Nursing License from Utah to South Carolina: Does It Transfer? (2026)
Does South Carolina accept a Utah nursing license?
Yes — both Utah and South Carolina are members of the Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC). If Utah 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 Utah 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 Utah — 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 Utah 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
Utah to South Carolina (this page): Compact multistate — already covered.
South Carolina to Utah (the reverse move): Compact multistate — already covered.
The route is the same in both directions.
- Does coming from Utah matter?
Utah 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
Utah and South Carolina are both NLC member states.
A multistate license issued by Utah covers practice in South Carolina, and one issued by South Carolina covers practice in Utah.
- Application fee
South Carolina lists $100 for an out-of-state applicant and Utah lists $60 for the reverse move; neither may be the full cost.
- Processing time
Utah lists about 3 weeks for the reverse move; South Carolina has no verified processing-time figure on file, so the two cannot be compared here.
- Exam rules on record
Utah and South Carolina carry the same exam note for a licensee arriving from another state; any state law or jurisprudence exam is listed with each state's requirements.
What changes, Utah → South Carolina
| Utah (current) | South Carolina (destination) | |
|---|---|---|
| NLC status | NLC member — multistate license honored | NLC member — multistate license honored |
| Application fee | $60 (RN application fee per DOPL fee schedule FY 2025-26 (latest verifiable); + $12 FBI and $20 BCI fingerprint search fees) | $100 (endorsement application; $110 if adding a 60-day temporary license; fingerprint background check fee paid separately) |
| Processing time | ~3 weeks (DOPL states typical processing of a complete application is 21 days) | 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 | Utah Board of Nursing (Utah Division of Professional Licensing) | 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 Utah to South Carolina?
No — the NCLEX transfers everywhere. NCLEX is not retaken; your license is verified through Nursys.
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 Utah 2026-07-21, South Carolina 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)
- Utah DOPL — Apply for an RN or LPN License ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- Utah DOPL — Endorsement to Utah RN/LPN (PDF) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- Utah DOPL — Fee Schedule FY 2025-26 (PDF) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
Reviewed by the License Reciprocity Editorial Team · verified against primary sources Utah 2026-07-21, South Carolina 2026-10-29
How we verify · All sources · Corrections log · spot an error? hello@licensereciprocity.com