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Rules checked October 25, 2026 · by Dr. Emily Turinas, PhD

How to start a private practice in South Carolina

The steps are the same everywhere. South Carolina's rules are what change: your board, your entity, your ads, your paperwork. Here they are for counselors, marriage and family therapists, clinical social workers, and psychologists, each linked to the official source.

Business education, not legal, tax, or clinical advice. Confirm each rule at the linked source before you rely on it.

Show rules for:
Usual entityA regular LLC (there's no separate PLLC)
Yearly state filing$0: no annual report for LLCs (S-corps file one with their tax return)
Recording sessionsOne-party consent state; get written consent either way
AI note toolsNo South Carolina-specific AI note law found as of October 25, 2026
MinorsA minor 16 or older can agree to health services, including therapy, on their own.

By license

Starting a private practice in South Carolina, by license

Find your license for its South Carolina title, board, and what associates should know. The full rules for every license follow below, each linked to the official source.

Counselors · LPC

Starting a private practice in South Carolina as an LPC

License: Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC). Board: South Carolina Board of Examiners for Licensure of Professional Counselors, Marriage and Family Therapists, Addiction Counselors and Psycho-Educational Specialists.

  • Title in ads: Show "Licensed Professional Counselor" or "LPC" on your ads and website.
  • Continuing education: 40 hours every 2 years, reported in CE Broker.
  • Renewal: Renew every 2 years by August 31 of odd-numbered years. Your next deadline is August 31, 2027.
Before full licensure: Licensed Professional Counselor Associate (LPC/A)

Our research didn't find a South Carolina board rule on this level's ads or private practice. Whether you may own a practice, bill insurance in your own name, or see private-pay clients outside your supervisor's practice: confirm with your board before you set anything up.

Rules checked October 25, 2026 · Official board site · Ad rules · Consent and records

MFTs · LMFT

Starting a private practice in South Carolina as an LMFT

License: Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT). Board: South Carolina Board of Examiners for Licensure of Professional Counselors, Marriage and Family Therapists, Addiction Counselors and Psycho-Educational Specialists.

  • Title in ads: Show "Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist" or "LMFT" on your ads and website.
  • Continuing education: 40 hours every 2 years, reported in CE Broker.
  • Renewal: Renew every 2 years by August 31 of odd-numbered years. Your next deadline is August 31, 2027.
Before full licensure: Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist Associate (LMFT/A)

Our research didn't find a South Carolina board rule on this level's ads or private practice. Whether you may own a practice, bill insurance in your own name, or see private-pay clients outside your supervisor's practice: confirm with your board before you set anything up.

Rules checked October 25, 2026 · Official board site · Ad rules · Consent and records

Social workers · LISW-CP

Starting a private practice in South Carolina as an LISW-CP

License: Licensed Independent Social Worker–Clinical Practice (LISW-CP). Board: South Carolina Board of Social Work Examiners.

  • Title in ads: Put "LISW-CP" after your name on all professional documents, including ads.
  • Continuing education: 40 hours every 2 years, reported in CE Broker.
  • Renewal: Renew every 2 years. Your current deadline is December 31, 2026 at 11:59 p.m.
Before full licensure: Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW)

Our research didn't find a South Carolina board rule on this level's ads or private practice. Whether you may own a practice, bill insurance in your own name, or see private-pay clients outside your supervisor's practice: confirm with your board before you set anything up.

Rules checked October 25, 2026 · Official board site · Ad rules · Consent and records

Psychologists

Starting a private practice in South Carolina as a psychologist

License: Psychologist. Board: South Carolina Board of Examiners in Psychology.

  • Title in ads: Call yourself a "Licensed Psychologist" and list your licensure in your ads.
  • Continuing education: 24 credits every 2 years.
  • Renewal: Renew every 2 years. The last deadline was November 30, 2025, so expect November 30, 2027.
If you're not fully licensed yet

Our research didn't find a South Carolina board rule on this level's ads or private practice. Whether you may own a practice, bill insurance in your own name, or see private-pay clients outside your supervisor's practice: confirm with your board before you set anything up.

