Earn Your SC Teaching Certificate

To teach in South Carolina, you’ll need to know the certification requirements. Read this page for more info or click the button to download our guide.

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A teaching program graduate in South Carolina stands next to illustrations of a graduation cap and SC teaching certificate.

To teach in South Carolina, you’ll need a degree and a teaching certificate. On this page, we’ll go over each step you’ll need to get there. 

On this page, you can:

  • Decide what you want to teach.
  • Choose the right certification area.
  • Learn about critical need subject areas and loan forgiveness.
  • Understand your pathway options.
  • Review your pathway to certification.
  • Get answers to frequently asked questions about teaching in South Carolina. 
  • Explore more resources.

We do our best to keep all information updated, but because certification requirements are regularly reviewed and revised, it is best to confirm requirements with the South Carolina Department of Education (SCDE) and your teaching program (also called an educator preparation program or EPP).

Decide What Subject and Grade to Teach

Click the statement below that fits you best.

Choosing your grade level

If you’re open to different age groups, consider a grade level in a critical need subject area. Many subjects at the middle and high school levels are in especially high demand. 

If you know what subject you’d like to teach, your next steps are to:

  • Decide which ages or grade levels you’d like to teach. 
  • Identify the certification you need (see Choose the Right Certification Area section).
  • Choose a teaching program that meets your needs.
  • Apply to your teaching program.

Choosing your subject area

There are lots of subjects you can teach at all ages and grade levels. In general, you’ll have more job options if you get certified in a critical need subject area. (1) 

To broaden your options, you can also consider a subject area that lets you teach in all grades. You can see which certification areas let you teach all grade levels in the Choose the Right Certification Area section. 

If you’re open to teaching different subject areas, your next steps are to:

  • Explore certification areas for different grade levels and subjects. For a complete list of South Carolina certification options, see Choose the Right Certification Area.  
  • Choose a teaching program that offers your desired certification area and matches your current education level (undergraduate or graduate).
  • Apply to your teaching program.

You’ll have more job opportunities—and make a bigger impact—teaching in a critical need area. When you get certified to teach in a shortage area, you may also qualify for generous student loan forgiveness programs.

Choose the Right Certification Area

Once you know your grade and subject preferences, you can choose your official certification area. Click on the tabs in the next section for a full list of South Carolina certification options. (2) 

How to read this section

In the charts below, you’ll notice a few symbols next to certain certification areas. Here’s what those mean:

*There are currently no traditional programs in South Carolina that offer certification in this subject area. However, you can add it to your initial certification subject area or pursue certification through an alternative pathway. 

**There are currently no programs in South Carolina that offer this subject as an initial certification area. However, you can add it to your teaching certificate in another subject. 

+To earn your Montessori certification, you’ll need to complete a training program that is accredited by the Montessori Accreditation Council for Teacher Education. Learn more at the SCDE Montessori Certification Applicants page.

You can add additional endorsements in different subject areas throughout your teaching career. You don’t have to achieve all your certifications at once.

Certification AreaAges or GradesCritical Need
Early Childhood EducationGrades PK-3✅
Elementary EducationGrades 2-6✅
Montessori Education Early Childhood+Ages 3-5✅
Montessori Education Elementary I+Grades 1-3✅
Montessori Education Elementary II+Grades 4-6✅

Certification AreaGrade RangeCritical Need
ArtPK-12✅
DancePK-12✅
Music EducationPK-12✅
Music Education: ChoralPK-12✅
Music Education: InstrumentalPK-12✅
Music Education: PianoPK-12✅
Music Education: StringsPK-12✅
Music Education: VoicePK-12✅
TheaterPK-12✅

Certification AreasGrade RangeCritical Need
Economics9-12✅
English9-12✅
Geography9-12✅
Government9-12✅
History9-12✅
Middle Level Language Arts5-8✅
Middle Level Social Studies5-8✅
Montessori Middle Language Arts+5-8✅
Montessori Middle Social Studies+6-8✅
Psychology9-12✅
Social Studies9-12✅
Sociology9-12✅

Certification AreasGrade RangeCritical Need
Agriculture Education9-12✅
Biology9-12✅
Business and Marketing Education*9-12✅
Chemistry9-12✅
Computer Science*9-12✅
Earth and Space Science9-12✅
Family and Consumer Science*9-12✅
Industrial Technology Education9-12✅
Mathematics9-12✅
Middle Level Math5-8✅
Middle Level Science5-8✅
Montessori Education Middle Science+6-8✅
Physics9-12✅
Science9-12✅

