South Carolina: who may do what, and how to check a license

A South Carolina Board of Nursing advisory opinion says cosmetic dermal fillers are within RN scope under set criteria. The supervising physician or APRN must be immediately available on site, able to respond within five minutes, and must perform and document an initial assessment, which an RN cannot establish. The RN must have documented training, and injections must happen in a clinical setting with sterility and resuscitation capability. The opinion does not address neuromodulators (such as Botox).

Source: Advisory Opinion #39 (cosmetic procedures by licensed nurses)

Board guidance — may not be bindingPublished or effective Nov 2023Checked Sep 14, 2026

In the same retail IV therapy opinion, the boards say that whatever the corporate makeup of the business, neither the business nor its owner may control how physicians provide medical services or interfere with their independent judgment. Whether a business is illegally practicing medicine is fact-specific. The opinion also says a Board of Pharmacy permit is needed to store or administer legend drugs unless the entity is 100% practitioner-owned (MD, DO, APRN, PA). This was written about retail IV therapy businesses.

Source: Joint Advisory Opinion of the South Carolina State Boards of Medical Examiners, Pharmacy, and Nursing Regarding Retail IV Therapy Businesses

Board guidance — may not be bindingPublished or effective Aug 15, 2023Checked Sep 14, 2026

South Carolina Board of Medical Examiners guidance on lasers, pulsed light and radiofrequency devices says practitioners must examine each patient before any initial treatment or before authorizing treatment by a non-physician. RNs performing laser procedures require direct supervision of a physician, PA or NP. Physicians, PAs and NPs may delegate non-ablative treatments to others when state law permits.

Source: Guidance on Surgery Using Lasers, Pulsed Light, Radiofrequency Devices, or Other Techniques

Board guidance — may not be bindingPublished or effective May 7, 2024Checked Sep 14, 2026

A 2025 Board of Medical Examiners summary lists who may perform or supervise cosmetic laser procedures in South Carolina. It names physicians, PAs and APRNs (with training, within their scope or collaborative agreement), RNs under direct supervision of a physician, APRN or PA, and certified medical assistants for non-ablative lasers under direct supervision. The nursing advisory opinion separately limits laser removal of hair and spider veins to RNs with a supervising physician immediately available on site.

Source: Summary of individuals permitted to perform or supervise cosmetic laser procedures (2025)

Board guidance — may not be bindingPublished or effective 2025Checked Sep 14, 2026

A joint advisory opinion of the South Carolina medical, pharmacy and nursing boards says retail IV therapy is the practice of medicine. A physician, PA or APRN must personally evaluate and diagnose the patient and issue a prescription, and standing orders are insufficient. An RN may administer only after a valid prescription and does not need a prescriber on-site. LPNs may not participate in retail IV hydration, and RNs may not compound drugs.

Source: Joint Advisory Opinion of the South Carolina State Boards of Medical Examiners, Pharmacy, and Nursing Regarding Retail IV Therapy Businesses

Board guidance — may not be bindingPublished or effective Aug 15, 2023Checked Sep 14, 2026