---
type: "Bill"
title: "AN ACT TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 40-75-225 SO AS TO PROVIDE CRITERIA FOR LICENSURE AS AN ADDICTION COUNSELOR; TO AMEND SECTION 40-75-5, RELATING TO CERTAIN PROVISIONS GENERALLY APPLICABLE TO BOARD REGULATION OF PROFESSIONS AND OCCUPATIONS, SO AS TO INCLUDE ADDICTION COUNSELORS; TO AMEND SECTION 40-75-10, RELATING TO THE BOARD OF EXAMINERS FOR LICENSURE OF PROFESSIONAL COUNSELORS, MARRIAGE AND FAMILY THERAPISTS, AND PSYCHO-EDUCATIONAL SPECIALISTS, SO AS TO INCLUDE ADDICTION COUNSELORS; TO AMEND SECTION 40-75-20, RELATING TO DEFINITIONS, SO AS TO MAKE REVISIONS; TO AMEND SECTION 40-75-30, RELATING TO THE REQUIREMENT OF LICENSURE BY THE BOARD TO PRACTICE CERTAIN PROFESSIONS, SO AS TO INCLUDE ADDICTION COUNSELORS; TO AMEND SECTION 40-75-50, RELATING TO THE BOARD, SO AS TO REMOVE DUTIES CONCERNING THE ESTABLISHMENT AND FUNCTION OF STANDARDS COMMITTEES; TO AMEND SECTION 40-75-110, RELATING TO DISCIPLINARY PROCEEDINGS CONCERNING BOARD LICENSEES, SO AS TO INCLUDE ADDICTION COUNSELORS; TO AMEND SECTION 40-75-190, RELATING TO CONFIDENTIALITY OF CLIENT COMMUNICATIONS BY LICENSEES, SO AS TO INCLUDE ADDICTION COUNSELORS AND TO REVISE EXCEPTIONS; TO AMEND SECTION 40-75-220, RELATING TO REQUIREMENTS FOR PROFESSIONAL COUNSELOR LICENSURE AND FAMILY AND MARRIAGE THERAPIST LICENSURE, SO AS TO REVISE THOSE REQUIREMENTS AND PROVIDE ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS FOR ADDICTION COUNSELOR LICENSURE; TO AMEND SECTION 40-75-230, RELATING TO REQUIREMENTS FOR PROFESSIONAL COUNSELOR SUPERVISOR LICENSURE AND FAMILY AND MARRIAGE THERAPIST SUPERVISOR LICENSURE, SO AS TO MAKE THOSE REQUIREMENTS APPLICABLE TO ADDICTION COUNSELOR SUPERVISOR LICENSURE; TO AMEND SECTION 40-75-240, RELATING TO INTERN LICENSES, SO AS TO REPLACE THE TERM \"INTERN\" WITH \"ASSOCIATE\" AND TO INCLUDE ADDICTION COUNSELOR ASSOCIATES; TO AMEND SECTION 40-75-250, RELATING TO THE ISSUANCE OF DISPLAY OF LICENSES ISSUED BY THE BOARD, SO AS TO INCLUDE ADDICTION COUNSELOR LICENSES AND ADDICTION COUNSELOR ASSOCIATE LICENSES; TO AMEND SECTION 40-75-260, RELATING TO RECIPROCITY AGREEMENTS WITH OTHER STATES, SO AS TO INCLUDE ADDICTION COUNSELOR CREDENTIALS; TO AMEND SECTION 40-75-285, RELATING TO THE APPLICABILITY OF ARTICLE 1, CHAPTER 75, TITLE 40, SO AS TO INCLUDE ADDICTION COUNSELORS; AND TO AMEND SECTION 40-75-290, RELATING TO PERSONS NOT APPLICABLE TO ARTICLE 1, CHAPTER 75, TITLE 40, SO AS TO REMOVE PROVISIONS CONCERNING CERTAIN ADDICTION COUNSELORS; TO REDESIGNATE CHAPTER 75, TITLE 40 AS \"PROFESSIONAL COUNSELORS, MARRIAGE AND FAMILY THERAPISTS, ADDICTION COUNSELORS, AND PSYCHO-EDUCATIONAL SPECIALISTS\", AND TO REDESIGNATE ARTICLE 1, CHAPTER 75, TITLE 40 AS \"PROFESSIONAL COUNSELORS, MARRIAGE AND FAMILY THERAPISTS, AND ADDICTION COUNSELORS\"; AND TO REPEAL SECTION 40-75-300 RELATING TO LICENSURE FOR DRUG AND ALCOHOL COUNSELORS. - ratified title"
