South Carolina law requires PEO "key management personnel" to attend 8 hours of continuing education each year starting with the license year that began on October 1, 2005. If the licensee is a sole proprietorship or partnership, key personnel means any controlling person, as defined in this chapter, of that licensee. If the licensee is a corporation, key personnel means any person who both possesses the power to direct or cause the direction of the management of a company seeking to offer professional employment services in this State; and is directly responsible for the day-to-day management of the company’s operations in this State.

South Carolina law provides that persons subject to this requirement can utilize courses offered at meetings of by the National Association of Professional Employer Organizations, the Carolina Chapter of Professional Employer Organizations, the department, or other approved courses related to employment, as qualified courses for continuing professional education.

In addition to these sources, the Department will recognize required continuing education hours from other professions such as law, accounting, and human resources, as long as the courses are reasonably related to employment. Credit can also be obtained from courses provided by private companies, on a for-fee basis or as part of an in-house education program. For all these methods, copies of the materials must be provided so that they can be reviewed and approved by our continuing education committee. As required by our law, proof of attendance at all courses is required.

Up to eight hours of continuing professional education may be carried forward from one year to the next year.

• Continuing Education Statute (PDF)
• Continuing Professional Education Compliance Form (Word)
• 2006 South Carolina PEO Continuing Professional Education Seminar Handout (PDF)