How to Become a Teacher in South Carolina
In South Carolina, the Department of Education prides itself on having schools where students come first, led by caring teachers and effective principals.
Here are the steps you will take to become a certified teacher in the Palmetto State.
Choose What You Want to Teach
Do you see yourself as an elementary school teacher? Perhaps you prefer working with older children in high school? You may even prefer working with students with special needs? Before you become a teacher in South Carolina, you must think about what type of students and subject(s) you would like to teach so that you could work towards the correct licensure.
Complete Your Bachelor's in Education Requirements for a Teaching Certificate in South Carolina
The South Carolina State Department of Education requires teacher candidates to hold a minimum of a bachelor's degree, and complete a teacher preparation program from an accredited institution. If you do not have a bachelor's in education, you will most likely be able to complete the requirements for a bachelor's degree and teacher preparation program simultaneously through a joint program. Joint programs are designed for people who know from early on that they want to become a teacher.
Complete a Teacher Preparation Program
To teach in a public school, teachers are required to possess an Educator License. This license is traditionally obtained through the completion of a teacher preparation program.
Candidates can complete on-site or online teacher preparation programs. The teacher preparation program should be approved by the state and accredited. The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) is responsible for accrediting schools in South Carolina. It is important that candidates confirm that their school of choice is accredited by the official agencies.
These programs generally consist of college coursework and fieldwork. The coursework usually covers pedagogy, subject-based teaching methods, differentiated instructional strategies, technology integration, and more. The fieldwork portion of the program usually requires candidates to conduct field observations and complete student teaching or an internship. Usually, successful student teaching includes working with a mentor teacher in order to prepare and execute lessons based on the needs of the students in the host classroom. Most times, candidates will be required to put together a portfolio at the end of the student teaching period.
As mentioned earlier, this step is commonly as part of a bachelor's degree program. However, if you already have a bachelor's degree, you can complete this program through an alternative or post-baccalaureate program. Many online or traditional schools even offer joint master's degree programs.
Alternative Teacher Certification in South Carolina
South Carolina offers several alternative pathways to licensure. Some paths lead to full, professional certification while others offer a temporary opportunity to teach in public schools.
Program of Alternative Certification for Educators (PACE)
PACE (Program of Alternative Certification for Educators) gives qualified individuals an opportunity to teach in a public school as they complete all the requirements for professional certification in South Carolina. While in this program, candidates receive support from a mentor teacher as they gain experience in the classroom. In addition, individuals participate in seminars and training sessions.
The Adjunct Teaching Certificate
The Adjunct Teaching Certificate allows for experts to share their knowledge in a specific field in the classroom. Those who qualify for this Adjunct Certificate can teach courses worth up to two credits in their content area over the course of an academic year. It is important to note that this certificate cannot be converted into a professional teacher certificate.
Teacher Certification Reciprocity in South Carolina
If you have an out of state license, you may be eligible for a South Carolina teaching certificate if you can present a valid out-of-state license. Part of the requirements for a reciprocal license is that the subject(s) documented on the license must be considered comparable to subjects normally issued in South Carolina. In addition, the out-of-state applicant will be required to submit the subject area examination score(s) as well as the general professional knowledge (pedagogy) score that was required for certification in the state in which the candidate was initially licensed.
Pass the Tests Required for Teacher Certification in South Carolina
Basic Skills Test
To become a licensed teacher in South Carolina, candidates must pass the CORE Academic Skills for Educators exam. This series assesses individuals in the areas of reading, writing, and mathematics.
Subject Tests
In addition, individuals wanting to become certified to teach in South Carolina should pass the Praxis II: Subject Assessments/Specialty Area examinations. The subject area assessments should be taken in the desired area of licensure.
Apply for your South Carolina Teacher Certification
Next, applicants must send in the required documents to the Office of Certification. The following is required:
- Submit official application (apply through the Educator Portal)
- Non-refundable application fee
- Official score reports should be sent to the Office of Certification from ETS.
- Clear status of criminal records check by the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division and a national criminal records check supported by fingerprints conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Contact Information
South Carolina Department of Education
1429 Senate Street
Columbia, SC 29201
Phone: (803)734-8500
Find a Teaching Job in South Carolina
Once your application is processed, you will be ready to begin your career as an effective educator in the state of South Carolina.
Public Schools in South Carolina
The South Carolina Department of Education has created the Center for Educator Recruitment, Retention, and Advancement (CERRA) in order to effectively manage employee applications. CERRA also helps manages employer job listings with the goal to recruit and retain high-quality teachers to the state. CERRA's website grants users instant access to all the teacher job postings within the state.
