South Carolina NP Programs at a Glance
| State practice authority | Restricted Practice – NPs practice under physician supervision agreement |
| South Carolina Board of Nursing | South Carolina Board of Nursing |
| South Carolina median NP wage | ~$110,000 (Payscale/BLS, 2024). See South Carolina state OES tables for current detail. |
| National median NP wage | $129,210/year (BLS, May 2024) |
| Projected NP job growth | 46% (2023–2033) nationally – one of the fastest-growing professions |
| Primary accreditors | CCNE · ACEN |
| Common NP specialty tracks | FNP, AGNP (Primary/Acute), PMHNP, PNP, WHNP, NNP |
| Typical program length | 2–3 years (MSN-NP) or 3–4 years (BSN-to-DNP), full-time post-BSN |
Our Editorial Process
This guide is written by a credentialed nurse and reviewed against source-of-truth references at least annually. Program accreditation is verified against the CCNE program directory and ACEN directory. South Carolina licensure information is verified against the South Carolina Board of Nursing. Salary and growth figures come directly from the Bureau of Labor Statistics South Carolina data. Read our full editorial standards.
2026 Updates for South Carolina NP Programs
- South Carolina practice authority. South Carolina is a Restricted Practice authority state. NPs must practice under a physician supervision or delegation agreement throughout their career. Bills expanding NP scope have advanced periodically but have not yet shifted South Carolina to full or reduced practice authority.
- BLS data refresh (May 2024 OES). National median NP wage is now $129,210; South Carolina-specific data is published in the South Carolina state OES tables.
- Projected NP job growth. 46% projected employment growth from 2023 to 2033 nationally – one of the fastest-growing occupations the BLS tracks.
- AACN 2025 Position Statement. The American Association of Colleges of Nursing reaffirmed the DNP as the preferred terminal degree for advanced practice. BSN-to-DNP and post-master’s DNP pathways continue to be the dominant educational routes for new NPs in South Carolina.
- Telehealth permanence. Federal and state telehealth flexibilities introduced during 2020 have largely been made permanent, expanding remote NP roles across primary care, behavioral health, and chronic disease management.
- PMHNP demand surge. Mental health workforce shortages are particularly acute nationwide; PMHNP-specific job postings have outpaced general NP postings consistently. See our PMHNP career guide.
Some projections predict that the United States will face a shortage of over 120,000 physicians by 2030; 3,230 of these are predicted to be in the state of South Carolina. Currently, 41 counties in the state are designated as health professional shortage areas, meaning there are 3,500 or more patients for every one provider.
Nurse practitioners (NPs) can help step in to fill these gaps. In South Carolina, NPs have restricted practice, which means that they must work under the supervision of a physician. But these collaborative relationships still allow them a lot of autonomy in how they can help their patients.
If you’re interested in becoming an NP, here are some of the programs available in the Palmetto State. There are multiple options available, including doctorate programs.
Program Overview:
Anderson University was founded in 1848 as one of the country’s first institutions of higher learning for women. Today, the College of Health Professions offers a number of programs, including two NP options. Students in these programs can gain hands-on experience in the school’s Center for Medical Simulations to prepare for clinical experiences and their future careers. This simulated hospital uses interactive, cutting-edge technology to simulate various conditions in different types of patients.
Students wishing to pursue advanced degrees at Anderson University have two options, an MSN track and a DNP track. Both hybrid programs allow students to complete most classes remotely while only coming to campus a few times throughout the program. Master’s students attend in-person learning for two or three days a semester to interact with classmates and faculty and learn and practice hands-on skills. This program is 47 credits with 600 clinical hours and can be completed in four semesters.
Students in the DNP program are required to come to campus two to three days a semester at the beginning of the program but this may decrease after the first four semesters. This program is 73 credits with 600 clinical hours and is completed in nine semesters.
Program Overview:
Founded in 1889, Clemson University is located in Upstate South Carolina, about halfway between Atlanta, GA, and Charlotte, NC. The School of Nursing in the College of Behavioral, Social and Health Sciences offers multiple NP programs, including both master’s and doctorate-level degrees. Students here have access to the school’s Clinical Learning and Research Center, which includes the Clinical Learning Laboratory and Simulation Center.
Clemson offers five NP tracks, two MSN programs (FNP and AGNP) and three DNP programs (FNP, AGNP, PNP). All programs are hybrid, with online courses, on-campus requirements, and in-person clinical experiences. Master’s programs are offered through Clemson’s satellite campus in Greenville, on the campus of Prisma Health. DNP tracks are full-time, 74 credit programs with 1,000 clinical hours.
Program Overview:
Francis Marion University was founded in 1970 and is located in Florence in the northeast part of the state, about 80 miles east of Columbia. The school’s Department of Nursing boasts a 100% pass rate and employment rate for recent graduates of its DNP programs.
If you’re interested in becoming a family nurse practitioner, Francis Marion allows you to pursue a doctorate whether you currently hold a BSN or an MSN. The BSN to DNP program has 70 credit hours and 1,080 clinical hours and has online and in-person classes. Hybrid courses require students to be on campus no more than two days a semester. Note that students in this program do not have the option to opt-out and take the FNP certification exam after completing master’s level courses.
The MSN to DNP option is 30 credit hours and a minimum of 360 clinical hours with all classes being online. The program is designed to be completed in one calendar year, but students can work with their faculty advisor to develop a part-time plan of study if necessary.
Program Overview:
The College of Nursing as the Medical University of South Carolina is the country’s second-oldest nursing school. It was founded in 1882, offering a diploma program that was later phased out when it established a bachelor’s program in 1966, expanding to master’s level education options in 1979.
MUSC offers multiple options for nurses who already hold a BSN and wish to become FNPs, AGNPs, or PNPs, more than any other school in the state. MUSC offers MSN and DNP programs in each specialty (FNP, AGNP, and PNP). BSN to MSN tracks are 60 credits and can be completed in two or three years; they offer completely online programs with in-person clinical hours.
DNP programs are also online with in-person clinical. These 76-credit programs can be completed in three or four years or eight to 11 semesters.
Program Overview:
USC was founded in 1801, survived the Civil War, and flourished. In 190, it achieved university status and continued to advance and grow. Today, the College of Nursing offers innovative learning opportunities for students with the opening of the University of South Carolina and Lexington Medical Center’s satellite clinical education building, where future nurses and NPs get hands-on training using cutting-edge technology, including an immersive simulation center, collaboration spaces, and private study spaces. The school’s AGNP program boasts a 100% certification exam pass rate.
USC offers two NP programs for nurses wishing to pursue careers as either FNPs or AGNPs. Both programs are flexible, with online coursework, on-campus immersions, and in-person clinicals. The FNP program consists of 47 credits, 672 clinical hours, and on-campus immersions in the fourth, fifth, and seventh semesters. The AGNP program has 46 credits, 672 clinical hours, and on-campus immersions in the fourth and seventh semesters.
