South Carolina Alternative Teacher Certification Process and Programs
The state of South Carolina offers options for alternative teacher certification. Alternative teacher preparation programs, or non-traditional programs, are designed for those with a bachelor’s degree outside of education and typically lead to a certificate or master’s degree. If you don’t have your bachelor’s degree, check out our guide to traditional certification in South Carolina. Otherwise, read on to learn more about alternative certification routes in South Carolina.
Table of Contents
- South Carolina Alternative Certification Requirements
- Types of Alternative Teaching Licenses
- Testing Requirements
- Licenses From Another State
- Schools With Alternative and Master’s Programs
- Fastest Alternative Certification Programs
- Additional Resources
Requirements for Alternative Certification
A bachelor’s degree is the minimum educational requirement to pursue alternative teacher certification in South Carolina. Candidates must also take and pass the Praxis exams for the subject and grade levels they wish to teach. Finally, prospective teachers must pass a state and federal background check. To be eligible for an alternative program, candidates must not have completed student teaching as part of a traditional teacher preparation program.
Types of Alternative Teaching Licenses in South Carolina
There are several routes for earning an alternative teaching license in South Carolina. To earn full certification, candidates with a bachelor’s degree must pursue additional education to obtain professional certification through one of the following pathways.
Adjunct Teacher Certification
Adjunct Teacher Certification is the newest alternative route approved by the South Carolina Department of Education (SCDE). Candidates must have at least a bachelor’s degree with a major in the certificate area or passing scores on the appropriate Praxis Subject Test, plus at least five years of related occupational experience. Candidates must be employed by a school district, which requests the Adjunct Certificate on their behalf. Educators may teach up to two courses per year with this certificate. However, this certificate does not lead to full-time professional certification.
American Board Certification (ABCTE)
South Carolina recognizes certification through the American Board (ABCTE) in English, mathematics, and science. Candidates who earn ABCTE certification are eligible to seek employment in South Carolina while completing the requirements for full certification, such as completing a master’s degree in teaching, education, or a core subject that includes an approved certification program. The ABCTE route is available for secondary-level biology, chemistry, English, mathematics, physics, and science, as well as middle-level language arts, math, or science. After teaching for three years, meeting evaluation requirements, and passing the Praxis exams, educators may qualify for a Professional Teaching Certificate.
Career and Technical Education (CTE) Work-Based Certification Program
Prospective teachers interested in leading career and technical education (CTE) classrooms may qualify for the Career and Technology Education (CTE) Work-Based Certification Program. This program leads to certification in CTE subjects of agriculture, business and marketing education, computer science, family and consumer services, and industrial technology in grades 9 through 12. To be eligible, candidates must have at least a high school diploma and meet the education and experience requirements for the CTE subject they wish to teach. After completing the fingerprinting process and criminal background check, eligible candidates may apply to a school district that applies for an Induction Certificate on their behalf. Candidates then have five years to fulfill professional development requirements, including In-Service Institutes and coursework, to become fully certified.
Greenville Alternative Teacher Education Program (GATE)
The Greenville Alternative Teacher Education Program (GATE) may be an option for teacher candidates living in the Greenville area. This certification route is available for candidates interested in the following fields: Early Childhood, Elementary; K-12 World Languages and Special Education; middle-level language arts, middle-level math, middle-level social studies, or middle-level science; secondary grades, English, mathematics, science, social studies, and business and marketing. Candidates for certification must have at least a 2.5 cumulative GPA, a passing score on the Praxis Subject Test, and a concentration in or related to the certification field. Teaching candidates benefit from professional mentoring and coaching while they teach and attend teacher preparation courses. Completing the three-year program leads to a Professional Teaching License.
Program of Alternative Certification for Educators (PACE)
The Program of Alternative Certification for Educators (PACE) allows qualified individuals to begin teaching right away under the guidance of mentor teachers while they complete a program of study designed to enhance their teaching knowledge and effectiveness in the classroom. Candidates must have a major or its equivalent in an approved PACE certification field, earn a passing score on the Praxis Subject Test, and pass a background check. Candidates with relevant teaching experience who meet the guidelines may be eligible to receive experience credit on their educator certificate. The course of study for each candidate is determined after a review of their qualifications. After completing the PACE program and teaching for three years, candidates may qualify for a Professional Teaching Certificate.
Teach for America (TFA)
Teach for America (TFA) is another pathway to certification in South Carolina. Candidates for this pathway must have a bachelor’s degree and a passing score on the related Praxis Subject Test. Candidates will attend an intensive summer teacher preparation institute and be placed into a TFA partnership district. The next phase of the program typically combines classroom teaching with completing a state-approved teacher preparation program through online or evening courses. After two years, candidates are typically eligible for professional licensure. Interested candidates should apply directly to Teach for America.
