StateLicensed

Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) License Requirements in South Carolina

Verified · July 2026
Training hours
100 hrs
Upfront cost
$140
Exam
NNAAP Written Examination, NNAAP Skills Evaluation (Clinical Examination)
Renewal cycle
Every 2 years
Issuing board
South Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (SCDHHS) — Nurse Aide Registry

How to get licensed

  1. 1

    Meet the prerequisites

    Meet the eligibility requirements set by the issuing board. No fingerprint or formal criminal background check is required for certification. The exam application instead includes two mandatory screening questions (felony conviction or guilty plea; listing on any state's Abuse Registry); a 'Yes' answer routes the application to SCDHHS for review before the candidate may test. SCDHHS/Credentia materials publish no minimum age for certification, so minAge is null rather than guessed. [2]

  2. 2

    Complete approved training

    Complete 100 hours of training (including 40 clinical hours) at a state-approved program. 100-hour state-approved nurse aide training program that includes 40 hours of clinical training. Out-of-state applicants must likewise show a 100-hour program including clinical hours. South Carolina's 100-hour minimum exceeds the federal 42 CFR 483.152 floor of 75 hours. Training must have been completed within the last 24 months for most eligibility routes. SCDHHS registry page verified via archive snapshot [2026-05-23]; Credentia is SCDHHS's contracted testing/registry vendor and its handbook states the hour requirement. [1]

  3. 3

    NNAAP Written Examination

    Pass the NNAAP Written Examination (fee: $45). Multiple-choice written exam; an Oral Examination (English or Spanish) is available as an alternative for the same $45 fee. Must be passed within 2 years of completing the approved training program; after 2 years retraining is required. Re-examination is also $45. Candidates employed by Medicaid/Medicare-participating nursing homes may not pay their own exam fees — the employer must pay. [2]

  4. 4

    NNAAP Skills Evaluation (Clinical Examination)

    Pass the NNAAP Skills Evaluation (Clinical Examination) (fee: $95). Hands-on demonstration of randomly selected nurse aide skills. Clinical re-examination is also $95. Both the Written (or Oral) Examination and the Skills Evaluation must be passed for placement on the South Carolina Nurse Aide Registry. [2]

  5. 5

    Submit your application

    Submit your application to South Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (SCDHHS) — Nurse Aide Registry. [2]

  6. 6

    Receive your license

    Once your application is approved, South Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (SCDHHS) — Nurse Aide Registry issues your Certified Nurse Aide (CNA) for South Carolina.

Fees

Fee Amount
Application fee [2] None specified
License fee [2] None specified
Renewal fee [2] $35
NNAAP Written Examination [2] $45
NNAAP Skills Evaluation (Clinical Examination) [2] $95
NNAAP Written or Oral Examination (Credentia) [2] $45
NNAAP Skills Evaluation (Credentia) [2] $95

No separate SCDHHS application or certification fee — candidates pay only the Credentia exam fees, and initial registry placement follows passing both exams. Certificate renewal (re-certification) fee is $35, effective July 1, 2020, paid online through Credentia; Medicaid-certified employers must reimburse it. There is no fee for certification by reciprocity.

Renewal & continuing education

Renew every 2 years.

A South Carolina Nurse Aide Certificate is valid for 24 months from issuance. To re-certify, federal and state regulations require at least 8 hours of paid nursing or nursing-related services in the past 24 months before the expiration date. There is no continuing-education hour requirement (renewal is work-based), so ceHours is null. Credentia emails renewal instructions about 90 days before expiration; re-certification fee $35. Lapsed certification requires retesting (if lapsed under 24 months with a completed 100-hour program) or retraining and retesting (lapsed over 24 months, or no 100-hour program).

Reciprocity

Endorsement/reciprocity from another state is available.

No interstate compact covers CNAs (the Nurse Licensure Compact applies to RN/LPN only). South Carolina offers certification by reciprocity at no fee for nurse aides currently listed as active and in good standing on another state's registry who completed at least a 100-hour basic state-approved nurse aide course. Apply online via Credentia ('Submit Reciprocity Application'); the certification expiration date carries over from the original state.

5 state-approved training providers in South Carolina — browse programs and compare schools on tradecolleges.org.

Cost calculator

  • $45
  • $95
Total$140

Frequently asked questions

How many training hours does South Carolina require to become a CNA?

100 hours at a state-approved nurse aide training program, including 40 hours of clinical training — more than the 75-hour federal minimum.

Who administers the South Carolina CNA exam?

Credentia administers the NNAAP exam under contract with SCDHHS. The Written (or Oral) Examination costs $45 and the Skills Evaluation costs $95.

How do I renew my South Carolina CNA certification?

Renew through Credentia every 24 months. You must have performed at least 8 hours of paid nursing-related work in the prior 24 months and pay the $35 re-certification fee.

Can I transfer my CNA certification from another state to South Carolina?

Yes. If you are active and in good standing on another state's registry and completed at least a 100-hour training course, submit a Reciprocity Application online through Credentia. There is no fee for certification by reciprocity.

Sources

  1. [1] kb-sc.credentia.com/en/article/eligibility-criteria — accessed 2026-07-10
  2. [2] credentia.com/storage/sc/sc-handbook-(final).pdf — accessed 2026-07-10