Rules checked October 25, 2026 · Official board site · Ad rules · Consent and records

Licensing

Your licensing board in South Carolina

Read your board's rules before you name your practice or write your website.

LicenseBoardContinuing educationRenewal
CounselorsSouth Carolina Board of Examiners for Licensure of Professional Counselors, Marriage and Family Therapists, Addiction Counselors and Psycho-Educational Specialists40 hours every 2 years, reported in CE Broker.Renew every 2 years by August 31 of odd-numbered years. Your next deadline is August 31, 2027.
Marriage and family therapistsSouth Carolina Board of Examiners for Licensure of Professional Counselors, Marriage and Family Therapists, Addiction Counselors and Psycho-Educational Specialists40 hours every 2 years, reported in CE Broker.Renew every 2 years by August 31 of odd-numbered years. Your next deadline is August 31, 2027.
Clinical social workersSouth Carolina Board of Social Work Examiners40 hours every 2 years, reported in CE Broker.Renew every 2 years. Your current deadline is December 31, 2026 at 11:59 p.m.
PsychologistsSouth Carolina Board of Examiners in Psychology24 credits every 2 years.Renew every 2 years. The last deadline was November 30, 2025, so expect November 30, 2027.

Advertising

Advertising rules for therapists in South Carolina

Every ad counts: your website, directory profiles, business cards, and often your bills.

Counselors

Your title

Show "Licensed Professional Counselor" or "LPC" on your ads and website.

  • Never call yourself a "psycho-therapist." The statute bars that title for you.
  • Private-practice counselors should list their highest degree, license type, address, phone, office hours and services.
  • Display your license at your main place of practice.

Not yet confirmed: Whether your license number must appear in ads isn't in the rules we found. Check with the board.

S.C. Code 40-75-30 and 40-75-250(B), Reg. 36-22(F)(3)

What you can't say

Keep ads accurate and don't create unjustified expectations of results.

  • Ads must accurately describe your services, expertise and techniques.
  • Don't use anything false, misleading, partial or out of context.
  • Partners must clearly list each person's specialties.

Not yet confirmed: No rule we found covers testimonials, guarantees or the word "specialist" for counselors. Avoid all three, or check with the board first.

Reg. 36-22(F)

Marriage and family therapists

Your title

Show "Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist" or "LMFT" on your ads and website.

  • Never call yourself a "psycho-therapist." The statute bars that title for you.
  • Don't use a name or credential that could mislead the public.
  • Display your license at your main place of practice.

Not yet confirmed: Whether your license number must appear in ads isn't in the rules we found. Check with the board.

S.C. Code 40-75-30 and 40-75-250(B), Reg. 36-24(H)

What you can't say

Keep ads accurate and don't create unjustified expectations of results.

  • Don't use any claim that is false, misleading or likely to create an unjustified expectation.
  • Say you specialize only if you have the education and supervised experience for it.
  • Don't use a business name that could mislead the public.

Not yet confirmed: No rule we found covers testimonials, guarantees or the word "specialist" for MFTs. Avoid all three, or check with the board first.

Reg. 36-24(H)

Clinical social workers

Your title

Put "LISW-CP" after your name on all professional documents, including ads.

  • Display your license at your main place of practice.
  • Don't misrepresent your qualifications, education or experience.

Not yet confirmed: Whether your license number must appear in ads isn't in the rules we found. Check with the board.

S.C. Code 40-63-250(B)-(C)

What you can't say

Keep ads accurate, and don't misrepresent your qualifications or services.

  • Give accurate and complete information about the services you offer.
  • Don't solicit your employer's clients for your private practice.

Not yet confirmed: The rules we found don't address testimonials, guarantees or the word "specialist." Avoid them, or check with the board first.

Reg. 110-20(2), (10), (11)

Psychologists

Your title

Call yourself a "Licensed Psychologist" and list your licensure in your ads.

  • Only licensed people may use the title "psychologist."
  • Ads may list your name, highest degree, license type and date, address, phone, hours, services, fees and languages.