Certification AreaGrade RangeCritical Need
Early ChildhoodAges 3-5✅
Emotional DisabilitiesPK-12✅
Hearing ImpairmentsPK-12✅
Intellectual DisabilitiesPK-12✅
Learning DisabilitiesPK-12✅
Multi-categoricalPK-12✅
Severe DisabilitiesPK-12✅
Visual ImpairmentsPK-12✅

Certification AreaGrade RangeCritical Need
American Sign LanguagePK-12✅
Chinese (Mandarin)*PK-12✅
FrenchPK-12✅
GermanPK-12✅
Greek*PK-12✅
Italian*PK-12✅
Japanese*PK-12✅
LatinPK-12✅
Portuguese*PK-12✅
Russian*PK-12✅
SpanishPK-12✅

Certification AreaGrade RangeCritical Need
Health Education*PK-12✅
Physical EducationPK-12✅

 

To earn your teaching certificate in one of these subject areas, you’ll pursue an alternative certification pathway—meaning you don’t need to complete a standard teaching program. Learn more about the Career and Technical Education (CTE) pathway to certification here.

Certification AreaGrade RangeCritical Need
Automotive Collision Repair9-12✅
Automotive Technology9-12✅
Barbering9-12✅
Carpentry9-12✅
Clothing Design and Construction9-12✅
Cosmetology9-12✅
Culinary Arts9-12✅
Diesel Technology9-12✅
Digital Art and Design9-12✅
Drafting9-12✅
Electricity9-12✅
Electronics9-12✅
Emergency and Firefighting Services9-12✅
Engineering Technology9-12✅
Environmental Control Systems9-12✅
Esthetics9-12✅
Graphic Communications9-12✅
Health Science Technology9-12✅
Information Technology9-12✅
Law Enforcement Services9-12✅
Machine Tool Technology9-12✅
Marine Engine Repair9-12✅
Masonry9-12✅
Media Technology9-12✅
Nail Technology9-12✅
Plumbing9-12✅
Power Equipment Technology9-12✅
Welding9-12✅

 

Certification AreaGrade RangeCritical Need
English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL)*PK-12✅
Gifted and Talented Education**PK-12✅
Literacy Coach**PK-12✅
Literacy Teacher**PK-12✅
Literacy Specialist**PK-12✅
Montessori Secondary+9-12✅
Teaching Children of Poverty**PK-12 

 

Consider a Critical Needs Subject

Why teach in a South Carolina critical need area?

You’ll have more job opportunities—and make a bigger impact—teaching in a high-need area. When you get certified to teach in a shortage area, you may also qualify for generous student loan forgiveness programs.

You can see which certification areas are critical need in the Choose the Right Certification Area section. 

If you teach full-time for five complete and consecutive academic years in a low-income school, you may be eligible for forgiveness of up to $17,500 on your student loans.

— U.S. Department of Education (3)

Teacher loan forgiveness

If you commit to teaching in a state-designated shortage area, you also have loan forgiveness options (meaning you won’t have to pay your student loans back!): 

  • South Carolina Student Loan offers loan forgiveness options for teachers who have a South Carolina Teacher Loan, Career Changers Loan or PACE Loan. To qualify, you may need to teach in a critical need subject area, critical need geographic area or both. 
  • The federal Teacher Loan Forgiveness Program offers up to $17,500 in loan forgiveness funds if you teach in a school that serves low-income students for at least five years.

If you’ve already earned a bachelor’s degree or have vocational work experience, you may be eligible for alternative certification pathways that put you in the classroom faster.

Choose Your Teacher Education Pathway

To teach in South Carolina, your next steps will look different depending on your background. We'll help you figure out what you'll need to move forward.

If you’re working on your bachelor’s degree, you can save time and money by earning your degree and teaching certificate at the same time! 

Future elementary teachers often major in education or a major that covers a broad range of subjects, such as human development or liberal studies. If you plan to teach middle or high school, you can major in your future teaching subject, like math, English or art. 

If you don’t want to combine your degree and certification, you can always earn your bachelor’s and go back for your teaching certificate later.

To start looking for degree programs, visit the TeachSC Program Explorer and search for bachelor’s and certification programs.

I’m an international student

As an international student and future teacher, you’ll need extra documentation when you apply to your educator prep program. (5) It’s a good idea to start collecting those documents as soon as possible.

You may need to take a test to meet your program’s language proficiency requirements, or provide other documentation, such as visas or transcript evaluations.

Check with your program to find out what documentation they require.

If you’re considering teaching as the next stage in your career path:

  • Choose a teaching program that offers your desired certification area and matches your current education level (undergraduate or graduate).
  • Apply to your educator preparation program.

