How to Become a Teacher in South Carolina
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- You can earn a bachelor’s in elementary, secondary, special, or early education.
- South Carolina requires teaching candidates to complete a bachelor’s degree and pass certification tests.
- A teacher shortage in South Carolina has created a high demand for educators.
- Teachers in South Carolina earn less than the national average.
South Carolina is known for its sandy beaches and Southern charm. Pursuing a degree program in South Carolina helps ensure you meet all the educational requirements for teaching in the Palmetto State. You can become a teacher by completing a bachelor’s in education degree and obtaining a state certification.
Learn more about how to become a teacher in South Carolina.
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Become a Teacher in South Carolina: 5 Steps
Becoming a teacher in South Carolina is straightforward. Below are the five steps to become a licensed teacher in South Carolina.
1. Earn Your Bachelor’s Degree
A bachelor’s degree in education helps hone your craft as a teacher. Education programs cover the history and legislation surrounding education, popular instructional pedagogy and philosophy, and classroom management.
Teaching programs will also deepen your content knowledge so you’re prepared to teach certain subjects and age groups.
You can earn different types of bachelor’s degrees. Typical degrees in education include:
- Bachelor’s in secondary education
- Bachelor’s in elementary education
- Bachelor’s in special education
- Bachelor’s in early childhood education
2. Gain Student Teaching Experience
Student teaching is similar to an internship. You spend a minimum number of hours in the classroom. With the guidance and support of a cooperating teacher, you eventually take over the teaching responsibilities for a class. You get real-life practice creating lesson plans, grading assignments, and running a classroom.
Student teaching allows you to develop and reflect on your teaching style and receive feedback and mentorship from an experienced teacher before entering your own classroom.
3. Take Required Certification Tests
Before receiving initial certification, you must pass a series of examinations.
- Pedagogy Assessment: This exam ensures you possess the teaching skills to lead classrooms and provide assessments. You choose from the Praxis Principles of Learning and Teaching exam, the Praxis Performance Assessment for Teachers (PPAT), or the edTPA performance assessment.
- Subject Area Assessments: Most certifications require you to pass a Praxis subject area exam through the Educational Testing Service. This exam ensures that prospective teachers understand the material they are teaching.
4. Apply for Certification
After you have completed your bachelor’s degree requirements and any state or national assessments, you can apply for certification.
State certification proves you’ve completed all the necessary steps to become a licensed teacher. Before applying for certification, you must have:
- Completed a teacher degree program (either a bachelor’s degree program in education or an alternative route to licensure)
- Passed a background check
- Passed specific required certification tests
Certification is a requirement for teaching at public schools in South Carolina.
5. Maintain Your Certification
If it is your first time applying for a teaching certification in South Carolina, you will receive an initial teaching license. This license is valid for 3 years.
To maintain your certification, you must take continuing professional development courses and complete a minimum number of seat hours. You can also take college courses to meet these requirements.
You apply for a professional license at the end of your third year. This certificate is good for five years. At the end of five years, you must renew your professional license with a minimum of 120 renewal credits.
Continuing education ensures that you are staying current with educational trends and technologies.
What’s the Career Outlook for Teachers in South Carolina?
Public schools across the country are experiencing a high demand for teachers. In October 2022, the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) reported that 18% of public schools had one teaching vacancy, and 4% of all public school teaching positions across the country were unfilled.
Like most of the United States, South Carolina is experiencing a teaching shortage. In fact, in August 2022, the state reported 1,474 vacant certified positions — a 39% increase from the previous year.
How Much Will You Make as a Teacher in South Carolina?
The average teacher’s salary in South Carolina in 2022 ranged from about $55,000-$60,000, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).
How much you make as a teacher in South Carolina depends on your teaching focus, education, and experience. You may also get bonuses for hard-to-fill positions.
| Job Title | Salary |
|---|---|
| Career/Technical Education Teachers, Middle School | $60,350 |
| Special Education Teachers, Middle School | $55,530 |
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $54,140 |
| Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | $55,680 |
Frequently Asked Questions About South Carolina Teacher Certification
South Carolina offers an alternative pathway to teacher certification that allows people with bachelor’s degrees to teach in the public school classroom while earning their teaching certification.
You may also teach at a private school while enrolled in a teacher certification program.
Note: The insights on this page — excluding school descriptions — were reviewed by an independent third party compensated for their time by BestColleges. Page last reviewed on March 3, 2024.
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