Not yet confirmed: Whether your license number must appear in ads isn't in the rules we found. Check with the board.

S.C. Code 40-55-70, Reg. 100-6(A)(1)

What you can't say

Keep ads accurate and don't promise or imply results.

  • No false, misleading or deceptive statements.
  • No claims that create unjustified expectations of favorable results.
  • No claims of unusual, unique or one-of-a-kind abilities.
  • Advertise only the specialty area the board assigned to you.

Not yet confirmed: Testimonials aren't specifically addressed. Avoid them, or check with the board.

Reg. 100-6(A)(3), S.C. Code 40-55-180

Your business

Forming your practice in South Carolina

South Carolina has no separate PLLC. Therapists generally form a regular LLC, still subject to their licensing board's rules. Check with your board before you file.

If you elect S-corp later: South Carolina S-corps file an annual report and pay a minimum license fee with their state return.

Then get your free EIN, open a business bank account, and get your free NPI. More in do therapists need a PLLC or LLC?

WhatSouth Carolina
Usual entityregular LLC (there's no separate PLLC)
Yearly state filing$0: no annual report for LLCs (S-corps file one with their tax return)
When it's dueNone
Where to filesos.sc.gov

Paperwork

Informed consent and records in South Carolina

What your intake paperwork must cover, and how long to keep records. For the full form, see informed consent for therapy and the Good Faith Estimate guide.

Counselors

Informed consent

Give every client your written professional disclosure statement, and explain your services before you start.

  • The statement must include your address, phone number, fee schedule, education and training, and area of specialization.
  • It must say that sexual intimacy between a practitioner and a client is prohibited.
  • Explain purposes, goals, techniques, risks, benefits, fees and billing, and how diagnoses and reports will be used.

Not yet confirmed: The board doesn't publish a template. Ask the board or your professional association for a sample disclosure statement.

S.C. Code 40-75-270 and Reg. 36-22(B)(8)

Records

Keep secure, accurate records of every client, and ask the board for its retention policy.

  • Records can include notes, test data, correspondence, recordings and electronic files.
  • Keep electronic data secure and limited to what you need.

Not yet confirmed: We found no number of years for keeping records. HIPAA and your insurers may require longer. Ask the board what its policy is.

Reg. 36-22(B)(5)-(6)

Complaints

Your board doesn't require a complaint notice that we could find.

  • Complaints go to SC LLR at eservice.llr.sc.gov/Complaints.

Not yet confirmed: Check with the board about whether to give clients its contact details in your disclosure statement.

Marriage and family therapists

Informed consent

Give every client your written professional disclosure statement, and explain your services before you start.

  • The statement must include your address, phone number, fee schedule, education and training, and area of specialization.
  • It must say that sexual intimacy between a practitioner and a client is prohibited.
  • Get written consent before any recording or third-party observation, and tell clients your fees at the start.

Not yet confirmed: The board doesn't publish a template. Ask the board or your professional association for a sample disclosure statement.

S.C. Code 40-75-270 and Reg. 36-24

Records

Keep secure, accurate records of every client, and ask the board for its retention policy.

  • Store and dispose of records in a way that protects confidentiality.

Not yet confirmed: We found no number of years for keeping records. HIPAA and your insurers may require longer. Ask the board what its policy is.

Reg. 36-24(B)(3)

Complaints

Your board doesn't require a complaint notice that we could find.

  • Complaints go to SC LLR at eservice.llr.sc.gov/Complaints.

Not yet confirmed: Check with the board about whether to give clients its contact details in your disclosure statement.

Clinical social workers

Informed consent

Give every client your written professional disclosure statement.

  • Include your address, phone number, fee schedule, education and training, and areas of specialization.
  • Get informed consent before taping, recording or third-party observation.
  • Explain the nature and extent of your services.

S.C. Code 40-63-270(A), Reg. 110-20(16)

Records

Your board's rules don't give a records retention period that we could find.

  • Keep client information confidential.

Not yet confirmed: Not found on the board's site. HIPAA and your insurers may require a set number of years. Ask the board.

