Unlicensed person holding himself out as PA; penalty; investigation; desist and refrain order; injunction; privileged communications; due process rights of respondent protected.
S.C. Code Ann. § 40-47-1000
in effect(A) It is unlawful for a person who is not licensed under this article to hold himself out as a PA. A person who holds himself out as a PA without being licensed under this article, during a period of suspension, or after his license has been revoked by the board is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be fined not more than three hundred dollars or imprisoned for not more than ninety days, or both. (B) For the purpose of any investigation or proceeding under the provisions of this article, the board or a person designated by the board may administer oaths and affirmations, subpoena witnesses, take testimony, and require the production of any documents or records which the board considers relevant to the inquiry. (C) If the board has sufficient evidence that a person is violating a provision of this article, the board, in addition to all other remedies, may order the person to immediately desist and refrain from this conduct. The board may apply to an administrative law judge as provided under Article 5, Chapter 23, Title 1 for an injunction restraining the person from this conduct. An administrative law judge may issue a temporary injunction ex parte and upon notice and full hearing may issue any other order in the matter it considers proper. No bond may be required of the board by an administrative law judge as a condition to the issuance of any injunction or order contemplated by the provisions of this section. (D) Investigations and disciplinary proceedings under this article must be conducted in accordance with the provisions of Article 1. (E) No provision of this article may be construed as prohibiting the respondent or his legal counsel from exercising the respondent's constitutional right of due process under the law or prohibiting the respondent from normal access to the charges and evidence filed against him as a part of due process under the law. Effect of Amendment 2019 Act No. 32, SECTION 2, in (A), in the first and second sentences, substituted "PA" for "physician assistant"; and in (C), substituted "Article 5, Chapter 23, Title 1" for "Article 5 of Chapter 23 of Title 1".
Source: Open US Law by Vaquill AI (CC BY 4.0)URL: https://www.scstatehouse.gov/code/t40c047.phpFetched: 10/17/2026