Embarking on a career in education can be as exciting as it is perplexing, and understanding all the many requirements for certification is an important step. This article will serve as a guide through the certification process in the state of South Carolina. It will outline the particular educational and experiential qualifications that South Carolina expects from its teachers, explain the ins-and-outs of applying for a certificate, describe some alternative certification routes, and provide insight into what new teachers can expect from a career in the South Carolina school system. By the end, readers will have a better grasp of how to get a teacher certification in South Carolina.
First, here's a brief a look at the two types of teaching certificates offered by the South Carolina Department of Education:
Access thousands of practice questions so that there are no surprises on the exam
The correct answers are highlighted with green below. Create an account to keep studying for the .
Teacher Certification.com Practice questions Flashcards Get immediate help for your certification exam.Easy-to-follow study guides, practice tests and resources.
Completion of an accredited educator preparation program is an essential part of earning an initial certificate in South Carolina. These programs are offered by colleges and universities throughout South Carolina and provide candidates with the knowledge and experience necessary to succeed as new teachers. The South Carolina State Board of Education (SBE) is responsible for approving educator preparation programs, and it requires that all programs meet standards established by a recognized national accreditation provider, such as the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP). Programs must also meet state-specific regulations and requirements drafted by the SBE and Department of Education. These guidelines ensure teacher candidates are trained in various pedagogical principles (relating to literacy, professional development, community involvement and safety), while setting policies and procedures for maintaining accreditation.
For new teachers, educator preparation programs are typically completed as part of a bachelor's degree earned at a college or university. The College of Education at Clemson University (located in Clemson, South Carolina) has been recognized by US News and World Report as one of the 100 best education schools in the country. It offers approved programs for 18 different teaching fields and provides education degrees at both the graduate and undergraduate level.
Teacher Certification.com Practice questions Flashcards Get immediate help for your certification exam.Easy-to-follow study guides, practice tests and resources.
All teachers in South Carolina are required to have a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution of higher education. Those who complete an approved educator preparation program will typically graduate with a bachelor's or master's degree in education that is focused on the particular content area they will teach. Preparation programs will require coursework that covers general education requirements, subject area knowledge, principles of teaching, and in-classroom student-teaching experience.
Teacher Certification.com Get a personalized test prep course. Take an assessment and focus on the areas that need the most practice.South Carolina teacher certification tests come from a series of examinations known as Praxis tests, which are administered by the Educational Testing Service (ETS) and are used to assess the fitness of incoming teachers. Prospective educators can expect to take three different Praxis tests throughout the certification process. The Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators (Praxis Core) is a demonstration of fundamental knowledge that is required to gain entrance to education preparation programs. It consists of three sections—covering reading, mathematics, and writing—and teacher candidates must earn qualifying scores on all three to be admitted to a program.
Every teacher candidate will have to complete two further examinations before being issued a South Carolina teaching license. One is a Praxis Subject Assessment, which tests knowledge of a candidate's specific subject area or certification field. Every different certification field has a corresponding Subject Area Assessment, whether it be Agriculture, Spanish, or Elementary Education. The final required examination is the pedagogy assessment, which covers fundamental principles of educational practice. The State Board of Education recognizes three different pedagogy assessments: the Praxis Principles of Learning and Teaching (PLT Praxis test)—a written examination—as well as the Praxis PPAT and the Pearson-administered edTPA—both of which are performance-based assessments that rely on experiential student teaching.
Information regarding the different Praxis tests required for what teaching levels or subject areas can be found on the South Carolina Department of Education site. For more Praxis information about specific tests, their content and preparation methods, visit the ETS site.
Teacher Certification.com
As part of the application process, all teacher candidates must submit their fingerprints for criminal background check. Background checks will search for any criminal history in the state-level records of the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) and the national records of the FBI. Evidence of certain offenses—such as those involving violent crime, child abuse, or particular types of obscenity—may lead to the rejection of an application. Specific information regarding fingerprint procedures will be given to the candidate when they officially apply for certification.
Teacher Certification.com
Find a study plan that can get you ready for your certification exam, whether you have six months or six days.