description: "AN ACT TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 40-75-225 SO AS TO PROVIDE CRITERIA FOR LICENSURE AS AN ADDICTION COUNSELOR; TO AMEND SECTION 40-75-5, RELATING TO CERTAIN PROVISIONS GENERALLY APPLICABLE TO BOARD REGULATION OF PROFESSIONS AND OCCUPATIONS, SO AS TO INCLUDE ADDICTION COUNSELORS; TO AMEND SECTION 40-75-10, RELATING TO THE BOARD OF EXAMINERS FOR LICENSURE OF PROFESSIONAL COUNSELORS, MARRIAGE AND FAMILY THERAPISTS, AND PSYCHO-EDUCATIONAL SPECIALISTS, SO AS TO INCLUDE ADDICTION COUNSELORS; TO AMEND SECTION 40-75-20, RELATING TO DEFINITIONS, SO AS TO MAKE REVISIONS; TO AMEND SECTION 40-75-30, RELATING TO THE REQUIREMENT OF LICENSURE BY THE BOARD TO PRACTICE CERTAIN PROFESSIONS, SO AS TO INCLUDE ADDICTION COUNSELORS; TO AMEND SECTION 40-75-50, RELATING TO THE BOARD, SO AS TO REMOVE DUTIES CONCERNING THE ESTABLISHMENT AND FUNCTION OF STANDARDS COMMITTEES; TO AMEND SECTION 40-75-110, RELATING TO DISCIPLINARY PROCEEDINGS CONCERNING BOARD LICENSEES, SO AS TO INCLUDE ADDICTION COUNSELORS; TO AMEND SECTION 40-75-190, RELATING TO CONFIDENTIALITY OF CLIENT COMMUNICATIONS BY LICENSEES, SO AS TO INCLUDE ADDICTION COUNSELORS AND TO REVISE EXCEPTIONS; TO AMEND SECTION 40-75-220, RELATING TO REQUIREMENTS FOR PROFESSIONAL COUNSELOR LICENSURE AND FAMILY AND MARRIAGE THERAPIST LICENSURE, SO AS TO REVISE THOSE REQUIREMENTS AND PROVIDE ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS FOR ADDICTION COUNSELOR LICENSURE; TO AMEND SECTION 40-75-230, RELATING TO REQUIREMENTS FOR PROFESSIONAL COUNSELOR SUPERVISOR LICENSURE AND FAMILY AND MARRIAGE THERAPIST SUPERVISOR LICENSURE, SO AS TO MAKE THOSE REQUIREMENTS APPLICABLE TO ADDICTION COUNSELOR SUPERVISOR LICENSURE; TO AMEND SECTION 40-75-240, RELATING TO INTERN LICENSES, SO AS TO REPLACE THE TERM \"INTERN\" WITH \"ASSOCIATE\" AND TO INCLUDE ADDICTION COUNSELOR ASSOCIATES; TO AMEND SECTION 40-75-250, RELATING TO THE ISSUANCE OF DISPLAY OF LICENSES ISSUED BY THE BOARD, SO AS TO INCLUDE ADDICTION COUNSELOR LICENSES AND ADDICTION COUNSELOR ASSOCIATE LICENSES; TO AMEND SECTION 40-75-260, RELATING TO RECIPROCITY AGREEMENTS WITH OTHER STATES, SO AS TO INCLUDE ADDICTION COUNSELOR CREDENTIALS; TO AMEND SECTION 40-75-285, RELATING TO THE APPLICABILITY OF ARTICLE 1, CHAPTER 75, TITLE 40, SO AS TO INCLUDE ADDICTION COUNSELORS; AND TO AMEND SECTION 40-75-290, RELATING TO PERSONS NOT APPLICABLE TO ARTICLE 1, CHAPTER 75, TITLE 40, SO AS TO REMOVE PROVISIONS CONCERNING CERTAIN ADDICTION COUNSELORS; TO REDESIGNATE CHAPTER 75, TITLE 40 AS \"PROFESSIONAL COUNSELORS, MARRIAGE AND FAMILY THERAPISTS, ADDICTION COUNSELORS, AND PSYCHO-EDUCATIONAL SPECIALISTS\", AND TO REDESIGNATE ARTICLE 1, CHAPTER 75, TITLE 40 AS \"PROFESSIONAL COUNSELORS, MARRIAGE AND FAMILY THERAPISTS, AND ADDICTION COUNSELORS\"; AND TO REPEAL SECTION 40-75-300 RELATING TO LICENSURE FOR DRUG AND ALCOHOL COUNSELORS. - ratified title"
jurisdiction: "us/states/sc"
legislature: "South Carolina General Assembly"
session: "2017-2018"
identifier: "H 4601"
citation: "South Carolina H 4601 (2017-2018)"
classification: ["bill"]
subjects: []
status: "enacted"
primary_sponsors: ["Alexander", "Atwater", "Bedingfield", "Dillard", "Douglas", "Erickson", "Fry", "Henderson", "Hewitt", "Huggins", "Norrell", "Ridgeway", "Rutherford", "Spires", "Weeks", "West"]
version_count: 7
action_count: 21
vote_count: 2
first_action: "2018-01-10"
last_action: "2018-05-31"
source: "openstates"
source_identifier: "ocd-bill/55d2f854-0e7c-4515-87d0-c63c611293fc"
source_url: "http://www.scstatehouse.gov/billsearch.php?billnumbers=4601&session=122&summary=B"
source_hash: "8840526221cf49a472efce845e2ba7b942dfe3e80191a98dc6a8c23831178d15"
vintage: "2026-07-01"
source_snapshot: "https://data.openstates.org/daily/2026-07-01/public.pgdump"
retrieved_at: "2026-07-06"
confidence: "reported"
tags: ["legislation", "bill", "us-sc"]
---

