (2) a copy of the facility’s most recent FDA inspection report, including any 483s issued and the applicant’s response(s) thereto;
  • (3) a copy of all reports from operational inspections conducted within the last two years;
  • (4) a copy of the policy and procedures for shipping refrigerated products and monitoring temperature and humidity;
• b. attend a hearing before the Board or its duly-authorized committee in which a pharmacist or other individual knowledgeable about all aspects of the applicant’s operations must answer questions regarding the applicant’s operations. This appearance shall be in lieu of an in-person inspection of the applicant’s facility and is designed to provide the Board with information that would typically be obtained during an in-person inspection.

I. Federally Qualified Health Center (“FQHC”) Drug Outlet Permit

1. A Federally Qualified Health Center (“FQHC”) Drug Outlet Permit is required for an FQHC delivery site to store, administer, and distribute patient-specific, labeled drugs and/or devices received from a permitted FQHC pharmacy or contracted pharmacy.

2. To obtain a Federally Qualified Health Center (“FQHC”) Drug Outlet permit, an applicant must:

• a. submit a written application in the form prescribed by the Board along with the appropriate application fee; and
• b. undergo an inspection by the Board in which the applicant demonstrates that it is in compliance with the applicable provisions of the Practice Act.

J. Third-Party Logistics (“3PL”) Provider

1. A Third-Party Logistics Provider Permit is required for a facility to provide or otherwise coordinate warehousing, or other logistics services, of drugs and/or devices in interstate commerce on behalf of a manufacturer, wholesale distributor or dispenser of drugs and/or devices. A 3PL Provider does not take ownership of the drugs and/or devices and is not responsible for the sale and/or distribution of the drugs and/or devices to permitted facilities and/or licensed practitioners.

2. To obtain a Resident Third-Party Logistics Provider permit, an applicant located in South Carolina must:

• a. submit a written application in the form prescribed by the Board along with the appropriate application fee;
• b. undergo an inspection by the Board in which the applicant demonstrates that it is in compliance with the applicable provisions of the Practice Act.

3. To obtain a Non-Resident Third-Party Logistics Provider permit, an applicant must:

• a. submit a written application in the form prescribed by the Board along with the appropriate application fee. The following information must be submitted with the application:
  • (1) a copy of the resident state permit and DEA registration (if applicable) and a list of all additional state permits and controlled substance registrations (if applicable) and
  • (2) a copy of all reports from operational inspections conducted within the last two years; and
• b. attend a hearing before the Board or its duly-authorized committee in which a pharmacist or other individual knowledgeable about all aspects of the applicant’s operations must answer questions regarding the applicant’s operations. This appearance shall be in lieu of an in-person inspection of the applicant’s facility and is designed to provide the Board with information that would typically be obtained during an in-person inspection.

We cannot guarantee this is the most up-to-date version of this code section. Please refer to the South Carolina Code for the most accurate information.

In South Carolina, pharmacists are required to complete a total of 15 Continuing Education (CE) hours per license year. Out of these 15 hours, at least 7.5 hours must be dedicated to drug therapy or patient management. The previous requirement of attending live sessions is no longer mandatory. Additionally, 1 hour must be allocated to controlled substance monitoring.

If pharmacists are involved in immunization, they must complete 1 hour of education specifically focused on immunization. Similarly, if they dispense and/or administer contraceptives through the Pharmacy Access Protocol, one hour of contraception education is required.

Any hours exceeding the 15-hour requirement can be carried over to the next license year, as long as they still meet the aforementioned criteria. It is the responsibility of the licensee to keep track of their CE hours.

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