South Carolina Teaching License Requirements

<p>As a teacher in South Carolina, you can earn a bachelor's degree to teach a specific grade level and/or subject. Your choice of major will determine which exams you need to pass before you apply for your initial teaching certificate. Take a look at the table below for a quick overview of teaching in the Palmetto State. </p> <p /> <table border="1"><tr><td>Education/Experience Required</td><td>Bachelor's degree and teacher education program</td></tr> <tr><td>Exams Required</td><td>N/A for preschool <br /> Praxis Exams in content area and grade level</td></tr> <tr><td>Certificate Validity</td><td>Three years for initial certificate</td></tr> <tr><td>Certificate Upgrade</td><td>Passing of ADEPT evaluation</td></tr> <tr><td>Average South Carolina Salary (2018)</td><td>$51,240 for elementary<br /> $52,520 for middle<br /> $54,400 for high school teachers*</td></tr> <tr><td>National Job Growth (2016-2026)</td><td>7% for elementary<br /> 8% for middle school and high school teachers*</td></tr> </table><p><i>*Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics</i> </p> <h3 id="section---JobDescription">Job Description</h3> <p>No matter which grade level you choose to teach, your job as a teacher will be to utilize your lesson plans and provide instruction to your students in one or more subjects. You can lead discussions about subjects in class, ask questions to track your students' progress, and give exams to determine how well they are retaining knowledge. You can expect to grade homework assignments and provide feedback on the assignments they complete. At times, you might have conferences with your students' parents to keep them informed about student performance and behavior inside the classroom. There may be some occasions where you have to issue disciplinary referrals due to student behavior as well. </p> <h3 id="section---EducationAndTrainingRequirements">Education and Training Requirements</h3> <p>You will need to earn a bachelor's degree before beginning your career as a teacher. You could choose a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education, which focuses on students in the first few school grades as you instruct them in general studies. If you prefer another age and/or a single subject, you could earn a Bachelor of Arts in Secondary Education, which requires you to pick an area of specialization, such as English or history. A bachelor's degree typically comes with a student teaching component, which is a requirement to earn your certification in South Carolina. You will get to teach students in your area of study under the guidance of a certified teacher before you branch out on your own career. </p> <h3 id="section---ExamRequirements">Exam Requirements</h3> <p>In South Carolina, you need to pass a round of Praxis exams prior to applying for your teacher certification. The first one you will take is the Core Academic Skills for Educators test, which you can start before you begin a student teaching experience. Reading, math, and writing all have their own sections on this three-part exam. You can set different appointments for each section, or take them all at once. From there, you can figure out which exams you need based on your future classroom. For example, if you are teaching third grade, you will take the Principles of Learning and Teaching: Grades K-6 and Elementary Education: Multiple Subjects exams. If you plan to teach high school English, you would choose the Principles of Learning and Teaching: Grades 7-12 and English Language Arts: Content Analysis tests. </p> <h3 id="section---CertificationRequirements">Certification Requirements</h3> <p>You can send in your application for a South Carolina Initial Certificate once you have completed your exams and successfully passed a criminal background check. Under certain conditions, you can get this certificate extended for a few years, but unlike some other states, it's not renewable. To ensure your continued certification as a teacher, you will need to pass the ADEPT evaluation process, which looks at your performance in the classroom. You'll also need to pass a Praxis II examination, typically the Principles of Learning and Teaching. Once the state gives you their recommendation, you will automatically receive an upgrade to the Professional Certificate, which can be renewed every five years.</p>