Earn Your SC Teaching Certificate

To teach in South Carolina, you’ll need to know the certification requirements. Read this page for more info or click the button to download our guide.

The cover of the TeachSC Teacher Certification Guide" width="520" height="520" />

To teach in South Carolina, you’ll need a degree and a teaching certificate. On this page, we’ll go over each step you’ll need to get there.

On this page, you can:

• Decide what you want to teach.
• Choose the right certification area.
• Learn about critical need subject areas and loan forgiveness.
• Understand your pathway options.
• Review your pathway to certification.
• Get answers to frequently asked questions about teaching in South Carolina.
• Explore more resources.

We do our best to keep all information updated, but because certification requirements are regularly reviewed and revised, it is best to confirm requirements with the South Carolina Department of Education (SCDE) and your teaching program (also called an educator preparation program or EPP).

Decide What Subject and Grade to Teach

Choosing your grade level

If you’re open to different age groups, consider a grade level in a critical need subject area. Many subjects at the middle and high school levels are in especially high demand.

If you know what subject you’d like to teach, your next steps are to:

• Decide which ages or grade levels you’d like to teach.
• Identify the certification you need (see Choose the Right Certification Area section).
• Choose a teaching program that meets your needs.
• Apply to your teaching program.

Choosing your subject area

There are lots of subjects you can teach at all ages and grade levels. In general, you’ll have more job options if you get certified in a critical need subject area. (1)

To broaden your options, you can also consider a subject area that lets you teach in all grades. You can see which certification areas let you teach all grade levels in the Choose the Right Certification Area section.

If you’re open to teaching different subject areas, your next steps are to:

• Explore certification areas for different grade levels and subjects. For a complete list of South Carolina certification options, see Choose the Right Certification Area.
• Choose a teaching program that offers your desired certification area and matches your current education level (undergraduate or graduate).
• Apply to your teaching program.

You’ll have more job opportunities—and make a bigger impact—teaching in a critical need area. When you get certified to teach in a shortage area, you may also qualify for generous student loan forgiveness programs.

Choose the Right Certification Area

Once you know your grade and subject preferences, you can choose your official certification area. Click on the tabs in the next section for a full list of South Carolina certification options. (2)

How to read this section

In the charts below, you’ll notice a few symbols next to certain certification areas. Here’s what those mean:

*There are currently no traditional programs in South Carolina that offer certification in this subject area. However, you can add it to your initial certification subject area or pursue certification through an alternative pathway.

**There are currently no programs in South Carolina that offer this subject as an initial certification area. However, you can add it to your teaching certificate in another subject.

+ To earn your Montessori certification, you’ll need to complete a training program that is accredited by the Montessori Accreditation Council for Teacher Education. Learn more at the SCDE Montessori Certification Applicants page.

You can add additional endorsements in different subject areas throughout your teaching career. You don’t have to achieve all your certifications at once.