Once an individual has met all the testing and educational requirements for an initial certificate, they will apply to the state Department of Education for their South Carolina teaching license. Here's a step-by-step overview of the application process:
These steps will be similar for all applicants, but there will be further requirements that depend on the specific certification pathway.
Though completing an educator preparation program is the most direct path to becoming a certified teacher, the state Department of Education recognizes several programs that provide routes to alternate teacher certification in South Carolina. These programs usually involve the issuance of an alternative route license that acts as a stepping stone to standard certification. Here is some information on a few of the programs:
South Carolina is a part of the NASDTEC Interstate Agreement. This means that teachers with certificates from another state can apply for issuance of an equivalent certificate to teach in South Carolina. To be accepted in South Carolina, the certificate must:
If a teacher's out-of-state credential meets all the requirements set forth by the South Carolina Department of Education, they can submit an application for a standard certificate. Teachers who have less than 27 months teaching experience in the preceding seven years will apply for an initial certificate, and teachers with more experience can apply for a professional certificate. Out-of-state teachers may also be required to complete additional testing, training or professional development depending on the nature of their credential.
The South Carolina Department of Education offers several resources to aid teachers in growth and professional development. These range from online options for educational content—such as VirtualSC PD, ETV Learn, and Teacher Step—to recommendations for in-person coursework. Teachers that are renewing their professional certificates will be required to complete a certain amount of training or professional development in order to be approved. Specifically, they must complete 120 renewal credits. These credits will be earned by completing coursework at a college or university, or through an online professional development program, such as the ones mentioned above. There are also certain required training programs that focus on specific issues. The Jason Flatt Training requirement focuses on suicide awareness and prevention, while the Read to Succeed (R2S) program is designed help educators promote literacy at all student levels.
The state also rewards teachers that have done graduate level coursework or earned advanced degrees. Each South Carolina teaching license has a class-level designation that indicates a teacher's educational attainment and also helps determine their minimum yearly salary. Class levels with more education have higher minimum annual salary figures. A teacher with a bachelor's degree can advance a class level by completing 18 hours of graduate coursework, and they can advance still higher by earning a master's degree. South Carolina schools also use salary schedules to determine teacher compensation, which means a teacher's minimum salary will increase with each year of experience.
According to the National Center for Education Statistics, South Carolina schools have a student-teacher ratio of about 15:1, which is slightly below the national average of about 16:1. This means that new teachers are unlikely to face overwhelming class sizes in South Carolina schools. A 2022 report by the Center for Educator Recruitment, Retention, & Advancement documented a spike in teacher vacancies in the years 2021-2022. The report states that a February 2022 survey revealed over 1,000 vacant teaching positions, meaning the South Carolina school system is likely looking for new educators to fill those gaps. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, average salaries for South Carolina teachers range between about $30,000 a year for preschool teachers, to around $54,000 for middle and high school levels. The table below provides additional information.
| Teaching Level | # Employed | Annual Mean Wage |
|---|---|---|
| Preschool | 4,210 | $30,950 |
| Kindergarten | 3,101 | $47,900 |
| Elementary | 20,740 | $52,960 |
| Middle School | 8,680 | $54,020 |
| Secondary School | 12,850 | $53,950 |
Zenobia Denny, M.A. has been a dedicated educator for over 10 years. She holds teaching certifications in Elementary Education, Special Education, and ESL. She has taken and passed numerous Praxis and TExES exams, including the TExES Principal Certification exam. Zenobia completed an M.A. in Early Childhood Education from Walden University and is currently pursuing her Ph.D. in Educational Psychology with an emphasis in Gifted and Talented.
 |
To become a certified teacher in South Carolina requires candidates to have completed a bachelor's degree, pass the required Praxis assessments, complete a teacher education program that includes student teaching, and pass a background check.
A bachelor's degree is required to obtain a teaching certificate in South Carolina. The degree does not need to be in education.
No, a master's degree is not necessary to teach in South Carolina. A bachelor's degree is required however. Teachers with a master's degree may be eligible for career advancement and higher salaries.
