State Licensure Eligibility

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Associate Degree Nursing and Practical Nursing Diploma

Piedmont Technical College’s Associate Degree Nursing and Practical Nursing Diploma programs prepare graduates to take the NCLEX-RN and NCLEX-PN exams in order to become licensed to practice as a ADN or PN in SC. South Carolina is a member of a multi-state licensure compact (https://www.ncsbn.org/nurse-licensure-compact.htm). The states included in the compact are:

  • Alabama
  • Arizona
  • Arkansas
  • Colorado
  • Delaware
  • Florida
  • Georgia
  • Guam*
  • Idaho
  • Indiana
  • Iowa
  • Kansas
  • Kentucky
  • Louisiana
  • Maine
  • Maryland
  • Mississippi
  • Missouri
  • Montana
  • Nebraska
  • New Hampshire
  • New Jersey*
  • New Mexico
  • North Carolina
  • North Dakota
  • Ohio**
  • Oklahoma
  • Pennsylvania**
  • South Carolina
  • South Dakota
  • Tennessee
  • Texas
  • Utah
  • Vermont**
  • Virginia
  • West Virginia
  • Wisconsin
  • Wyoming

*  Indicates partial implementation
**  Indicates enactment, waiting for implementation
California, Illinois, Massachusetts, Michigan, Rhode Island and the Virgin Islands have pending NLC legislation.

In order to apply for a multi-state nursing license, a nursing graduate must meet the following criteria:

  • reside in an NLC state, and you must declare an NLC state as your primary state of residency.
  • be actively licensed as a registered nurse (RN) or licensed professional nurse (LPN)/licensed vocational nurse (LVN).
  • meet any requirements for licensure held by your home state, though when practicing, you will also be held to the standards of the state where the patient or practice is located.

It not determined if PTC PN or ADN graduates are prepared to take licensure exams in AK, CA, CT, HI, IL, MI, MN, NV, NJ (partial), NY, OH, OR, PA, RI, VT, & WA. Information on state licensure requirements is available at https://nursinglicensemap.com/states/.

Occupational Therapy Assistant

ACOTE® accredited occupational therapy and occupational therapy assistant educational programs satisfy the states’ educational requirements in all states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. Students graduating from an ACOTE® accredited occupational therapy and occupational therapy assistant educational program are eligible to take the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) certification exam and apply for licensure in all states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. For more information regarding state qualifications and licensure requirements, please refer to the AOTA State Licensure webpage.

Patient Care Technician Certificate

Graduates of the PCT program at Piedmont Technical College are eligible to take the National Certified Patient Care Technician (NCPCT), the National Certified Phlebotomy Technician (NCPT), and the National Electrocardiography (NCEKG) exam. PCT graduates who earn passing scores on these examinations are eligible to apply for licensure or certification in all states within the US except California. For the requirements in California, see https://www.ncctinc.com/certifications/pt or https://www.ncctinc.com/certifications/pct.

A.A.S., Radiologic Technology

Graduates of the A.A.S., Radiologic Technology program at Piedmont Technical College are eligible to take the ARRT (American Registry of Radiologic Technologist) certification exam.   All 50 states require a passing score on the ARRT (American Registry of Radiologic Technologist) certification exam. Forty-four states require state licensure. It is unknown whether the A.A.S., Radiology Technology prepares students to apply for licensure in states other than SC. For individual state licensure requirements, please visit https://www.asrt.org/main/standards-and-regulations/legislation-regulations-and-advocacy/individual-state-licensure.

A.A.S., Respiratory Care

Graduates of the A.A.S., Respiratory Care program at Piedmont Technical College are eligible to take the National Board for Respiratory Care Therapist Multiple Choice Exams. SC allows new graduates to obtain a limited licensure while sitting for board exams. Some states require a Certified Respiratory Therapist (CRT) credential to apply for a state licensure and a few states require the higher level of credentialing (Registered respiratory therapist or RRT). It is unknown whether PTC’s A.A.S., Respiratory Care meets the eligibility requirements for licensure in states other than South Carolina. PTC Respiratory Care graduates are prepared for both the entry level, CRT and the advanced level, RRT exams. Program applicants who are located outside of SC should consult with the state licensing agency in the state where they are located to determine state licensure requirements. State licensing contacts are available at https://www.aarc.org/advocacy/state-society-resources/state-licensure-contacts/.

A.A.S., Surgical Technology and Surgical Technology Diploma

Surgical Technology Diploma and A.A.S., General Technology, Surgical Technology graduates are eligible to take the Certified Surgical Technologist (CST) exam. Upon earning a passing score on this exam, graduates are eligible to work as surgical technologists in all 50 states in the US.

