Expiration Dates

New MD/DO/EMS Applicants

All MD, DO and EMS registrations expire annually on October 1. New applications processed prior to July 1 expire on October 1 of the same year. New applications processed after July 1 expire on October 1 of the following year. You may submit your application and request that it be held for processing until after July 1 if you plan to begin practice in South Carolina after that date.

All Other New Applicants

Applications processed prior to January 1 expire on April 1 of the coming year. Applications processed after January 1 will expire on April 1 of the following year. You may submit your application and request that it be held for processing until after January 1 if you plan to begin practice in South Carolina after that date.

Forms

Renewal Applications: If you are attempting to renew an "active" (not expired) SC Controlled Substances Registration, please use the renewal application. Do NOT use the applications listed below as they are for initial registrations or reinstatement of expired registrations only.

If you have questions, please contact our office at (803) 896-0636.

What If My Registration Expires?

The registration of a registrant who fails to renew by April 1 or October 1, whichever is applicable, is canceled.

In order to reinstate an expired registration, a new application must be submitted with a payment of the registration fee plus a $100 penalty fee. Visit DPH's New Registrations page. All applications must be submitted via regular US Postal mail to the Bureau of Financial Management. Processing time is approximately 12-15 business days.

Providers are not authorized to prescribe, administer, possess or dispense controlled substances until their SC Controlled Substances Registration is reinstated.

Forms available in downloadable printable pdf format

DPH Form 1174A (pdf) - Pharmacy (Includes In-State, Non-Resident and Mail Order), Practitioner (including APRN & PA-C), Health Clinic, EMS/Rescue Squad, Animal Control/Shelter, and Humane Society.

• When you submit your application form, you must attach a copy of your South Carolina professional license (Limited, Temporary or Permanent), or a copy of the letter from the South Carolina Department of Labor Licensing and Regulation stating your licensure.
• A copy of the SC Board of Pharmacy permit, if applicable.
• Non-Resident and Mail Order Pharmacies who dispense controlled substances into the state of South Carolina are required to obtain a South Carolina Controlled Substances Registration with the Bureau of Drug Control per S.C. Code Ann. § 44-53-290(a).

Business Activities Listed Below Require the Signature of the Following as the Applicant

• Animal Control/Shelter/Humane Society - Director or appropriate government official
• EMS/Rescue Squad - Medical Control Physician
• Health Clinic - Medical Director
• DPH Form 1026 (PDF) - Non-Practitioner Controlled Substances Application
• Non-Resident Manufacturers and Distributors who dispense controlled substances into the state of South Carolina are required to obtain a South Carolina Controlled Substances Registration with the Bureau of Drug Control per S.C. Code Ann. § 44-53-290(a).
  • New Application for Canine Registration:
    The Sheriff or Chief of the law enforcement agency will need to sign the application as the applicant/authorized individual responsible for the registration. When you return the application, please provide a written protocol for the continued training of the dog.
    The protocol should include the following:
    1. The canine handler's name(s), qualifications and training experience.
    2. The purpose of the training.
    3. A list of the drugs and the estimated quantities needed for the training.
    4. Where the training will be conducted and how the drugs will be packaged during the training.
    5. Security and storage of the drugs when they are not being used.
    6. Names of the employees that will have access to the drugs.

When we receive the application and written protocol, an inspector from this office will contact you to schedule an inspection, prior to issuance of the registration.

• DPH Form 1026 (PDF) - Health Clinic.
• The application should be signed by the practitioner that is the Medical Director of the facility.
• Submit a copy of or verification of the SC Board of Pharmacy Permit.

Special Requirements

• Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) Applicants
  To apply for authorization to prescribe Schedule II-V substances, submit:
  • DPH Form 1174A (PDF)
  • A copy of or verification of your APRN license which reflects Prescriptive Authority.
• Physician Assistant Applicants
  To apply for authorization to prescribe Schedule II-V substances, submit:
  • DPH Form 1174A (PDF)
  • A copy of or verification of your Physician Assistant license.
• Researcher Applicants 
  To apply, submit:
  • DPH Form 1026 (PDF)
  • A research protocol

Upon receipt of the application payment and protocol, one of our inspectors will contact you to schedule a pre-inspection.

• Hospital, Manufacturer, Distributor, Importer, Exporter Applicants
  • Obtain the required permits from the S.C. Board of Pharmacy prior to applying for the S.C. Controlled Substances registration
  • Submit DPH Form 1026 (PDF)
  • Submit a copy of your S.C. Pharmacy permit
• Narcotic Treatment Program Applicants
  • Submit DPH Form 1198. A practitioner who wants to use Schedule II narcotic drugs for maintenance and/or detoxification must obtain a separate registration from DPH and DEA as a Narcotic Treatment Program pursuant to the Narcotic Addict Treatment Act of 1974. This registration allows a practitioner to administer or dispense, but not prescribe, scheduled narcotic drugs that are approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of narcotic addiction.
• Federal Fee-Exempt Applicants
  • Practitioners who are based on military installations, or federal hospital facilities, providing health care on behalf of the federal government, who issue prescriptions for controlled substances which are to be dispensed from non-governmental pharmacies or dispensaries, shall register with DPH prior to issuing such prescriptions. These practitioners who register annually with DPH are granted an exemption to the fee requirement, provided that the request for exemption to the fee requirement is filed in writing, on federal agency letterhead, with DPH's Bureau of Drug Control director. The written request must contain a military picture ID of the requestor, as well as documentation of the name and location of the military installation or hospital facility where the practitioner is located.
    
    If any official exempted by this section also engages as a private individual in any activity or group of activities for which registration is required, such official shall obtain a "Fee Paid" registration for such private activities.
• Out-of-State Dental Residents
  • To obtain a copy of the Certifications page For Limited Controlled Substances Registration, please click on the linked form that applies to you:
    • For participants in the Prisma Health Richland Residency program please download and complete this form: Dental Resident Out of State - PHR.
      • After completing the Certification (Part I, II and III) first, you can send the completed PHR Application for Limited Controlled Substances Registration Dental Resident.
    • For participants in the Medical University of South Carolina Residency program please download and complete this form: Dental Resident Out of State - MUSC. 
      • After completing the Certification (Part I, II and III) first, you can send the completed MUSC Application for Limited Controlled Substances Registration Dental Resident.

DEA Registrations, Transfers

Federal DEA applications are available on the DEA Web site at http://www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov.

If you currently have a federal DEA registration, you may transfer your registration by going to the U.S. DEA website and completing an address change request after first obtaining a South Carolina Controlled Substances Registration. (The addresses on the DEA and South Carolina registrations must match.)

• Processing Times 
  Processing time can take up to 2 weeks, depending upon the completeness of the application. During high volume months (typically, June, July and August), processing time can take up to 3 weeks. Applications are processed in the order received.
• Checking on the Status of Your Application
  To find out if your application has been processed, call our office at (803) 896-4426 or access our Verification of S.C. Controlled Substances Registration link to check on the status of your application.
• Separate Registrations Required for Separate Locations?
  Separate registrations are required for each location where controlled substances are stored.

For questions, contact us at 803-896-0636.