Use your experience to start teaching

When you apply you must:

• Be at least 18 years old.
• Meet the minimum industry experience requirement for your work-based field.
• Get fingerprinted and pass your background check.
• Have your high school diploma or GED.
• Meet the eligibility requirements for your field.

Register for an account using the Educator Portal. You will submit your application, forms, and documents online using your account. Submit your SCDE Certification Application online.

   You’ll need to submit a few forms, including:

• Your Industry Work History Resume Form. Only list jobs that are relevant to the field in which you want to be certified.
• Your Industry Experience Verification Form. Each employer where you have earned relevant industry experience must complete the form. 
• If you have been self-employed, complete your Self-Employment Experience Verification Form. Have someone with firsthand knowledge of your experience sign it. 
• Your Technical Reference Forms. Choose two people who can verify your technical work skills in the field you will be certified in.  
• If you have been employed as an educator, then have the school district complete an Experience Verification Form.

If you have college or university degree, have the school email official transcripts to email or by mail in their original, sealed envelopes to: Office of Educator Services, 8301 Parklane Rd, Columbia, S.C., 29201.

If you don’t have a college or university degree, email a copy of your high school diploma or GED to email.

Once you complete your application through your Educator Portal, fingerprinting information will be available. You will need to get your fingerprints taken by an agency who is approved to take fingerprints for application to South Carolina educator certification. If you have done fingerprints or background checks for schools, employers or other agencies, they will not be accepted. You have to get new fingerprints done.

You will get an email when your CTE program application has been reviewed and your enrollment eligibility is determined.

Use your Educator Portal to submit your application fee after you confirm you are eligible for the CTE program.

Give your letter of eligibility to potential employers during your interview or when you’re preparing to sign a contract.

Once you are hired, your South Carolina public school district must submit a Confirmation of Employment Form to the Office of Educator Services. Once your Confirmation of Employment Form is completed, your Induction certificate will be issued!