Requirements to Renew a Teacher License in South Carolina

<p>The state of South Carolina has varied renewal requirements depending on the type of license. Teachers can learn the process for renewing their initial and professional licenses below. </p> <p /> <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</td></tr> <tr><td><b>Required Tests</b></td><td> Praxis II Principles of Learning and Teaching and Praxis exam appropriate to licensure area</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>Varies depending on place of employment</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---SouthCarolinaTeachingCertificates">South Carolina Teaching Certificates</h3> <p>Once earned, an initial teaching certificate is valid for three school years and cannot be renewed. The process for maintaining or upgrading the initial certificate depends on where a teacher is employed. </p> <p>A professional teaching certificate will be good for up to five years and is renewable. Like the initial certificate, the renewal requirements vary based on a teacher's employer. </p> <h3 id="section---UpgradingInitialTeachingCertificateToProfessionalTeachingCertificate">Upgrading Initial Teaching Certificate to Professional Teaching Certificate</h3> <p>This option is for teachers who work within the South Carolina public school system. They will need to meet two criteria in order to upgrade their initial certificates to professional ones: </p> <ul><li>Praxis II Principles of Learning and Teaching exam appropriate to the licensure area. It should be noted that teachers who completed an approved teacher training program will have met this requirement in order to earn their initial certificate. </li><li>Successfully pass the South Carolina ADEPT or TAP ADEPT evaluation, which is designed to measure and enhance professional development. The employing school district will need to enter the evaluation results into teachers' records with the Office of Educator Services. </li></ul><p>The state's automated system checks each June to see if teachers meet the above requirements. Teachers will be automatically upgraded to a professional certificate if they fulfilled the requirements. </p> <h3 id="section---InitialTeachingCertificateExtensions">Initial Teaching Certificate Extensions</h3> <p>Teachers employed in a private school that have not met the requirements for professional certification can either apply for an initial certificate extension or apply for limited professional certification. </p> <h3 id="section---ProfessionalTeachingCertificateRenewalProcess">Professional Teaching Certificate Renewal Process</h3> <p>Teachers at public or private schools must earn at least 120 renewal credits during their current certificate's validity. Those without a master's degree must complete at least 60 graduate-level renewal credits. Those working at the middle and high school levels must also complete suicide awareness training. Documentation such as official transcripts and completion certificates should be provided to the teacher's district renewal coordinator. </p> <h3 id="section---ProfessionalTeachingCertificateExtensions">Professional Teaching Certificate Extensions</h3> <p>Teachers with certificates that expired less than five years ago can request a one-year extension from the Office of Educator Services. They must earn 120 renewal credits, including graduate-level credits if required, and complete suicide awareness training. </p> <h3 id="section---ReadToSucceedR2SEndorsements">Read to Succeed (R2S) Endorsements</h3> <p>Teachers with professional teaching certificates that expire in 2020 or later must now complete coursework for the applicable R2S endorsement: </p> <ul><li>R2S Literacy Teacher: Required for teachers licensed in early childhood, elementary, English as a Second Language, special education, or montessori education </li><li>R2S Literacy Requirement: Required for teachers licensed for middle and high school, PreK-12 (art, music, physical education, etc.), career and technology, library/media, administration, school psychology, guidance counseling, or speech/language pathology </li></ul><p>It should be noted that teachers licensed in multiple areas will need to complete an endorsement relevant to their current position.</p>