Become a Spanish Teacher in South Carolina
Spanish teachers in South Carolina will provide students with instruction on a foreign language as well as introduce them to a different culture. They must first receive their undergraduate degree and pass several licensure tests.
South Carolina Spanish Teacher Certification Overview
Spanish teachers typically work at the middle or high school level; however, some elementary schools may incorporate lessons into their curriculum as well. In order to apply for their initial teaching license, potential teachers will need to obtain a bachelor's degree and to satisfy certain exam requirements.
<table border="1"><tr><td><b>Required Degree</b></td><td>Bachelor's degree</td></tr>
<tr><td><b>Required Degree Field</b></td><td>Education or Spanish</td></tr>
<tr><td><b>Required Tests</b></td><td>Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators, Praxis Principles of Learning and Teaching, and Praxis exam for Spanish</td></tr>
<tr><td><b>License Renewal Period</b></td><td>Three years for initial teaching certificate<br/> Five years for professional teaching certificate</td></tr>
<tr><td><b>License Renewal Requirements</b></td><td>Principles of Learning and Teaching and ADEPT for initial certificate<br/>120 renewal credits for professional certificate</td></tr>
<tr><td><b>Average Salary for Teachers in South Carolina (2018)*</b></td><td>$51,240 (Elementary School Teachers)<br/>$52,520 (Middle School Teachers)<br/>$54,400 (High School Teachers)</td></tr>
<tr><td><b> Job Outlook for Teachers Nationwide (2016-2026)*</b></td><td>7% (All Kindergarten and Elementary School Teachers)<br/> 8% (All Middle School Teachers)<br/>8% (All High School Teachers)</td></tr>
</table><p><i>Source: *U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)</i>
</p><h3 id="section---TraditionalPathwayToLicensure">Traditional Pathway to Licensure</h3><p>The traditional pathway to licensure is to earn a bachelor's degree from an approved educator preparation program. All candidates must complete a student teaching assignment during their training. Those who will be completing it at a public school will need to apply for clearance. The clearance process includes an online application, the fingerprinting process and criminal records review, and paying a processing fee.
</p><h3 id="section---CertificationExaminations">Certification Examinations</h3><p>Students completing the traditional pathway to licensure must pass the Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators before enrolling in a program. This examination tests students' skill levels in reading, writing, and mathematics. The second required test is the Praxis Principles of Learning and Teaching for the desired grade level of certification. The final required test is the Praxis Spanish: World Language, which requires a passing score of 168. Students will have 3 hours to complete the test and answer 75 multiple-choice questions and 6 structured response questions.
</p><h3 id="section---InitialTeachingCertificate">Initial Teaching Certificate</h3><p>Candidates must be recommended by their educator preparation program for initial certification. They will need to complete a new clearance process if more than 18 months have passed since they applied for it. The initial certificate is good for three years and can only be maintained or upgraded. The process to upgrade to a professional teaching certificate includes passing the Praxis Principles of Learning and Teaching exam appropriate to the licensure area and the South Carolina ADEPT or TAP ADEPT evaluation. Teachers will receive an automatic upgrade if they meet these criteria.
</p><h3 id="section---ProfessionalTeachingCertificate">Professional Teaching Certificate</h3><p>The professional teaching certificate is valid for five years and renewable. Spanish teachers will need 120 renewal credits during the lifetime of their certificate. Those with only a bachelor's degree will need a minimum of 60 graduate credits. Middle and high school teachers will also need to take suicide awareness training to satisfy the Jason Flatt Act. Each school district has a renewal coordinator that assists teachers through the process.
</p><h3 id="section---ReadToSucceedR2SEndorsements">Read to Succeed (R2S) Endorsements</h3><p>South Carolina has an additional coursework requirement for teachers with professional teaching certificates that expire in 2020 or beyond. The Read to Succeed endorsements are as follows:
</p><ul><li>R2S Literacy Teacher: Teachers licensed in early childhood or elementary level
</li><li>R2S Literacy Requirement: Teachers licensed in middle and high school levels</li></ul>