Reg. 110-20(15)

Complaints

Give every client the board's statement of their rights and how to file a complaint.

  • Complaints go to SC LLR at eservice.llr.sc.gov/Complaints, or call 803-896-4664.

Not yet confirmed: The board's prescribed statement wasn't found on its site. Ask the board for the current form.

S.C. Code 40-63-270(A)

Psychologists

Informed consent

Get informed written consent before sharing confidential information, and before recording or observing sessions.

  • The board adopts the APA Code of Ethics.
  • Give clients the board's statement of rights and complaint procedures.
  • Give itemized fee statements.

Not yet confirmed: The regulation doesn't list the full contents of a consent form. Follow the current APA Code and ask the board if unsure.

Reg. 100-4, S.C. Code 40-55-120

Records

Keep records at least 7 years after your last service, or 7 years after the client reaches adulthood, whichever is later.

  • Include the presenting problem, fee arrangement, dates and substance of services, test data and reports.
  • Follow any longer period other law requires.
  • Store and dispose of records so they stay confidential.

Reg. 100-4

Complaints

Give every client the board's statement of their rights and how to file a complaint.

  • Complaints go to SC LLR at eservice.llr.sc.gov/Complaints.

Not yet confirmed: The board's prescribed statement wasn't found on its site. Ask the board for the current wording.

S.C. Code 40-55-120

Practice

Telehealth, recording, AI notes, and reporting in South Carolina

Telehealth consent

No extra South Carolina items beyond a standard telehealth consent were found. Keep the basics: the client's location each session, an emergency contact, and what happens if the connection drops.

Recording

South Carolina is a one-party consent state under its general recording law (S.C. Code 17-30-30). Whatever the law, get written consent before recording a session or using an AI tool that listens to one.

AI note tools

No state law or board rule specific to AI note tools confirmed as of Oct 2026. Federal HIPAA, state confidentiality law, and board ethics rules still apply.

More in AI scribe consent for therapists.

Your consent should
  • Name the AI tool and what it does (drafts notes from a recording, transcript, or the therapist's summary)
  • Say whether the session is recorded or transcribed, and how long any audio, transcript, and AI data is kept before deletion
  • Client may say no or withdraw at any time without losing care
  • the therapist reviews and signs every note

Reporting abuse

Report suspected child abuse or neglect yourself, as soon as you have reason to believe it. Reporting to a supervisor does not meet your duty.

  • Call the SCDSS 24/7 hotline at 1-888-CARE-4-US (1-888-227-3487), or report to law enforcement in the county where the child lives or is found.
  • If a child is in immediate danger, call 911 first.
  • A report may be made by phone. The statute does not require a written follow-up.
  • Failing to report is a misdemeanor (fine up to $500, up to 6 months in jail, or both).

Not yet confirmed: The statute sets no number of hours for the report. Report right away, and ask SCDSS or your attorney if you are unsure.

S.C. Code 63-7-310

Seeing minors

In South Carolina, a minor 16 or older can agree to health services, including therapy, on their own. Custody orders, parent access to records, and medication consent are separate questions, so confirm the details before you see minors.

The order

The order to do it in

The same steps as anywhere, with South Carolina's rules above plugged in. The full walk-through, with costs and a timeline, is in how to start a private practice.

01.

Read your board's rules

02.

Decide who you help and how clients pay

03.

Name it and set up the business

04.

Get malpractice insurance

05.

Set up HIPAA-ready systems

06.

Write your paperwork with these rules

07.

Set your fee

08.

Get found, early

Your South Carolina checklist, done for youThe free checklist fits every step to your license and South Carolina: your board's rules, your entity steps with filing links, and starter intake forms filled in with South Carolina's requirements.
Get your South Carolina checklist →

Next steps

Guides for your South Carolina practice

Free, and written for therapists. Start with the free private practice checklist for South Carolina: it fits each step to your license.

