What the official sources support
Applicability and exclusions are shown with each finding. “Qualified” or “conflicting” findings are not simplified into an operational answer.
Authority, credentials, and scope
Regulator, governing authority, credential names, regulated titles, scope boundaries, exemptions, and prohibited activities.
Four principal license levels
Published research · ConfirmedThe Board licenses LBSW, LMSW, LISW-AP, and LISW-CP, with materially different practice authority.
- Applies to
- Use for LBSW, LMSW, LISW-AP, LISW-CP research in SC.
- Known exclusions
- A payer, facility, employer, local government, or another professional board may impose additional requirements.
- Effective date
- No separate future date recorded
- Fact checked
- 2026-08-11
Application and practice status
Application, education, examination, background check, fees, temporary authority, endorsement, and supervised versus independent practice.
LMSW clinical restriction
Published research · ConfirmedAn LMSW may provide clinical services only in a qualifying social, medical, or governmental agency under qualifying employed supervision and may not treat that status as independent private clinical practice.
- Applies to
- Use for LBSW, LMSW, LISW-AP, LISW-CP research in SC.
- Known exclusions
- A payer, facility, employer, local government, or another professional board may impose additional requirements.
- Effective date
- No separate future date recorded
- Fact checked
- 2026-08-11
Supervision and workforce evidence
Supervisor qualifications, written agreements, settings, hours, reporting, license verification, and hiring or credentialing evidence.
Independent clinical credential
Published research · ConfirmedLISW-CP is the clinical independent-practice credential; LISW-AP is a distinct advanced-practice route.
- Applies to
- Use for LBSW, LMSW, LISW-AP, LISW-CP research in SC.
- Known exclusions
- A payer, facility, employer, local government, or another professional board may impose additional requirements.
- Effective date
- No separate future date recorded
- Fact checked
- 2026-08-11
Cross-border and practice structure
Telehealth location rules, registration, compact privileges, ownership, entity naming, fee sharing, and multidisciplinary practice.
No temporary or provisional license
Published research · ConfirmedThe Board states that it does not issue temporary or provisional social work licenses.
- Applies to
- Use for LBSW, LMSW, LISW-AP, LISW-CP research in SC.
- Known exclusions
- A payer, facility, employer, local government, or another professional board may impose additional requirements.
- Effective date
- No separate future date recorded
- Fact checked
- 2026-08-11
Client-facing operations and records
Disclosure, consent, telehealth, emergencies, advertising, confidentiality, access, retention, minors, subpoenas, closure, fees, billing, and termination.
Clinical-equivalent telehealth registration
Published research · ConfirmedThe social work telehealth registration is a separate route for a qualifying out-of-state credential equivalent to LISW-CP and does not authorize in-person services or a South Carolina office.
- Applies to
- Use for LBSW, LMSW, LISW-AP, LISW-CP research in SC.
- Known exclusions
- A payer, facility, employer, local government, or another professional board may impose additional requirements.
- Effective date
- No separate future date recorded
- Fact checked
- 2026-08-11
Maintenance, complaints, and monitoring
Renewal, continuing education, audits, inactive status, reinstatement, complaints, discipline, effective dates, exclusions, and unresolved interpretations.
Four principal license levels
Published research · ConfirmedThe Board licenses LBSW, LMSW, LISW-AP, and LISW-CP, with materially different practice authority.
- Applies to
- Use for LBSW, LMSW, LISW-AP, LISW-CP research in SC.
- Known exclusions
- A payer, facility, employer, local government, or another professional board may impose additional requirements.
- Effective date
- No separate future date recorded
- Fact checked
- 2026-08-11