Does a med spa have to register or hold a license in South Carolina?
Facility · part of The Practice Perimeter
South Carolina’s cosmetology chapter states that Article 1, Chapter 1 applies to cosmetologists, nail technicians and estheticians regulated by the Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation. The salon-practice provision quoted alongside it authorizes practice in a registered salon for persons registered as a barber or master hair care specialist. Neither provision addresses the setting in which an esthetician may work, and neither addresses med-spa or medical facility registration — those remain open questions we do not answer for this state. The PRICE is on the Board’s published schedule: a salon costs $100 to apply and $72 to renew, a booth renter the same, a school $300 and $122; an esthetician, nail technician or registered cosmetologist pays $45 by examination or $60 by endorsement and $52 to renew; initial and reinstatement applications require an inspection.
Drawn from 8 verified rules in this section · regulatory monitoring, not legal advice
- S.C. Code §40-13-5 (Application of chapter) · Sep 3, 2026
- S.C. Code §40-13-5 (Application of chapter) · Sep 3, 2026
- S.C. Code §40-13-40(A) (Authorization to practice in registered salons) · Sep 3, 2026
- S.C. Code §40-43-30(39) (definition of “Outsourcing facility” — added by 2024 Act No. 132, the supply route for non-patient-specific compounded stock) · Sep 7, 2026
- S.C. Code §40-43-30(8) (definition of “Compounding” — patient-specific on its face, and NOT for sale or dispensing) · Sep 7, 2026
- S.C. Code §40-43-30(8) (⛔ the anticipatory limb — stock ahead of the prescription is bounded by OBSERVED prescribing) · Sep 7, 2026
- S.C. Code §40-43-30(8) (⛔ what compounding is NOT — reconstituting per the manufacturer’s own labeling) · Sep 7, 2026
- South Carolina Board of Cosmetology — Fees (LLR published schedule) · Sep 7, 2026
The rest of what South Carolina says on this
Every other rule we have verified under med-spa registration & licensing, each linked to its primary source.
Unless otherwise provided for in this chapter, Article 1, Chapter 1 applies to cosmetologists, nail technicians, and estheticians regulated or administered, or both, by the Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation.
S.C. Code §40-13-5 (Application of chapter) · verified Sep 3, 2026
A person registered as a barber or master hair care specialist pursuant to the requirements of Chapter 7 of this title may practice within the scope authorized by the person’s license in a salon registered in accordance with this chapter.
S.C. Code §40-13-40(A) (Authorization to practice in registered salons) · verified Sep 3, 2026
"Outsourcing facility" means a facility registered with the United States Food and Drug Administration to operate under Section 503B of the federal Food and Cosmetic Act.
S.C. Code §40-43-30(39) (definition of “Outsourcing facility” — added by 2024 Act No. 132, the supply route for non-patient-specific compounded stock) · verified Sep 7, 2026
"Compounding" (sterile and nonsterile) means the preparation, propagation, conversion, or processing of a drug or device, either directly or indirectly, by extraction from substances of natural origin or independently by means of chemical or biological synthesis, or the preparation, mixing, assembling, packaging, or labeling of a drug or device as the result of a practitioner's prescription drug order or initiative based on the practitioner/patient/pharmacist relationship in the course of professional practice, or for the purpose of, or as an incident to, research, teaching, or chemical analysis and not for sale or dispensing.
S.C. Code §40-43-30(8) (definition of “Compounding” — patient-specific on its face, and NOT for sale or dispensing) · verified Sep 7, 2026
Compounding also includes the preparation of drugs or devices in anticipation of prescription drug orders based on routine, regularly observed prescribing patterns.
S.C. Code §40-43-30(8) (⛔ the anticipatory limb — stock ahead of the prescription is bounded by OBSERVED prescribing) · verified Sep 7, 2026
The term "nonsterile compounding" does not include mixing, reconstituting, or other such acts that are performed in accordance with directions contained in approved labeling provided by the product's manufacturer and other manufacturer directions consistent with that labeling. The term "sterile compounding" does not include mixing, reconstituting, or other such acts with nonhazardous agents that are performed in accordance with directions contained in approved labeling provided by the product's manufacturer for immediate use.
S.C. Code §40-43-30(8) (⛔ what compounding is NOT — reconstituting per the manufacturer’s own labeling) · verified Sep 7, 2026
The Board of Cosmetology’s published fee schedule: License Type Examination Endorsement Renewal Reinstatement Registered Cosmetologist $45 $60 $52 $152 Nail Technician $45 $60 $52 $152 Esthetician $45 $60 $52 $152 License Type Initial Application Fee Renewal Fee Reinstatement Fee Salon $100 $72 #122 Booth Renter $100 $72 #122 School $300 $122 $172 Initial applications and reinstatements applications require an inspection.
South Carolina Board of Cosmetology — Fees (LLR published schedule) · verified Sep 7, 2026
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