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Home care staff requirements in South Carolina

South Carolina licenses home health agencies and, separately, non-medical in-home care providers through the Department of Public Health. Both must run a criminal record check before hire, done through SLED or a company using SLED or FBI records with fingerprints sent for a national check, and in-home caregivers must also pass a 5-panel drug test before hire and are subject to random drug testing. In-home caregivers need yearly training on set topics such as first aid and infection control, and home health agency staff need a health assessment and baseline TB testing before patient contact.

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Licenses

Home health agencies are licensed under Regulation 60-77, formerly numbered 61-77 (S.C. Code Regs. 60-77).
In-home care providers, which give non-medical help with daily living activities and personal needs, must get a license from the state (S.C. Code § 44-70-30; S.C. Code § 44-70-20).
Home health agencies and hospices are not in-home care providers (S.C. Code § 44-70-20).
In-home caregivers are limited to non-medical tasks such as bathing, dressing, meal help, transfers, transportation, errands and medication reminders (S.C. Code Regs. 60-122, Section 700).

Background checks

Home health agencies must run a criminal background check on all direct care staff before employing or contracting with them (S.C. Code Regs. 60-77, Section 501; S.C. Code § 44-7-2910).
In-home care providers must run a criminal background check on each caregiver before hire (S.C. Code § 44-70-60; S.C. Code Regs. 60-122, Section 402).
If the applicant's South Carolina residency for the past 12 months can be verified, a state check is required; if not, a state check is required before hire and a federal check must start after hire (S.C. Code § 44-7-2910).
Checks must be done by SLED or a private company that uses SLED or FBI records, and the applicant must give a set of fingerprints for a national check (S.C. Code § 44-7-2920).
The check does not need to be repeated while the person keeps working for a direct care entity, but it must be redone after a gap of one year or longer (S.C. Code § 44-7-2920).
Home health agency staff may not have a conviction or no-contest plea for unlawful conduct toward a child or for abuse, neglect or exploitation of a vulnerable adult (S.C. Code Regs. 60-77, Section 501).
In-home caregivers may not have adverse findings on the Sex Offender Registry or Nurse Aide Registry (S.C. Code Regs. 60-122, Section 405).
In-home caregivers are barred for theft-type or drug offenses within 10 years, abuse, neglect or exploitation of a vulnerable adult, or any violent crime (S.C. Code Regs. 60-122, Section 405).
In-home caregivers must pass a 5-panel drug test (cannabis, cocaine, amphetamines, opiates and PCP), taken no more than 30 days before the job offer, and cannot work as caregivers until the result is negative (S.C. Code § 44-70-60; S.C. Code Regs. 60-122, Section 402).
In-home caregivers are subject to random drug testing under a method the provider picks and writes into its policies (S.C. Code § 44-70-70; S.C. Code Regs. 60-122, Section 402).

Training and competency

In-home caregivers must be trained before client contact and at least yearly in basic first aid, care for the client's specific conditions such as dementia, confidentiality, documentation, ethics, lifting and transfers, infection control, and abuse and neglect prevention (S.C. Code Regs. 60-122, Section 404).
In-home care training records must be signed and dated by the trainer and the trainee, except the trainer signature for computer-based training (S.C. Code Regs. 60-122, Section 404).
Home health agencies must define each position's qualifications and competencies in writing and make sure staff are trained for their duties (S.C. Code Regs. 60-77, Section 501).
Home health aide minimum qualifications and training are set by the agency (S.C. Code Regs. 60-77, Section 101).
Home health agency staff must get yearly TB training covering risk factors and signs and symptoms (S.C. Code Regs. 60-77, Section 1702).

Health screening

Home health agency staff who have patient contact need a documented health assessment within 12 months before first patient contact, including TB testing (S.C. Code Regs. 60-77, Section 504).
Home health agency staff need a baseline two-step TB skin test or a single TB blood test within three months before patient contact, with a single test allowed if there was a negative result in the prior 12 months (S.C. Code Regs. 60-77, Section 1702).
Home health agencies must do a yearly TB risk assessment following CDC guidelines (S.C. Code Regs. 60-77, Section 1702).
In-home caregivers must complete a health self-assessment before first client contact that discloses communicable diseases such as flu, TB and hepatitis, reviewed and signed by a nurse, administrator or hiring staff (S.C. Code Regs. 60-122, Section 406).

Also in the personnel file

In-home caregivers who drive clients need a valid driver's license and proof of insurance, and the provider must check and keep a copy of the official driving record (S.C. Code Regs. 60-122, Section 405).
In-home caregivers must be at least 18, shown by government ID, and able to read, write and communicate with the client and supervisor (S.C. Code Regs. 60-122, Section 405).
In-home care providers must keep staff records with address, phone, training, all drug test results, criminal background checks and health self-assessments (S.C. Code Regs. 60-122, Section 403).
Home health agencies must keep each staff member's name and contact details, hire date, date of first patient contact, past jobs and education, license or credentials, and a signed job description (S.C. Code Regs. 60-77, Section 501).
Home health agencies must keep non-patient documentation for at least 12 months or since the last inspection, whichever is longer (S.C. Code Regs. 60-77, Section 702).

Common questions

What background checks do home care aides need in South Carolina?

Home health agencies must run a criminal background check on all direct care staff before employing or contracting with them (S.C. Code Regs. 60-77, Section 501; S.C. Code § 44-7-2910).

How much training do home care aides need in South Carolina?

In-home caregivers must be trained before client contact and at least yearly in basic first aid, care for the client's specific conditions such as dementia, confidentiality, documentation, ethics, lifting and transfers, infection control, and abuse and neglect prevention (S.C. Code Regs. 60-122, Section 404).

Do home care workers in South Carolina need a TB test?

Home health agency staff who have patient contact need a documented health assessment within 12 months before first patient contact, including TB testing (S.C. Code Regs. 60-77, Section 504).

Which license does a home care agency need in South Carolina?

Home health agencies are licensed under Regulation 60-77, formerly numbered 61-77 (S.C. Code Regs. 60-77).

Some rules for South Carolina weren't confirmed from an official source. Check with the state before relying on this page.

Sources

This page summarizes state licensing rules in plain words, with links to the rules themselves. It is not legal advice, rules change, and your license type decides what applies: check the linked source and your licensing agency. Medicare-certified home health agencies also follow 42 CFR 484.80. Checked October 2026.

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