Education Required for Addiction Counselor Credentialing

South Carolina credentials two types of addiction counselors. A Certified Addiction Counselor (CAC) I requires either an associate degree in a relevant field or a bachelor’s degree in any field, 270 hours of relevant education courses and 4,000 hours of supervised experience. A CAC II also requires either an associate degree in a relevant field or a bachelor’s degree in any field, 450 hours of related education and 4,000 hours of experience. S.C. Code Ann. §40-75 and South Carolina Association of Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselors

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Licensed Professional Counselor Ability to Diagnose

Licensed professional counselors provide services to individuals, families, groups, marital counseling, play therapy, couples counseling, chemical abuse or dependency counseling, vocational counseling, school counseling, rehabilitation counseling, intervention, human growth and development counseling, behavioral modification counseling and hypnotherapy. Counselors provide assessment, crisis intervention, guidance and counseling to facilitate normal growth and development, including educational and career development. Diagnostic ability is not outlined in statute. S.C. Code Ann. §40-75-20(16)

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Number of Advanced Practice Registered Nurses Prescribing Buprenorphine

As of August 2018, 77 NPs in South Carolina have received a federal waiver to treat opioid dependency with buprenorphine-containing products. Consistent with their prescriptive authority and with proper training or appropriate experience NPs can receive a federal waiver to dispense buprenorphine-containing products, as long as the supervising physician is certified, trained, or permitted to treat and manage patients with opioid use disorder. S.C. Code Ann. §40-33-34(F)

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Number of Physician Assistants Prescribing Buprenorphine

As of August 2018, 16 PAs in South Carolina have received a federal waiver to treat opioid dependency with buprenorphine-containing products. A South Carolina PA may prescribe controlled substances as delegated by a supervising physician. South Carolina PAs with proper training or appropriate experience can receive a federal waiver to dispense buprenorphine-containing products, as long as the supervising physician is certified, trained, or permitted to treat and manage patients with opioid use disorder. S.C. Code Ann. §40-47-965

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Peer Support Specialist Certification or Credentialing Authority

The standards and requirements for certification of a peer support specialists were developed through a collaborative effort between the state’s Department of Mental Health and a third-party, non-profit certification provider.

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Certified Nurse Midwife Practice Authority

A practice agreement with a physician is required.

The agreement must outline information for delegated medical acts and a description of how consultation with the physician is provided. The agreement must be reviewed annually. If designated in the practice agreement, a NM may prescribe Schedules II-V. Schedule II non narcotics are limited to a thirty-day supply and Schedule II narcotics are limited to a five-day supply. S.C. Code Ann. §40-33-34(D); S.C. Code Ann. §40-33-34(F)

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Nurse Practitioner Practice Authority

A practice agreement with a physician is required.

The agreement must outline information for delegated medical acts and a description of how consultation with the physician is provided. The agreement must be reviewed annually. If designated in the practice agreement, an NP may prescribe Schedules II-V. Schedule II non narcotics are limited to a thirty-day supply and Schedule II narcotics are limited to a five-day supply. S.C. Code Ann. §40-33-34(D); S.C. Code Ann. §40-33-34(F)

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Nurse Practitioner Authority to Sign POLST Forms

NPs are authorized to sign physician orders for scope of treatment forms if authorized to do by the practice agreement with a physician. S.C. Code Ann. §44-80-110

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Nurse Practitioner as a Primary Care Provider

NPs are recognized in state policy as primary care providers. The South Carolina Medicaid Provider Manual lists the provider types that may enroll as a primary care provider on Page 955.

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Authority to perform ophthalmic procedures

Optometrists may only perform procedures related to foreign body removal and the examination, evaluation, diagnosis and treatment of the human eye. S.C. 40-37-3-(B)

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Injectable Authority

Optometrists may not give any medications through injection or intravenously. However, they administer the COVID-19 vaccine. S.C. Code Ann. §40-37290(5) and Joint Resolution 3707

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Prescription of controlled substances

Optometrists may prescribe Schedule III-V controlled substances and Schedule II controlled substances containing hydrocodone combinations. S.C. Code Ann. §40-37-290

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Dental Hygienists with Direct Access

If employed by or contracted through the Department of Health and Environment Control, a dental hygienist may provide services under general supervision that does not require prior examination by a dentist in settings such as schools or nursing homes. The dental hygienist must carry professional liability insurance. S.C. Code Ann. §40-15-110(A)(10)

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Dental Therapists

Statute does not identify dental therapists as an oral health provider.

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Practice of Teledentistry

South Carolina does not explicitly allow for the practice of teledentistry.

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Administration of COVID-19 Vaccine

South Carolina has not enacted legislation allowing pharmacists to administer the COVID-19 vaccine. However, the federal PREP Act does allow pharmacists to administer the COVID-19 vaccine through the duration of the public health emergency.

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Prescription Adaptation

South Carolina does not allow pharmacists to modify prescriptions.

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Prescription of Hormonal Contraceptives

A person licensed under the South Carolina Pharmacy Practice Act who is acting in good faith and exercising reasonable care as a pharmacist and who is employed by a hospital or a pharmacy that is permitted by this State may dispense a self-administered hormonal contraceptive or administer an injectable hormonal contraceptive pursuant to a standing order by a prescriber to a patient who is: eighteen years of age or older; or under eighteen years of age if the person has evidence of a previous prescription from a practitioner for a self-administered hormonal contraceptive or an injectable hormonal contraceptive. S.C. Code Ann. §40-43-230

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Prescription of Tobacco Cessation Aids

South Carolina does not allow pharmacists to prescribe tobacco cessation aids.

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Supervision Requirements

A supervisory relationship is required and scope of practice guidelines must be approved by the State Board of Medicine. Statute outlines what must be included in the guidelines,  including medical conditions for which therapies may be initiated, continued or modified and treatments that may be initiated, continued or modified. S.C. Code Ann. §40-47-955, S.C. Code Ann. §40-47-960

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Prescriptive Authority for Physician Assistants

A PA may prescribe drugs, devices and controlled substances delegated by the supervisory physician. S.C. Code Ann. §40-47-965

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Scope of Practice Determination

PA’s may perform medical services within the written scope of practice guidelines under physician supervision. The State Medical Board must approve the proposed scope of practice guidelines. S.C. Code Ann. §40-47-938

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