Do therapists need a PLLC or LLC?Entity types, costs, and taxes, state by state.How much should I charge for therapy?A simple fee formula and a free calculator.Credentialing with insurance companiesGetting on insurance panels, in order.Informed consent for therapyWhat your form must include, with a checklist.AI scribe consent for therapistsState laws on AI note tools in 2026.Good Faith Estimate for therapistsWhat it must include and when to give it.Google Business Profile for therapistsSetup and privacy for a therapy practice.How much does it cost to start a private practice?Every cost, line by line, with three budgets.Liability insurance for therapistsWhat malpractice coverage costs and what to ask.How much do therapists make?Pay by license, and private practice math.

Nearby states: How to start a private practice in North Carolina · How to start a private practice in Georgia · How to start a private practice in Florida

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a PLLC to start a private practice in South Carolina?

In South Carolina, plan on a regular LLC (there's no separate PLLC). South Carolina has no separate PLLC. A sole proprietorship needs no state filing, but it doesn't separate your business from your personal assets. Check what your licensing board allows before you file.

How many CE hours do therapists need in South Carolina?

Counselors: 40 hours every 2 years, reported in CE Broker. Marriage and family therapists: 40 hours every 2 years, reported in CE Broker. Clinical social workers: 40 hours every 2 years, reported in CE Broker. Psychologists: 24 credits every 2 years.

How long do I have to keep therapy records in South Carolina?

Counselors: Keep secure, accurate records of every client, and ask the board for its retention policy. Marriage and family therapists: Keep secure, accurate records of every client, and ask the board for its retention policy. Clinical social workers: Your board's rules don't give a records retention period that we could find. Psychologists: Keep records at least 7 years after your last service, or 7 years after the client reaches adulthood, whichever is later.

Is South Carolina a one-party or all-party consent state for recording sessions?

South Carolina is a one-party consent state under its general recording law (S.C. Code 17-30-30). Even so, ethics rules and HIPAA mean you should get your client's written consent before recording any session or using an AI note tool that records.

Can an LPC open a private practice in South Carolina?

The Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) is South Carolina's full license for counselors, issued by the South Carolina Board of Examiners for Licensure of Professional Counselors, Marriage and Family Therapists, Addiction Counselors and Psycho-Educational Specialists. The level before it is Licensed Professional Counselor Associate (LPC/A). On your website and ads: show "Licensed Professional Counselor" or "LPC" on your ads and website. Then set up your business (in South Carolina, usually a regular LLC, there's no separate PLLC) and confirm with the board that nothing else applies to your setup, such as a separate private-practice approval.

Can an LISW-CP open a private practice in South Carolina?

The Licensed Independent Social Worker–Clinical Practice (LISW-CP) is South Carolina's full license for clinical social workers, issued by the South Carolina Board of Social Work Examiners. The level before it is Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW). On your website and ads: put "LISW-CP" after your name on all professional documents, including ads. Then set up your business (in South Carolina, usually a regular LLC, there's no separate PLLC) and confirm with the board that nothing else applies to your setup, such as a separate private-practice approval.

What title do LMFTs use on their website in South Carolina?

Show "Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist" or "LMFT" on your ads and website. Never call yourself a "psycho-therapist." The statute bars that title for you. Don't use a name or credential that could mislead the public. Source: S.C. Code 40-75-30 and 40-75-250(B), Reg. 36-24(H).

Can associates see private-pay clients in South Carolina?

South Carolina's associate and pre-licensed levels include Licensed Professional Counselor Associate (LPC/A), Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist Associate (LMFT/A), and Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW). Our research did not confirm whether South Carolina lets associates own a practice, bill in their own name, or see private-pay clients outside a supervisor's practice, so confirm with your board and your supervisor before you set one up.

Which board licenses psychologists in South Carolina?

The South Carolina Board of Examiners in Psychology. Continuing education: 24 credits every 2 years. Renewal: renew every 2 years. The last deadline was November 30, 2025, so expect November 30, 2027. Confirm current requirements on the board's site.

Sources

Board rules checked October 25, 2026 from official board, statute, and state filing sites. If something has changed, email [email protected] and we'll update it.

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