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California vs South Carolina for RN Licensing

Total Fees
$549
CA
vs
$350
SC
Timeline
10-12 wks
CA
vs
2-4 wks
SC
Renewal Fee
$190
CA
vs
$95
SC

Side-by-Side Comparison

Category California South Carolina
Total Fees $549 $350
Application Fee $300 $100
Exam Fee $200 $200
Processing Time 10-12 weeks 2-4 weeks
Renewal Cycle 2 years 2 years
Renewal Fee $190 $95
CE Hours 30 hrs 30 hrs
NLC Compact Member No Yes

Key Differences

Cost

South Carolina is $199 cheaper for initial licensing fees.

Winner: South Carolina

Processing Speed

South Carolina processes applications in 2-4 weeks.

Winner: South Carolina

NLC Compact

South Carolina is an NLC compact state, allowing practice in 40+ states with one license.

Winner: South Carolina

Renewal Cost

South Carolina has lower renewal fees at $95 per cycle.

Winner: South Carolina

Category Winners

Lower Cost
South Carolina $350
vs California ($549)
Faster Processing
South Carolina 2-4 wks
vs California (10-12 wks)
Cheaper Renewal
South Carolina $95
vs California ($190)

California Board

California Board of Registered Nursing

Official Website →

South Carolina Board

South Carolina Board of Nursing

Official Website →

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