Certification

Status of requests must be confirmed from the Educator Certification Website. An official educator certificate will be provided only when an educator qualifies for their very first South Carolina certificate. All subsequent changes, additions or modifications to a certificate must be confirmed by the educator and a certificate printed from the Certification Status page on their secure Website at https://ed.sc.gov/educators/certification/.

According to the State Department of Education (SDE), "applicants and educators who have previously used the View Certification Status link to verify their status and certification information will now do so using the Certification Application Technology Services (CATS) Educator Portal—the same web-based system through which individuals currently submit applications and fees. The View Certification Status feature is now available only through the Educator Portal.

The Educator Portal allows applicants and certified educators to view their status and a list of records on file. After creating a user account in the Educator Portal, educators and candidates can

· check the status of their requests,

· apply for certification,

· submit fee payments,

· review fingerprint procedures,

· update contact information,

· print a current certificate, and

· review scanned documents on file."

Please print your certificate and send a copy to Lisa Bruce, Human Resources Coordinator. Payroll changes will not be made unless you provide us with a copy of your updated certificate The copy of the updated certificate should be received within a timely manner.

Expiring Professional Certificates

For certificate renewal, all educators must meet all requirements of the SC State Department of Education in order to renew his or her professional certificate.

Renewal Packets for expiring certificates should be forwarded to Human Resources. Below you will find the appropriate forms to renew. Once you have completed your forms, review with your Credit Advisors at your school, and then send your packet to Dr. Ayesha Hunter, Director of Human Resources. This allows us time to review your renewal packet and renew your certificate before contract recommendation. Your teaching license will be renewed as soon as possible in the beginning of the expiring year. Once your certificate is renewed, you will be notified and you will be able to print your certificate from South Carolina Department of Education. You can review the Professional Certification Renewal Program at the following link.

Click on HR Forms to see all forms for renewal and also instructions for the SDE required training. The Jason Flatt Act - Suicide Awareness and Prevention Training (Mandatory training for middle and high school certified employees).

REMINDER: proof of 120 points is needed for certificate renewal. Also, the SDE Read to Succeed (R2S) and Literacy requirements must be met by deadline. To get more information, please ask your principal or credit advisor.

To access the eLearningSC PD page go to https://tackk.com/sp15public. Please visit the website for registration information, course information, and more information about online professional development courses.

• Title monies may be available for reimbursement for teachers needing coursework and Praxis exams to add-on content areas. If applicable, we will reimburse content teachers for any needed coursework or Praxis exam indicated on their SDE worksheet. Reimbursement form must be completed to request reimbursement for any coursework or praxis exam taken in order to become highly qualified in content area teaching. Documentation required with completed form: 1) Copy of required passing PRAXIS score(s) and/or Official Transcript for required course 2) Copy of SDE worksheet and 3) Original receipt with zero balance/canceled check.

SDE Alternative Certification Routes

South Carolina Department of Education has approved alternative programs for obtaining teacher certification. For more information, please see information below or contact the SDE.

PACE Alternative Certification

The Program for Alternative Certification for Educators (PACE) is South Carolina's alternative route for certification. As part of the 1984 Education Improvement Act, the South Carolina General Assembly provided for a conditional certification program. The purpose of the program is to enable degreed individuals, who otherwise do not meet certification requirements, to gain employment in the public schools in a content area included in the alternative certification program. Click here for more information.

American Board Program or American Board Certification of Teacher Excellence

In June 2007, the South Carolina General Assembly passed H. 3476, cited as the "American Board for the Certification of Teacher Excellence Act." The Act provides that a S.C. public school district may hire individuals who use the American Board Program process to obtain a South Carolina teaching certificate.

Applicants for teacher certification in S.C. who qualify for the Passport to Teaching certificate issued by American Board Program in the fields of biology, chemistry, English, mathematics, physics, or science may apply for a one-year alternate route certificate in S.C., upon verification of an employment offer as a teacher in a S.C. public school. The alternate route certificate may be renewed annually for two additional years upon verification of successful teaching. To advance to the professional certificate (five-year certificate), the applicant must complete induction and ADEPT (teacher evaluation) requirements, and pass the Principles of Learning and Teaching (PLT) praxis exam. College degrees earned by individuals who hold the Passport to Teaching certificate must have been from regionally accredited colleges.