If you have a degree, but just need a few more credits in your subject area, you can look for post-baccalaureate, or post-bac, programs before you enroll in a teaching program.

You can explore post-grad programs at the TeachSC Program Explorer. Our explorer includes certification-only, alternative certification and master’s and certification programs. 

Standard and alternative certification 

If you’re considering teaching as the next stage in your career, your path to certification will look different depending on whether you’re enrolled in a standard or an alternative certification program.

In a standard program, you’ll complete your certification and a student teaching experience through a college or university.

Alternative certification means you’ll start teaching and earn a salary while you take coursework outside of school hours. In general, alternative certification is open to people who have at least a bachelor’s degree or who have vocational work experience.

Learn more about standard and alternative certification in the TeachSC Teaching Certificate Program Eligibility Guide. You can also get an alternative certification overview in the FAQs on this page! 

If you’re already certified to teach elsewhere, your next step is to review the SCDE Out-of-State Educators page. This resource can help you understand teaching certificate renewal and teaching certificate reciprocity between states.

I earned my degree in education outside of the U.S. 

If you earned your teaching degree in another country, you'll need an International Education Evaluation by an International Evaluation agency. South Carolina’s approved evaluation agencies are:

  • Association of International Credential Evaluators (AICE)
  • National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) 

Learn more about requirements for international applicants at the SCDE International Initial Certification Applicants page.

Steps to a Teaching Certificate

Once you know what you want to teach, you're ready to start your journey to become a certified educator! Most South Carolina teachers begin with an initial certificate (you can learn more about initial certifications in the FAQs section of this page).
  1. 1

    Earn a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited university.

    Your bachelor’s degree should be in a field closely related to what you want to teach. South Carolina accepts degrees from a large number of universities, but you should confirm that yours is regionally accredited. 

    Keep in mind that you can earn your degree and your teaching certificate at the same time—so if you're an undergraduate, see Step 2 below.

    Paying for your program can feel like a lot. That's where our Financial Aid Guide comes in: get our favorite tips to find grants, scholarships, loan forgiveness opportunities and other strategies to cover your costs.

    TEACH SC can help you reduce your teaching program application costs! We’ll reimburse up to $100 for any expenses required for you to apply to a teaching program (like application fees, transcript fees and more). Get the details on our Fee Reimbursements page.

  2. 2

    Complete an approved teaching program through a regionally accredited college or university.

    You can complete your teaching program as part of your bachelor’s degree or, if you already have a degree, you can attend a certification-only, master's degree or alternative certification program. (4) 

    Through your teaching certificate program, you will:

    • Take coursework related to the specific subject and grade levels you want to teach, as well as the teaching profession more broadly. This might include courses on teaching strategies or classroom management skills.
    • Participate in hands-on classroom experiences, where you can observe and practice with instructors, mentors and teachers who are effective and experienced.

    The goal of South Carolina’s educator preparation providers is to design and implement programs that prepare teachers, service professionals, and leaders who will be competent practitioners… and will continue to grow in knowledge and skills throughout their careers.  

    —South Carolina Department of Education (5)

    The TeachSC Teaching Certificate Program Eligibility Guide has all the info you need to ace your exams, request your transcripts, win over your interviewer and more.

  3. 3

    Meet South Carolina teacher testing requirements.

    You’ll have to pass one or more tests designed to show you know your subject well enough to teach it. Depending on your teaching program, you might take a test before you enroll, during your program or after you finish. 

    Before you finish your program, you'll also complete what’s called a “pedagogy assessment.” To meet this requirement, you'll prepare a portfolio of lesson plans, student work and other artifacts to submit for assessment as part of your student teaching experience. 

    Learn more about required tests at the SCDE Certification Assessments page.

    Stressed about testing? You're not alone! Our Testing Guide covers everything from exam registration to study materials to what to expect on test day. 

  4. 4

    Submit your teaching certificate application to the state.

    After you meet the requirements above, it’s time for you to formally apply for your teaching certificate. First, confirm with your teaching program that you are eligible to apply. After that, you can contact the SCDE with any questions. 

    To start your application, you'll create an online account with the SCDE Educator Portal. There, you can apply for your certificate online, pay fees, check the status of your application or get a copy of your teaching certificate. Learn more at the SCDE How to Apply page.

Frequently Asked Questions

Still have questions about getting certified? Check out our top FAQs for more information.

