Nursing License from Florida to South Carolina: Does It Transfer? (2026)
Does South Carolina accept a Florida nursing license?
Yes — both Florida and South Carolina are members of the Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC). If Florida is your primary state of residence and you hold a multistate license, you can practice in South Carolina now; if you are moving your residence to South Carolina, apply for licensure by endorsement there and declare South Carolina your new primary state of residence — your multistate privilege continues.
Verify this exact pair in the checker
Same data, interactive — with share link and board links.
Verdict
Compact multistate — already covered
This is the move the compact was built for. Both Florida and South Carolina are NLC members, so the real question is not "does my license transfer" but "is this a relocation or just work". Working in South Carolina while living in Florida — travel contract, remote monitoring, per-diem across the border — needs nothing: your multistate license already covers it. Relocating to South Carolina means your primary state of residence changes, and the compact requires you to endorse into South Carolina and declare it your new home state. You keep practicing on the old privilege the entire time.
What's different between Florida and South Carolina
Computed from both states' verified data rows, in both directions, and from the route every other origin gets into South Carolina. Exam notes are our summary of each board's published rules, with sources below.
- Route, each way
Florida to South Carolina (this page): Compact multistate — already covered.
South Carolina to Florida (the reverse move): Compact multistate — already covered.
The route is the same in both directions.
- Does coming from Florida matter?
Florida gets South Carolina's most common result: 39 of 50 origins (the other 49 states and DC) get the same one, so for most movers the origin does not change the answer.
The others get: licensure by endorsement (11).
- NLC membership
Florida and South Carolina are both NLC member states.
A multistate license issued by Florida covers practice in South Carolina, and one issued by South Carolina covers practice in Florida.
- Application fee
South Carolina lists $100 for an out-of-state applicant and Florida lists $110 for the reverse move; neither may be the full cost.
- Exam rules on record
South Carolina and Florida carry different exam notes (our summaries, below); any state law or jurisprudence exam is listed with each state's requirements.
- South Carolina (this move): NCLEX is not retaken; your license is verified through Nursys
- Florida (the reverse move): NCLEX is not retaken; endorsement requires a passing national licensure exam score (transferred from NCSBN) plus license verification from every state where you have held a license
What changes, Florida → South Carolina
| Florida (current) | South Carolina (destination) | |
|---|---|---|
| NLC status | NLC member — multistate license honored | NLC member — multistate license honored |
| Application fee | $110 (application and licensing fee paid to the Board of Nursing; Livescan and license verification fees vary by provider) | $100 (endorsement application; $110 if adding a 60-day temporary license; fingerprint background check fee paid separately) |
| Processing time | board allows up to 10 business days for initial review; by statute the license issues within 7 days after all documentation is received (s. 456.0145(2)(e), F.S.); Livescan results reach the board within 24-72 hours of processing | board does not publish a timeframe; applications processed in order received and valid for one year; 60-day single-state temporary license available while pending |
| Licensing authority | Florida Board of Nursing | South Carolina Board of Nursing |
The destination column is what you must satisfy — South Carolina sets the rules for this move.
Step by step
- Confirm your current license is an active multistate license in good standing (check it in the verification system).
- If you are moving your primary residence to South Carolina: apply for licensure by endorsement with the South Carolina Board of Nursing when you move.
- Declare South Carolina as your new primary state of residence on that application.
- Complete South Carolina's fingerprint/background check requirement if requested.
- Keep practicing — your multistate privilege remains valid during the transition (do not let the old license lapse before the new one issues).
Official links
Related guides
Frequently asked questions
Do I retake the NCLEX moving from Florida to South Carolina?
No — the NCLEX transfers everywhere.
What does the move cost?
If you are only working across the border, nothing. If you are relocating your residence to South Carolina: $100 (endorsement application; $110 if adding a 60-day temporary license; fingerprint background check fee paid separately).
How long will it take?
Practice can continue immediately on the multistate privilege; the residence-change endorsement processes in the background (board does not publish a timeframe; applications processed in order received and valid for one year; 60-day single-state temporary license available while pending).
Sources
Primary sources only — official boards and compact commissions. Data last verified 2026-10-29.
- SC Board of Nursing — Fee Schedule (read via Internet Archive capture of 2026-10-07; llr.sc.gov refused connections on 2026-10-29) ↗ (accessed 2026-10-29)
- SC BON — RN/LPN Licensure by Endorsement requirements and application (PDF) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- SC BON — RN Applications and Forms (read via Internet Archive capture of 2026-10-10; llr.sc.gov refused connections on 2026-10-29) ↗ (accessed 2026-10-29)
- S.C. Code § 40-33-36 — temporary license for endorsement applicants (up to sixty days) ↗ (accessed 2026-10-29)
- Florida Board of Nursing — Nursing (RN & LPN) licensure by endorsement ↗ (accessed 2026-10-29)
- Florida Statutes s. 456.0145 — licensure by endorsement (MOBILE Act) ↗ (accessed 2026-10-29)
- Florida Statutes s. 464.009 — nursing licensure by endorsement ↗ (accessed 2026-10-29)
- Florida BON — Electronic Fingerprinting form (Livescan instructions, PDF) ↗ (accessed 2026-10-29)
- Nursys — participating boards (Florida) ↗ (accessed 2026-10-29)
Reviewed by the License Reciprocity Editorial Team · verified against primary sources 2026-10-29
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