Professional Organizations for Teachers
Upon being hired, teachers may elect to join a non-union professional organization such as the SC Education Association (SCEA) or the Palmetto State Teachers Association. These associations focus on professional networking and development for teachers' practice.
Retirement Benefits for Teachers in SC
Teachers who have reached retirement age and who are no longer actively teaching are eligible to begin withdrawing funds from their pension plans managed through the South Carolina Retirement System (SCRS). While contributions to the fund are mandatory, employers contribute on average 3% more than individuals for pension funding.
Private Schools in South Carolina
Teachers who wish to work outside the public school system are encouraged to apply to South Carolina's 443 private schools. Often times, private schools have smaller class sizes. Many educators prefer smaller class sizes as it allows teachers to effectively differentiate instruction to meet the needs of all students. Note that salary, benefits, and advancement opportunities may be significantly different than those of the public system.
Teacher Shortage in South Carolina by Subjects or Discipline (2021-2022)
The following list of teacher shortage areas in South Carolina has been obtained from the U.S. Department of Education Office of Postsecondary Education, Teacher Shortage Area (TSA) report for the 2021-2022 school year:
- World Languages PreK-12 (German, Spanish, French, Chinese)
- ESOL PreK-12
- Career and Technical Education 9-12 (Agricultural Science and Technology, Business, Marketing and Information Technology)
- Theatre PreK-12
- Science 5-12
- Physical Education PreK-12
- Dance PreK-12
- Special Education, All Exceptionalities PreK-12
- English 5-12
- Music PreK-12
- Art PreK-12
- Special Education, Speech and Language Impairment PreK-12
Number of Public and Private School Teachers By Grade
The following Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) table highlights the number of teachers in South Carolina in both private and public schools, by grade level, as of May 2021:
| Grade Level | Number of Teachers |
|---|---|
| Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education | 4,570 |
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | 21,350 |
| Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | 7,950 |
| Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | 13,900 |
| Special Education Teachers, Preschool | 580 |
| Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School | 1,710 |
| Special Education Teachers, Middle School | 700 |
| Special Education Teachers, Secondary School | 1,750 |
Continue Your Education and Professional Development
Throughout the United States, teachers, support staff, and administrators have contributed to a strong culture of professional excellence. In addition to ethics and accountability principles, teachers are committed to engaging in ongoing professional development throughout their career. Most often offered by colleagues at the local, state, or national level, professional development helps teachers support student academic achievement in the classroom as well as helping teachers accomplish their career and salary goals. The most sought-after professional development offerings are those that are strongly data and research-based and delivered by experienced educators.
Professional Development in South Carolina
The state of South Carolina assists teachers by providing the Assisting, Developing, and Evaluating Professional Teaching (ADEPT) system of professional growth and development. This system supports teachers' professional growth throughout the duration of their career. The system has three foundational documents for teachers, including the professional growth and development plan guidance document, competence-building professional growth planning, and research and development professional growth planning. Teachers with further inquiries are encouraged to meet with their principal in order to begin their professional growth planning.
Earn an Advanced Degree to Simplify Certificate Renewal Requirements and Upgrade to the Master's Degree Certificate Classification
From simplifying the renewal requirements for your professional certificate to earning a master's degree classification on your teaching certificate (and earning more in the process), there's plenty of reasons why it's a smart move to pursue a master's degree as a South Carolina educator.
Simplify the Renewal Requirements for Professional Certificates
Once you've transitioned from the initial educator certificate to a professional certificate (by completing three years of teaching experience and meeting all ADEPT Evaluation System requirements), you'll need to renew your professional certificate every five years by completing at least 120 renewal credits, 60 of which must be in graduate-level coursework. (Sixty renewal credits are equivalent to three semester hours of graduate-level coursework.)
However, if you've earned a master's degree, either in education or in the specific subject you're certified to teach, you'll be exempt from the graduate-level coursework requirement during each renewal period, making the process of completing your renewal requirements an easier and less-complicated effort.
Upgrade to the Master's Degree Certification Level
Earn a master's degree and you'll be eligible to upgrade your certificate from a bachelor's degree classification to a master's degree classification.
To advance to the master's degree classification, you'll need to submit a Request for Change/Action form to the Office of Educator Services.
This change in classification automatically increases your minimum salary. For example, according to the South Carolina Department of Education's minimum salary tables, educators earned a minimum salary of $40,000 as of FY2022-2023, while those with a master's degree earned a minimum salary of $45,076 - an increase of about $5,000 annually.
2021 US Bureau of Labor Statistics salary and employment figures for Teachers (Preschool, Elementary, Middle School, High School) and Special Education Teachers, (Preschool, Kindergarten and Elementary, Middle, High School) reflect national data, not school-specific information. Conditions in your area may vary. Data accessed March 2023.