1. (A) A person desiring to be licensed as a genetic counselor under this chapter shall apply to the department on a form approved by the board.

2. (B) The board shall license an applicant who:

   1. (1) has completed the application form and remitted the required fees;
   2. (2) is of good moral character;

   3. (3) provides satisfactory documentation of having earned:

      1. (a) a master's degree from a genetic counseling training program accredited by the ACGC or an equivalent program as determined by the board; and
      2. (b) ABGC certification.

3. (C) The board may issue a limited license to a limited licensee applicant who meets all of the requirements for licensure except the certification requirement in this section and has obtained active candidate status establishing eligibility to sit for the certification examination administered by the ABGC or ACGC. A limited license shall expire automatically upon the earliest of:

   1. (1) issuance of a full license;
   2. (2) thirty days after the applicant fails to pass the certification examination; or
   3. (3) one year from the date the limited license was issued.
4. (D) An applicant may be licensed pursuant to this chapter if he demonstrates to the satisfaction of the board that he is licensed or registered under the laws of another state, territory, or jurisdiction of the United States which, in the opinion of the board, imposes substantially the same licensing requirements as this chapter.

5. (E) The board shall not issue a permanent license to a licensed or registered genetic counselor of another state or territory of the United States:

   1. (1) whose license is currently revoked, suspended, restricted in any way, or on probationary status in that state or territory; or
   2. (2) who currently has a disciplinary action pending in another state or territory.

HISTORY: 2024 Act No. 187 (S.241), Section 1, eff May 21, 2024.

Editor's Note

2024 Act No. 187, Section 3, provides as follows:

"SECTION 3. The initial license fee is six hundred dollars. The license fee is subject to change in regulation in accordance with the provisions of Section 40-1-50, as added to the S.C. Code by this act. The department may establish and adjust application fees, license renewal fees, late fees, reinstatement fees, and other related fees in regulation. The department shall only establish fees at levels which are adequate to ensure the continued operation of the regulatory program established in this act and may not set or maintain fees that substantially exceed this need."