South Carolina Code of Regulations
Chapter 43 - STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION
Article 3 - REQUIREMENTS FOR TEACHER EDUCATION AND CERTIFICATION REGULATIONS
Section 43-51 - Certification Requirements; approval of alternative certification; authorization for the SBE to approve additional alternative certification programs

A. Earn a bachelor's or master's degree either from an institution that has a state-approved teacher education program and is accredited for general collegiate purposes by a regional accreditation association, or from a South Carolina institution that has programs approved for teacher education by the State Board of Education (SBE), or from an institution that has programs approved for teacher education by a national accreditation association with which the South Carolina Department of Education (SCDE) has an established partnership agreement. Professional education credit must be earned through an institution that has a teacher education program approved for initial certification.

B. Submit the required teaching content area examination score(s) and the required score on the examination of general professional knowledge (pedagogy) as adopted by the SBE for purposes of certification.

C. Be at least eighteen years of age.

D. Undergo a 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 (FBI). If the applicant does not complete the initial certification process within eighteen months from the original date of application, the FBI fingerprint process must be repeated. Eligible applicants who have prior arrests and/or convictions must undergo a review by the SBE and be approved before a certificate can be issued to them. Background checks from other states are not transferable to South Carolina.

A. All credits are computed by semester hours; three quarter hours are equivalent to two semester hours.

B. Duplicate credit will not be allowed for courses with the same title unless approved by the teacher certification office of the SCDE.

A. To be eligible for a South Carolina teaching certificate, the out-of-state applicant must submit the teaching area examination score(s) and the score on the examination of general professional knowledge (pedagogy) that are required for certification in the state in which he or she holds a valid standard out-of-state certificate. If no tests were required for certification in the state where the individual holds a valid standard certificate, the applicant for South Carolina certification must submit the required teaching content area examination score(s) as adopted by the SBE for purposes of certification. If the applicant has less than twenty-seven months of successful teaching experience within the last seven years in the state in which he or she holds a valid standard certificate, the applicant will be issued an initial South Carolina teaching certificate, and he or she must also submit the required score on the examination of general professional knowledge (pedagogy) as adopted by the SBE for purposes of certification in order to advance to a professional certificate.

B. Initial or advanced certification will be awarded only in the area(s) of certification held by the out-of-state applicant that most closely conform(s) to corresponding or relevant South Carolina area(s) of certification.

A. An individual who qualifies under the Program of Alternative Certification for Educators (PACE) guidelines as adopted by the SBE may be issued an alternative route certificate. Successful completion of certification requirements as prescribed in the PACE guidelines as adopted by the State Board of Education will qualify the applicant for a professional certificate.

B. An individual who qualifies under the Teach for America (TFA) guidelines as adopted by the SBE may be issued an alternative route certificate. Successful completion of certification requirements as prescribed in the TFA guidelines as adopted by the State Board of Education will qualify the applicant for a professional certificate.

C. An individual who qualifies under the American Board for the Certification of Teacher Excellence (ABCTE) Act may be issued an alternative route certificate. Successful completion of certification requirements as prescribed in the statute will qualify the applicant for a professional certificate.

D. An individual who is seeking certification through Teachers of Tomorrow (ToT) must not be hired by a school district in South Carolina without completing the electronic fingerprinting process required by the teacher certification office of the South Carolina Department of Education at the time of application and without having undergone a criminal records check by the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division and a national criminal records check supported by fingerprints and conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation pursuant to Section 59-25-115( B). Background checks are valid for a period of eighteen months.

E. The SBE, pursuant to Section 59-5-60 and 59-25-110 and this Regulation, is authorized to approve additional alternative certification programs and outline the content areas in which candidates may pursue certification pursuant to rules and guidelines published by the Board.

A. All individuals pursuing undergraduate or graduate programs leading to initial teacher certification must complete the student teaching requirement adopted by the SBE.

B. An individual who has met all requirements for certification except student teaching may request that three years teaching experience be used in lieu of student teaching for certification purposes under the following conditions:

C. Applicants for certification in work based career and technology education are not required to complete student teaching.

A. All applicants must submit the required teaching content area examination score(s) and the required score on the examination of general professional knowledge (pedagogy) as adopted by the SBE for purposes of certification.

B. An initial certificate will be issued to individuals who seek certification in areas for which no teaching area examination exists and who meet all requirements for certification in effect on the date that the teacher certification office of the SCDE receives all required documentation other than a certification test score. Once a test for the particular area of certification is adopted by the SBE, these individuals will be required to present a passing score on the test within one year following the Board's action.

C. Certification in work-based career and technology education requires the successful completion of all sections of the basic skills examination and the trade competency examination adopted by the SBE for work-based career and technology education.

(a) that the applicant has verified his or her completion of a state-approved teacher preparation program,

OR

(b) that the applicant has a valid corresponding certificate from a state with which South Carolina has reciprocity through the Interstate Agreement on Qualifications of Educational Personnel,

OR

(c) that the applicant has met the requirements for the Program of Alternative Certification for Educators (PACE) for certification, OR

(d) that the applicant has met the requirements for Teach for America for certification,

OR

(e) that the applicant has met the requirements for the American Board for the Certification of Teacher Excellence for certification.