TeachCharleston Alternative Certification Program
The TeachCharleston Alternative Certification Program, or TeachCharleston for short, allows Charleston residents to become fully certified teachers. To qualify for this route, candidates must have a bachelor’s degree with at least 21 credit hours in the area of math, science, or English, a GPA of 2.75 or higher, an acceptable writing sample, and passing scores on the required South Carolina Certification Assessments. Once eligibility has been determined, the candidate will be interviewed by the TeachCharleston Fellowship committee. Accepted candidates may interview with individual schools to obtain an employment offer. Once employed, the candidate will complete three years of intensive training while leading a classroom, culminating in a Professional Teaching Certificate.
Testing Requirements for South Carolina Alternative Certification
The SCDE requires all educators to pass a pedagogy assessment–such as the Praxis Principles of Learning and Teaching (PLT), the Praxis Performance Assessment for Teachers (PPAT), or the edTPA by Pearson Evaluation Systems–as well as the appropriate Praxis Subject Test. In most cases, these exams must be passed before requesting an alternative teaching certificate. You can find out which exams are required for the endorsements you are seeking through the SCDE.
Transferring Teaching Licenses From Another State
South Carolina provides limited reciprocity to out-of-state teachers with a valid teaching certificate. Reciprocity depends on an evaluation of the candidate’s experience and education. Note that South Carolina does not offer reciprocity for CTE or vocational teaching certificates. For more information, review our guide to teacher certification reciprocity or the SCDE’s Reciprocity page.
Schools With Alternative and Master’s Programs in South Carolina
To qualify for teacher certification, you must complete an approved teacher preparation program. Alternative route teacher licensing programs typically lead to a certificate or master’s degree. The not-for-profit, school-based alternative certification programs below have been approved by the SCDE for the preparation of teachers.
| State-Approved School | Accreditation | Program Type(s) | Alt. Teacher Program Enrollment4 | Alt. Teacher Prep Prog. Completers4 | Alt. Licensing Exams Pass Rate4 | Net Price5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anderson University | CAEP | Master’s | — | — | — | $21,576 |
| Clemson University* | CAEP | Master’s | — | — | — | $22,935 |
| Coastal Carolina University | CAEP | Master’s | — | — | — | $14,716 |
| College of Charleston | — | Master’s | — | — | — | $20,351 |
| Columbia College* | — | Alternative, Certificate | 23 | 14 | N.Av. | $20,277 |
| Converse College* | — | Alternative, Certificate, Master’s | — | — | — | $25,534 |
| Francis Marion University | CAEP | Master’s | — | — | — | $12,380 |
| Lander University | CAEP | Master’s | — | — | — | $15,541 |
| South Carolina State University | CAEP | Master’s | — | — | — | $20,022 |
| The Citadel | CAEP | Master’s | — | — | — | $17,920 |
| University of South Carolina-Columbia* | CAEP | Alternative, Certificate, Master’s | — | — | — | $21,784 |
| Winthrop University | CAEP | Master’s | — | — | — | $19,300 |
- — indicates none or not applicable.
- N.Av. indicates data was not available or pass rates were omitted for confidentiality.
- *Schools with an asterisk offer programs that can include paid classroom placements, subject to qualifications and experience. Students may be responsible for securing their own placement. Contact programs for further information.
Fastest Alternative Certification Programs
The following schools have the fastest programs to qualify for teacher certification in South Carolina based on the shortest possible time to completion. Shorter alternative certification programs are often more affordable since they require fewer credit hours. Check with programs to verify program costs and funding opportunities.
- Anderson University (12 months)
- Coastal Carolina University (12 months)
- Francis Marion University (12 months)
- Winthrop University (12 months)
- College of Charleston (13 months)
- The Citadel (15 months)
- University of South Carolina-Columbia (15 months)
Additional Resources
- American Board for Certification of Teacher Excellence (ABCTE) South Carolina: Provides information on the hybrid online route to licensure via ABCTE in South Carolina.
- South Carolina Center for Educator Recruitment, Retention, & Advancement (CERRA): Provides certification and career development resources for South Carolina educators.
- SCDE Alternative Certification Programs: Detailed information on requirements for alternative certification in the state.
Related Articles
- Alternative Teacher Certification Guide
- South Carolina Traditional Teacher Certification Guide
- Teacher Certification Reciprocity Guide
References:
1. South Carolina Department of Education: https://ed.sc.gov/educators/
2. Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP): https://caepnet.org/provider-search
3. Association for Advancing Quality in Educator Preparation (AAQEP): https://aaqep.org/accredited-programs
4. US Department of Education 2021 Title II Report: https://title2.ed.gov/Public/Home.aspx
5. National Center for Education Statistics College Navigator: https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/