# South Carolina H 4601 (2017-2018) — AN ACT TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 40-75-225 SO AS TO PROVIDE CRITERIA FOR LICENSURE AS AN ADDICTION COUNSELOR; TO AMEND SECTION 40-75-5, RELATING TO CERTAIN PROVISIONS GENERALLY APPLICABLE TO BOARD REGULATION OF PROFESSIONS AND OCCUPATIONS, SO AS TO INCLUDE ADDICTION COUNSELORS; TO AMEND SECTION 40-75-10, RELATING TO THE BOARD OF EXAMINERS FOR LICENSURE OF PROFESSIONAL COUNSELORS, MARRIAGE AND FAMILY THERAPISTS, AND PSYCHO-EDUCATIONAL SPECIALISTS, SO AS TO INCLUDE ADDICTION COUNSELORS; TO AMEND SECTION 40-75-20, RELATING TO DEFINITIONS, SO AS TO MAKE REVISIONS; TO AMEND SECTION 40-75-30, RELATING TO THE REQUIREMENT OF LICENSURE BY THE BOARD TO PRACTICE CERTAIN PROFESSIONS, SO AS TO INCLUDE ADDICTION COUNSELORS; TO AMEND SECTION 40-75-50, RELATING TO THE BOARD, SO AS TO REMOVE DUTIES CONCERNING THE ESTABLISHMENT AND FUNCTION OF STANDARDS COMMITTEES; TO AMEND SECTION 40-75-110, RELATING TO DISCIPLINARY PROCEEDINGS CONCERNING BOARD LICENSEES, SO AS TO INCLUDE ADDICTION COUNSELORS; TO AMEND SECTION 40-75-190, RELATING TO CONFIDENTIALITY OF CLIENT COMMUNICATIONS BY LICENSEES, SO AS TO INCLUDE ADDICTION COUNSELORS AND TO REVISE EXCEPTIONS; TO AMEND SECTION 40-75-220, RELATING TO REQUIREMENTS FOR PROFESSIONAL COUNSELOR LICENSURE AND FAMILY AND MARRIAGE THERAPIST LICENSURE, SO AS TO REVISE THOSE REQUIREMENTS AND PROVIDE ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS FOR ADDICTION COUNSELOR LICENSURE; TO AMEND SECTION 40-75-230, RELATING TO REQUIREMENTS FOR PROFESSIONAL COUNSELOR SUPERVISOR LICENSURE AND FAMILY AND MARRIAGE THERAPIST SUPERVISOR LICENSURE, SO AS TO MAKE THOSE REQUIREMENTS APPLICABLE TO ADDICTION COUNSELOR SUPERVISOR LICENSURE; TO AMEND SECTION 40-75-240, RELATING TO INTERN LICENSES, SO AS TO REPLACE THE TERM "INTERN" WITH "ASSOCIATE" AND TO INCLUDE ADDICTION COUNSELOR ASSOCIATES; TO AMEND SECTION 40-75-250, RELATING TO THE ISSUANCE OF DISPLAY OF LICENSES ISSUED BY THE BOARD, SO AS TO INCLUDE ADDICTION COUNSELOR LICENSES AND ADDICTION COUNSELOR ASSOCIATE LICENSES; TO AMEND SECTION 40-75-260, RELATING TO RECIPROCITY AGREEMENTS WITH OTHER STATES, SO AS TO INCLUDE ADDICTION COUNSELOR CREDENTIALS; TO AMEND SECTION 40-75-285, RELATING TO THE APPLICABILITY OF ARTICLE 1, CHAPTER 75, TITLE 40, SO AS TO INCLUDE ADDICTION COUNSELORS; AND TO AMEND SECTION 40-75-290, RELATING TO PERSONS NOT APPLICABLE TO ARTICLE 1, CHAPTER 75, TITLE 40, SO AS TO REMOVE PROVISIONS CONCERNING CERTAIN ADDICTION COUNSELORS; TO REDESIGNATE CHAPTER 75, TITLE 40 AS "PROFESSIONAL COUNSELORS, MARRIAGE AND FAMILY THERAPISTS, ADDICTION COUNSELORS, AND PSYCHO-EDUCATIONAL SPECIALISTS", AND TO REDESIGNATE ARTICLE 1, CHAPTER 75, TITLE 40 AS "PROFESSIONAL COUNSELORS, MARRIAGE AND FAMILY THERAPISTS, AND ADDICTION COUNSELORS"; AND TO REPEAL SECTION 40-75-300 RELATING TO LICENSURE FOR DRUG AND ALCOHOL COUNSELORS. - ratified title

