Teaching Math in South Carolina

South Carolina boasts sparkling coastlines, many national parks and historic sites that make it a popular vacation destination and a beautiful place to call home. When seeking a career in teaching, it is helpful to have financial aid opportunities and a variety of ways to become certified. Fortunately, South Carolina offers both. Whether you are early in your career pursuits, or you’re interested in changing paths, South Carolina offers exciting opportunities for math teachers.

Math Teacher Certification in South Carolina

Math Teaching Qualifications

All South Carolina teachers are required to meet the following criteria in order to qualify for certification: bachelor’s degree, completion of teacher preparation program and successful completion of the requisite basic skills and subject area competency examinations.

Credentials & Exams

South Carolina offers several types of certification for teachers. Candidates must pass the Praxis II Principles of Learning and Teaching and the Praxis II Subject Assessments/Specialty Area Tests.

• Initial Certificate: This certificate is valid for three years. Candidates must earn a bachelor’s or Master’s degree from a regionally accredited institution of higher learning that has a state approved teacher education program or from a South Carolina institution that has a board approved teacher education program, or from a National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) approved institution. Candidates must also obtain a passing score on the general professional knowledge (pedagogy) exam.
• Professional Certificate: This certificate is valid for five years. Candidates can advance through several levels depending on their education level (bachelor’s through Doctorate) and level of additional credit hours (18 to 30). Candidates must meet all of the requirements for an Initial Certificate, complete the induction program and the ancillary requirements, or complete the requirements for reciprocity (see below), or have received a valid National Board teaching certification.
• Temporary Certificate for Out-of-State Certified Teacher: Candidates who hold a teaching credential from another state, but do not meet one or more of South Carolina’s certification requirements may be eligible for a temporary certificate, issued for only one academic year at a time.
• Transitional Certificate: Candidates who have completed a teacher preparation program, but have not earned a passing score on the required certification examination (s), may apply for a one-year transitional certificate, issued at the request of their employing school district.
• Internship Certificate: This certificate is issued to individuals who are currently enrolled in a board approved teacher education program in South Carolina, have already earned their bachelor’s degree and passed the required certification examinations. Upon completion of the teaching internship, the initial certification may be converted into an Initial Certificate or a Professional Certificate.
• Limited Professional Certificate: Limited Professional Certificates are offered to candidates who possess an initial teaching certificate, but are employed by an agency not regulated by the State Board of Education (i.e. some charter schools). The purpose of this certificate is to provide advancement to teachers in those schools.
• Temporary Certificate for Out-of-State Certified Teacher: Candidates who hold a teaching credential from another state, but do not meet one or more of South Carolina’s certification requirements may be eligible for a temporary certificate, issued for only one academic year at a time.

Alternative Certification for Math Teachers

Alternative Route Certificate: This certificate is initially valid for one year and can be renewed twice. Candidates must qualify under the Program for Alternative Certification for Educators (PACE) guidelines, which require a Bachelor’s degree and a major in the area to be taught, or a bachelor’s degree and 36 hours in a content area, with 21 at the junior/senior level or 24 at the graduate level.