The total costs will vary depending on your teaching program and the tests required for your certification area. Below are some of the costs you might come across while earning your teaching certificate:

  • Initial certificate: $105
  • Content tests: $64-$156 for Praxis exams, $218 for ACTFL exams
  • edTPA or PPAT portfolio assessment: $300
  • Principles of Learning and Teaching exam: $156

It's understandable to have your eye on the cost of teaching programs, but there are lots of scholarship, loan forgiveness and other funding opportunities that can lower your program costs. Check out our Financial Aid Guide to find out more.

 

How long your teaching certification takes depends on your background and the type of educator preparation program you choose. 

Some colleges and universities offer undergraduate combined certification and bachelor’s degree programs. These let you earn both a bachelor’s and teaching certificate in four years (give or take). 

If you already have a bachelor’s degree, you can typically complete a certification-only program in a year or less. A master’s degree and certification program may take longer (usually 1-3 years) to complete. 

Alternative certification programs typically require a three-year commitment to the content area and grade level you plan to teach. (6)

 

As a South Carolina educator, your pay will depend on your years of experience and where you work. South Carolina’s average starting salary in the 2019-2020 school year was $37,550. (7) 

You can increase your salary with added credentials, such as a master’s degree. If you’ve taught for at least three years, you can also earn more with a National Board Certification. (8)

Learn more about South Carolina teacher pay at our Salary and Benefits page. 

 

Short answer: Yes. 

Long answer: There are many different types of certifications, depending on where and what you want to teach. You may qualify for a special certification if you have career experience or if you've been certified to teach in another state. 

You may also qualify for alternative certification if you have prior experience working with students.

 

Alternative certification is essentially a way for you to fast-track your teaching certificate—and get paid while you do it! In an alternative pathway, you’ll typically lead your own classroom, earn a teacher salary and take coursework outside of school hours.

You can find alternative certification options on the TeachSC Program Explorer! Click on the programs that interest you to learn more about qualifications and next steps for each. You can also see a list of alternative programs at the SCDE Alternative Certification Guidance page. 

Vocational Work Experience

If you’re interested in teaching a Career and Technical Education subject and you have related work experience, your alternative certification options look a little different. 

The SCDE CTE Work-Based Certification Program page has all the information you need to get your CTE teaching certificate. 

Advanced Fine Arts

If you have a degree and professional experience in art, dance, music or theater, you may be eligible for an Advanced Fine Arts teaching certificate. Through this alternative certification pathway, you’ll get certified to teach your fine art special area at any grade level. 

Learn more at the SCDE Advanced Fine Arts Certification page.

Once you complete your teaching pathway, there are two tiers of South Carolina teacher certificates: Initial and Professional. You’ll receive your Initial certificate after you complete your teaching program. If you choose an alternative pathway, you’ll receive an alternative certificate type while you complete your alternative route.

An Initial certificate is good for three years, and your employer can request an extension if needed.

To advance to your Professional certificate (good for five years), you’ll need to gain experience and meet certain criteria, such as completing a formal evaluation of your teaching. 

Learn more about how to advance your teacher certification at the SCDE Initial Certificates page.

Learn About Programs

A magnifying glass hovers over a blue background

Want to keep exploring? The TeachSC About Programs page has more in-depth information on teaching certification pathways, including the types of programs available and how to decide whether a program is right for you. Click below to take the next step.

Learn About Programs

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References

  1. Critical Need Areas. South Carolina Department of Education. https://ed.sc.gov/educators/recruitment-and-recognition/critical-need-areas/  
  2. South Carolina Certification Fields and Specialized Endorsements. South Carolina Department of Education. June 9, 2020. https://ed.sc.gov/educators/certification/certification-legislation-and-policy/certification-regulations/fields/
  3. Teacher Loan Forgiveness. Federal Student Aid, U.S. Department of Education.  https://studentaid.gov/manage-loans/forgiveness-cancellation/teacher 
  4. Guidance for Prospective Educators. South Carolina Department of Education.  https://ed.sc.gov/educators/teaching-in-south-carolina/pathways/ 
  5. “Introduction,” South Carolina Educator Preparation Guidelines: Standards, Policies, and Procedures. South Carolina Department of Education. December 10, 2019.  https://ed.sc.gov/educators/educator-preparation/guidelines/introduction/
  6. Program of Alternative Certification for Educators (PACE). South Carolina Department of Education. https://ed.sc.gov/educators/alternative-certification/pace/ 
  7. “Teacher Pay and Student Spending: How Does Your State Rank?” National Education Association. April 23, 2021. https://www.nea.org/resource-library/teacher-pay-and-student-spending-how-does-your-state-rank 
  8. National Board Certification. South Carolina Board of Education. https://ed.sc.gov/finance/financial-services/national-board-certification/