Note: Each municipality is responsible for arranging 3-hours of continuing education training each year for their staff, planning, zoning, and architectural review officials. The resources provided on this page are not guaranteed sources of continuing education. All preapproved sponsors referenced below have an associated fee or charge for their training. If you intend to use the sponsors provided on this page, you are responsible for contacting your municipality to pay the associated fee or by paying those fees personally.

The South Carolina Planning Education Advisory Committee maintains a list of approved sponsors of programs that satisfy the annual continuing education requirement.

The following topics when offered by an approved sponsor are preapproved: land use planning, zoning, floodplains, transportation, community facilities, ethics, public utilities, wireless telecommunication facilities, parliamentary procedure, public hearing procedure, administrative law, economic development, housing, public buildings, building construction, land subdivision, and powers and duties of the planning commission, board of zoning appeals or board of architectural review. SC Code of Laws Section 6-29-1340

Books or self-directed (home study) courses are not an approved method for continuing education. Continuing education must be conducted by a facilitator in a group setting. 

Continuing education facilitators must meet minimum standards which are significantly reduced compared to orientation training facilitators.

Resources from preapproved sponsors

• All online training products produced by the American Planning Association satisfy South Carolina planning officials and commissioners' continuing education requirements. APA offers a series of online courses specifically tailored to the needs of planning officials and commissioners and a catalog of nearly 400 other online classes in various learning formats and lengths.  To view the videos, users must create an account on the APA website. The pricing is $20 per credit hour for APA members and $40 for nonmembers. Group discounts are available.

• The SC Association of Counties developed several videos on planning and zoning. Each course provides three hours of orientation or continuing education credit for planning and zoning officials/employees.

• The following Municipal Elected Officials Institute training developed by the Municipal Association may be viewed in a facilitated group setting or individually to satisfy continuing education requirements. Register 

  • Forms of Municipal Government: 1.5 hours - $35
  • Municipal Economic Development: 1.5 hours - $35
  • Freedom of Information Act in SC: 1.5 hours - $35

Information and instructions for accessing MEO Institute online courses for group viewing to satisfy continuing education training requirements may be obtained from Urica Floyd, 803.354.4754