A.A.S., Veterinary Technology

Piedmont Technical College’s Veterinary Technology program is AVMA-accredited. Veterinary Technology graduates are eligible to take the Veterinary Technician National Examination (VTNE). Graduates who earn passing scores on the VTNE are eligible to apply for licensure in all 50 states in the US.  Some states have additional requirements that must be met to obtain licensure.  Please consult https://www.aavsb.org/public-resources/find-regulatory-board-information/ for additional information regarding state licensure requirements for veterinary technicians

EMT/Fire Science/Paramedic Certificates

Graduates of the Emergency Medical Technician, Fire Science, and Paramedic Certificates and of the A.A.S., General Technology, Paramedic are eligible to apply for licensure or certification in SC. Graduates of the Emergency Medical Technician, Fire Science, and Paramedic Certificates are eligible to apply for licensure or certification in SC. Graduates or prospective EMS personnel must take and pass either the EMR, AEMT, or paramedic exams. Upon passing with a satisfactory score, EMTs will be nationally-registered as up-to-date on all training related to the sphere of the EMT. Once a passing score is earned on the required exam, the graduate must apply for and gain certification at the state level to be eligible to work on an emergency medical team in that state. Each state requires its own certification.

In addition to national certification, an individual’s state of residence or location may have its own certification examinations, registration and/or licensing requirements. States may recognize components of the national exam for some of these purposes. However, they may have additional requirements for specializations or alternate emergency medical personnel.

 It is unknown whether graduates of these programs at PTC are eligible to sit for licensure or certification in states other than SC and GA. For information about state licensing requirements visit https://www.nremt.org/rwd/public/states/state-ems-agencies

A.A.S., Funeral Service

Graduates of the A.A.S., Funeral Service program are eligible to take the National Board Exam (NBE) for Funeral Service. Graduates who earn passing score on the NBE are eligible to apply for licensure in Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina. It is unknown whether program completion and/or passing NBE scores meet eligibility to apply for licensure in other states. Please see https://www.nfda.org/careers/licensing-requirements to determine licensure eligibility requirements by state.

Funeral Director’s Certificate

Graduates of the Funeral Director’s Certificate are not eligible to take the National Board Exam for Funeral Service.  Graduates are eligible to apply for licensure as a funeral director in South Carolina. It is unknown whether the program meets eligibility requirements for licensure as a funeral director in other states. Please see https://www.nfda.org/careers/licensing-requirements to determine licensure eligibility requirements by state.

Embalmer’s Certificate

Graduates of the Embalmer’s Certificate are not eligible to take the National Board Exam for Funeral Service. Graduates are eligible to apply for licensure as an embalmer in South Carolina. It is unknown whether the program meets eligibility requirements for licensure as an embalmer in other states. Please see https://www.nfda.org/careers/licensing-requirements to determine licensure eligibility requirements by state.

A.A.S., AOT, Medical Coding and Billing

Licensure is required for individuals to obtain employment in the medical coding/billing field. Students enrolled in the A.A.S., AOT, Medical Coding and Billing concentration at Piedmont Tech take the Certified Professional Coder (CPC) certification exam during their last semester of study. Students, who earn a passing score on the exam, can obtain a license to practice in the coding/billing field. The CPC certification exam is a national exam; students who pass the exam obtain certification as professional medical coders/billers in all states in the U.S.

Medical Assisting Diploma

Graduates of the Medical Assisting Diploma  and A.A.S., General Technology, Medical Assisting programs are eligible to complete the Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) exam. Graduates of the Medical Assisting Diploma program are eligible to complete the Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) exam. Graduates who earn a passing score on the CMA exam may apply for certification as medical assistants in all states in the US.

Pharmacy Technician

Piedmont Technical College’s Pharmacy Technology program is ASHP-accredited. Pharmacy Technology graduates are eligible to take the Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam (PTCE) administered by the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB). Graduates who earn passing scores immediately possess the title of Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT). PTCB certification is recognized in all 50 states.  Some states have additional requirements that must be met to obtain additional credentials.  South Carolina pharmacy technicians can obtain “State-Certified” status. In order to obtain this status, students must graduate from an ASHP-accredited program, obtain PTCB certification, and have 1000 hours of work experience in a pharmacy. The states where passing the PCTB is sufficient for Pharmacy Technician certification are: AL, AK, AR, CA, CO, CT, DE, FL, GA, HI, ID, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MS, MO, MT, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OK, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, VT, VA, WV, & WI. It is undetermined if passing the PCTB is sufficient for Pharmacy Technician certification in AZ, IL, OR, UT, WA, or WY.

Automotive Technology

Section 609 EPA Certification is a federal certification available to Automotive Technology students. The certification is recognized in all 50 states.

Updated 8/3/2022