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How to become a certified teacher in South Carolina. Bachelor's degree required. Primary exam: Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators. Government fees: $540–$710. Substitute requirements: Bachelor's degree for a standard Substitute Teaching Certificate; some districts may use emergency substitutes with an associate's degree or 60+ college credits. Verified 2026-03-21. Data verified 2026-03-21. Source: LicenseMap (getlicensemap.com).
Teacher / Substitute Teacher · South Carolina
Everything you need to become a certified teacher or substitute teacher in South Carolina. Education, exams, fees, and application steps — verified against South Carolina Department of Education (SCDE) - Office of Educator Services.
Last verified: 2026-03-21
Degree Required
Bachelor's degree
Primary Exam
Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators
Total Gov Fees
$540–$710
Initial Cert
3 years
| Minimum Education | Bachelor's degree |
| Degree Required | Bachelor's degree |
| Teacher Prep Program | Required |
| Student Teaching | Required (60 hours) |
| Background Check | Required |
| Fingerprinting | Required |
| GPA Requirement | 2.75 |
| Minimum Age | 18 |
| Citizenship | U.S. citizen or authorized to work in the U.S. |
basic skills
Passing score: Reading: 156, Writing: 162, Math: 150
Basic skills assessment required for all teacher certification candidates unless exempt through qualifying scores on SAT, ACT, or GRE
content knowledge
Passing score: Varies by subject area
Subject-specific content knowledge exam required for each certification area
pedagogical knowledge
Passing score: Varies by grade level
Required pedagogy exam for the appropriate grade level band (K-6, 5-9, or 7-12)
Issued to beginning teachers who have completed an approved preparation program and passed all required Praxis exams. Valid for 3 years. During this period, teachers participate in an induction program.
Issued after successfully completing the induction program and 3 years of teaching experience. Valid for 5 years and renewable with professional development credits.
Issued to out-of-state applicants while they complete South Carolina-specific requirements
Minimum Education
Bachelor's degree for a standard Substitute Teaching Certificate; some districts may use emergency substitutes with an associate's degree or 60+ college credits
Certificate Required
Substitute Teaching Certificate
Background Check
Required
Permit Fee
$25
Validity
5 years
South Carolina issues Substitute Teaching Certificates through the SCDE. Applicants must have a bachelor's degree and pass a SLED (South Carolina Law Enforcement Division) and FBI background check. Substitutes may serve for up to 30 consecutive days in one assignment unless they hold a regular teaching certificate. School districts may also request emergency substitutes.
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Application FeeStandard certification application fee | $105 |
| Fingerprint FeeSLED and FBI fingerprint background check fee | $49 |
| Exam Fees (Total)Praxis Core ($150 combined or $270 individual) + Praxis II content ($120–$170) + PLT ($146) | $416–$586 |
| Initial CertificateIncluded in application fee | $75 |
| Renewal FeeProfessional certificate renewal fee | $75 |
| Substitute PermitSubstitute teaching certificate fee | $25 |
| Total Government FeesApplication ($75), fingerprinting ($49), and exams ($416–$586) | $540–$710 |
Graduate from a CAEP/state-approved teacher preparation program with a bachelor's degree
Pass the Praxis Core (basic skills), Praxis II (content knowledge), and PLT (pedagogy) exams
Fee: $416–$586
Submit fingerprints for SLED and FBI criminal background check
Fee: $49
Apply through the SCDE online certification system with required documentation and official transcripts
Fee: $75
https://ed.sc.gov/educators/certification/
After being hired, participate in a state-approved induction program during the first 3 years of teaching
Required to advance from Initial to Professional Educator Certificate
South Carolina offers the PACE program (Program of Alternative Certification for Educators) as its primary alternative route. Candidates must hold a bachelor's degree with a major or equivalent coursework in the teaching area. PACE participants teach under a Temporary Certificate while completing the program. South Carolina also accepts ABCTE certification.
Available Programs:
CE Required
Yes
Hours per Cycle
120
Renewal Cycle
5 years
South Carolina requires 120 renewal credits during each 5-year renewal cycle for the Professional Educator Certificate. Credits can include graduate coursework, professional development workshops, and other approved activities. One semester hour of graduate credit equals 20 renewal credits.
Reciprocity Type
Interstate agreement with review
Interstate Agreement
NASDTEC Interstate Agreement
South Carolina participates in the NASDTEC Interstate Agreement. Out-of-state teachers with valid certificates may qualify for a South Carolina certificate, though they may need to pass specific Praxis exams if equivalent tests were not taken. A temporary certificate may be issued while completing remaining requirements.
Additional requirements: Must pass required Praxis exams; SLED/FBI background check required; may receive a Temporary Certificate while completing additional requirements
Unique to South Carolina: South Carolina requires three separate Praxis exams for initial teacher certification (Core, Content, and PLT), which results in higher total exam costs compared to states that only require one or two exams. The state also has one of the more robust alternative certification systems with its PACE program.
Explore requirements for other professional licenses in South Carolina.
How this state compares to 50 others for this profession
Timeline
#1 of 51
Salary
#34 of 51
Cost
#43 of 51
Processing
#1 of 51
Based on May 2024 Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data for Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education (SOC 25-2021)
Entry Level
$47,630
25th percentile
Median
$59,370
-5% vs. national avg ($62,340)Experienced
$64,480
75th percentile
Wage Distribution (Annual)
23,680 employed in this state
Note: BLS category covers elementary school teachers only. Secondary, special education, and other teaching specializations have separate SOC codes with different wage data.
Source: BLS OEWS – Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education (May 2024)
National employment projections for 2024-2034
Projected Growth
0%
Below AverageNew Jobs
-500
over 10 years
Annual Openings
103,200
per year (avg.)
1.4M currently employed nationwide (2024)
Source: BLS Employment Projections 2024-2034 (September 2025)
Government fees and exam costs to obtain your initial license
Note: These are government licensing fees only. Education/training program costs (tuition, books, etc.) are not included as they vary widely by institution.
Source: SCDE Educator Certification
Estimated total: 216–234 weeks
Timeline estimated from licensing requirements on this page.
Source: SCDE Educator Certification
4–12 weeks
Estimated processing time
Source: SCDE Educator Certification
Study guides for Praxis Core and subject-specific teacher exams.
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South Carolina requires completion of a state-approved teacher preparation program to earn your teaching certificate. Explore approved programs and alternative certification routes.
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