## Version chain

The bill's text revisions, in order — the diff chain from filing to enrollment.

1. **1/10/2018** (committee substitute) — [source](http://www.scstatehouse.gov/sess122_2017-2018/prever/4601_20180110.htm)
2. **1/30/2018** (committee substitute) — [source](http://www.scstatehouse.gov/sess122_2017-2018/prever/4601_20180130.htm)
3. **3/12/2018** (committee substitute) — [source](http://www.scstatehouse.gov/sess122_2017-2018/prever/4601_20180312.htm)
4. **3/20/2018** (committee substitute) — [source](http://www.scstatehouse.gov/sess122_2017-2018/prever/4601_20180320.htm)
5. **3/21/2018** (committee substitute) — [source](http://www.scstatehouse.gov/sess122_2017-2018/prever/4601_20180321.htm)
6. **3/8/2018** (committee substitute) — [source](http://www.scstatehouse.gov/sess122_2017-2018/prever/4601_20180308.htm)
7. **5/1/2018** (committee substitute) — [source](http://www.scstatehouse.gov/sess122_2017-2018/prever/4601_20180501.htm)

## Votes

- 2nd Reading — **42–0** (pass) · upper
- Passage of Bill — **106–2** (pass) · lower

## Sponsors

- Alexander — primary (person)
- Atwater — primary (person)
- Bedingfield — primary (person)
- Dillard — primary (person)
- Douglas — primary (person)
- Erickson — primary (person)
- Fry — primary (person)
- Henderson — primary (person)
- Hewitt — primary (person)
- Huggins — primary (person)
- Norrell — primary (person)
- Ridgeway — primary (person)
- Rutherford — primary (person)
- Spires — primary (person)
- Weeks — primary (person)
- West — primary (person)

## Timeline

The legislative action history — every referral, reading, and vote.

- **2018-01-10** Introduced and read first time `introduction, reading-1`
- **2018-01-10** Referred to Committee on Medical, Military, Public and Municipal Affairs `referral-committee`
- **2018-01-30** Scrivener's error corrected
- **2018-03-08** Committee report: Favorable with amendment Medical, Military, Public and Municipal Affairs `committee-passage-favorable`
- **2018-03-12** Scrivener's error corrected
- **2018-03-20** Amended `amendment-passage`
- **2018-03-20** Debate adjourned until Wed., 3-21-18
- **2018-03-21** Amended `amendment-passage`
- **2018-03-21** Read second time `reading-2`
- **2018-03-21** Roll call Yeas-106 Nays-2
- **2018-03-22** Read third time and sent to Senate `passage, reading-3`
- **2018-03-27** Introduced and read first time `introduction, reading-1`
- **2018-03-27** Referred to Committee on Labor, Commerce and Industry `referral-committee`
- **2018-05-01** Committee report: Favorable Labor, Commerce and Industry `committee-passage-favorable`
- **2018-05-09** Read second time `reading-2`
- **2018-05-09** Roll call Ayes-42 Nays-0
- **2018-05-10** Read third time and enrolled `passage, reading-3`
- **2018-05-14** Ratified R 256
- **2018-05-18** Signed By Governor `executive-signature`
- **2018-05-30** Effective date 05/18/18
- **2018-05-31** Act No. 249

## Source

OpenStates / OpenCivicData bulk snapshot [2026-07-01](https://data.openstates.org/daily/2026-07-01/public.pgdump); origin `ocd-bill/55d2f854-0e7c-4515-87d0-c63c611293fc`. Confidence: reported (aggregated from official South Carolina legislature records).