Earn Your SC Teaching Certificate

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.

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.

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.