SC certification
South Carolina teacher certification
Teaching credentials in South Carolina
Each row is a credential South Carolina reported to Title II. Initial means a first credential for a new teacher. Years is the length of validity.
| Credential | Initial | Years | Renewable | Grade levels |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adjunct Certificate | No | 3 | Yes | 5-8, 9-12 |
| Alternative Route Certificate | Yes | 1 | Yes | 5-8, 9-12 |
| Career and Technology Work-Based Certificate (CTE) | Yes | 1 | Yes | 9-12 |
| Initial Certificate | Yes | 3 | No | 2-6, 5-8, 9-12 |
| International Certificate | No | 1 | Yes | 2-6, 5-8, 9-12 |
| Internship Certificate | No | 1 | Yes | 3-6, 5-8, 9-12 |
| Professional Certificate | No | 5 | Yes | 2-6, 5-8, 9-12 |
Requirements
Yes means the state reports the item as required for that credential. Tests shows only whether tests are required; Title II does not name the tests.
| Credential | Bachelor's | Master's | Education degree | Prep program | Tests | Performance assessment | Clinical | Coursework | Credit hours | Min. GPA | Transcripts | Employment | Mentoring | Recency | Background check | Fingerprint | Police check |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adjunct Certificate | Yes | No | No | No | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Alternative Route Certificate | Yes | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Career and Technology Work-Based Certificate (CTE) | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Initial Certificate | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| International Certificate | Yes | No | Yes | No | Yes | No | Yes | No | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Internship Certificate | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Professional Certificate | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Verify a teaching license in South Carolina
Teaching licenses in South Carolina are verified on the lookup service run by South Carolina Department of Education. Search there by the teacher's name or certificate number to see current status.
PT3 does not verify licenses and holds no records of individual teachers.
Renewal
Renew times is how many times the credential can be renewed; renewal years is the length of each renewal.
| Credential | Renewable | Renew times | Renewal years | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adjunct Certificate | Yes | 3 | 3 | In order to renew, the educator must meet annual performance evaluation requirements, complete required professional learning opportunities, and maintain employment with the sponsoring district. The Adjunct certificate allows a locally-identified content area expert to teach up to two courses annually. |
| Alternative Route Certificate | Yes | 3 | 3 | Satisfactory annual evaluations and completion of activities mandated by the approved alternative route program. |
| Career and Technology Work-Based Certificate (CTE) | Yes | 1 | 1 | Certificate Type: Induction (Second Issue). Advancement. All Induction (Second Issue) certification requirements must be completed before June 30 of the second certification year. Successfully complete DIRECT In-Service Institute #3 and #4. Successful validation of competency by a state or national certification, certification, or registration examination, if applicable. Successfully complete the ADEPT Evaluation Process or any State Board of Education approved teacher performance evaluation. Second Issue Induction certificate may be extended on an annual basis at the written request of the employing school district in order for the educator to successfully complete a teacher performance evaluation. If the teacher does not successfully complete the Induction (Second Issue) renewal requirements by June 30, the certificate will expire and remain expired until official documentation is received verifying completion of all outstanding requirements and readmission approved. Other Program Requirements: The following program requirements are not required during the second certification year but may be completed prior to June 30 of the fifth certification year: Attain at least the minimum qualifying score on all sections of the basic skills examination approved by the South Carolina Board of Education (WIN assessments) if not previously accomplished. All sections must be passed by June 30 of the fifth year of certification. Complete six (6) semester hours of Professional Education Coursework. https://ed.sc.gov/educators/teaching-in-south-carolina/cte/program/ |
| Initial Certificate | No | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported |
| International Certificate | Yes | 2 | 1 | Satisfactory annual evaluations and continued employment by the sponsoring school district. The educator may be eligible for two additional one-year certificates if the J-1 visa is extended. |
| Internship Certificate | Yes | 1 | 1 | Request of employing district but only for Internship certificate issued in the areas of School Psychologist and Speech-Language Pathologist. |
| Professional Certificate | Yes | 9 | 5 | Satisfactory annual reviews. |
Emergency and temporary credentials
| Credential | Initial | Years | Renewable | Grade levels |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| International Certificate | No | 1 | Yes | 2-6, 5-8, 9-12 |
Out-of-state teachers
Title II lists no separate out-of-state credential for South Carolina. Ask South Carolina Department of Education how it reviews licenses from other states.
Newly licensed teachers prepared out of state: 1,271.
Alternative routes
- American Board (teach while completing)
- Columbia College Alternative Pathways to Educator Certification (APEC) (teach while completing)
- Converse College Alternative Certification- Art Education (teach while completing)
- Greenville Alternative Teacher Education (GATE) (teach while completing)
- PACE - Program of Alternative Certification for Educators (teach while completing)
- Teach Charleston (teach while completing)
- Teach for America (teach while completing)
- Teachers of Tomorrow (teach while completing)
- University of South Carolina- Carolina Collaborative for Alternative Preparation (Carolina CAP) (teach while completing)
About South Carolina certification
The South Carolina Department of Education continues to achieve both state and national recognition for programs designed to produce effective educators. State Superintendent of Education, Ellen Weaver, was inaugurated on January 11, 2023, and continues to serve in this role as a state constitutional officer.
How to become a teacher in South CarolinaSouth Carolina teacher preparation providers
Frequently asked questions
How do I get a teaching certificate in South Carolina?
South Carolina reports 7 credentials to Title II, 3 of them initial. 2 initial credentials require a bachelor's degree, 2 require a preparation program and 3 require tests. Apply through South Carolina Department of Education.
How do I verify a teaching license in South Carolina?
Licenses are verified on the lookup service run by South Carolina Department of Education. PT3 does not verify licenses.
Can I renew a South Carolina teaching certificate?
6 of 7 South Carolina credentials are reported as renewable. Renewal details by credential are listed in the Renewal section.
Does South Carolina issue emergency or temporary teaching certificates?
Yes. Title II lists 1: International Certificate.
Can I teach in South Carolina with an out-of-state license?
Title II lists no separate out-of-state credential for South Carolina. Ask South Carolina Department of Education how it reviews licenses from other states.
Is there alternative teacher certification in South Carolina?
Yes. South Carolina reports 9 alternative routes to Title II.