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DIVISION OF SCHOOL EFFECTIVENESS OFFICE OF EDUCATOR SERVICES

8301 Parklane RoadColumbia SC 29223

WWW.Ed.SC.Gov

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Requirements for Licensure A degree from a regionally accredited college or university

with either a state-approved teacher education program or from an institution that has programs approved for teacher education by CAEP (formerly NCATE)

Application Form – Available online to complete or printA copy of the social security cardRecommendation FormOfficial College TranscriptsPraxis II Examination Scores Experience Verification (if applicable)

A separate form must be used for each school or entity. Partial years listed on separate lines.

Background check from Morpho-Trust Application fee (can be submitted electronically)

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Reciprocal Licensure RequirementsIf someone is coming in from another state and requesting

reciprocal licensure, they must have a current license from another state in a licensure area comparable to SC. A front and back copy must be submitted.

Reciprocal applicants may exempt content area exams.They will be given professional licensure if they possess three

or more years of teaching experience within the last seven years in the state they are presenting licensure from. An initial license will be given if they have less than the required three years experience. Experience verification forms are needed to establish experience credit for the applicants.

If the applicant receives an initial, the educator will be required to take the PLT exam during the three year validity period of the initial license.

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Approved ProgramsDegree from an institution

that is regionally accredited and the teacher education program is state board approved in the state they operate in.

Regional Accreditation is by Higher Learning Commision – (Middle States Association, New England Association, North Central Association, Southern Association, Western Association)

The only exception to regional accreditation at this time is …..

South Carolina State Board approved program at Bob Jones University.

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Required ExamsThe required Exams are the Praxis II: Principles of

Learning and Teaching exam (PLT)And Praxis II: Subject/Specialty Area ExamsThe official score report must be submitted directly from

the Educational Testing Service (ETS) to our agency If the score(s) are 10 or more years old and no longer

available from ETS, the educator may submit a notarized copy of an official score report or an official letter from another state department of education, college/university, or school district verifying the score

If no examination exists for the particular subject area, the educator is still required to submit PLT scores to receive initial certification

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FBI Fingerprint Card and Background Check

The applicant must undergo a criminal records check by the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division

And a national criminal records check supported by fingerprints conducted by the FBI

Eligible applicants who have prior arrests and/or convictions must be approved by the State Board of Education before a license can be issued to them

Background checks from other states or agencies are not transferable to South Carolina.

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Initial LicensureInitial licenses are issued for three years.

Initial licenses are issued to candidates who have recently completed a teacher education program or to educators seeking reciprocal licensure with another state and they have less than 3 years of educator experience in the state they are coming from. The 3 years experience must have been earned in the last 7 years.

Educators must present the PLT exam and successfully pass ADEPT evaluation to advance to a Professional level license.

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Initial Licenses are Non-Renewable Licenses

Public School Employment

If you are employed in the public school system and have not completed the ADEPT evaluation or passed the PLT within the three year validity period of your initial license, the school district may request a one year extension to provide you more time to meet licensure advancement requirements. Educators are permitted four 1-year contracts.

Private School Employment (or any school unable to provide ADEPT evaluation)

If you are not able to complete ADEPT evaluation because you are in a school that does not offer ADEPT, you may have your initial license extended annually at the request of the employer. Educator will be required to submit 120 renewal credits every five years to continue the annual extensions.

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Professional LicenseProfessional License is issued for five year validity

period120 renewal credits must be submitted every five

years to renew the license for an additional five yearsDistricts and educational entities oversee the renewal

process for their employees. If your district is not going to handle the renewals for your employees, you should contact Marcia Berry (803-896-0307) regarding your option to be an educational entity for license renewal. This provides more renewal credit options for your school and your educators.

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RENEWAL OF CREDENTIALSProfessional Certificates

An educator who is not currently employed in a South Carolina school district or an approved entity must earn 120 renewal credits (or 6 semester hours) coursework outlined in: Option One (college credit) And/or Option Two (SDE) of the Renewal Credit MatrixAnd/or Option Three – ASHA credits or Bd. Of Psychology

Credits The coursework must relate to one of the following:

The educator’s current area(s) of certification, or Coursework leading to another area of certification, or Coursework in special education and/or technology

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Foreign TeachersIf you have a foreign teacher here on work

visa who is seeking licensure, please contact:

J1 Visas – Sherry Schneider – 803-896-0384

H1B Visas – Sharon Keefe – 803-896-0399

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Other Licensure TransactionsUpgrading Licenses to Bachelor’s +18,

Masters, Masters +30, Doctorate LevelsAdding areas of LicensureEvaluating files for upgrade or add-on

licensureAdding experience credit to educator filesProgram approvals for advanced degrees or

licensure add-onCourse approvals for licensure add-on or

licensure renewal

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Request for Change Action Form

All of the licensure transactions mentioned can be requested by the educator completing and submitting the Request for Change Action form.

This form is available on our website. It can be completed and printed online but it is not electronically submitted from our website. Educators may mail, email or fax this form to us. Fax Number – 803-896-0368

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Call Center

The Office of Educator Services Call Center is open from 1:00 PM to 4:30 PM, Monday through Friday.

Toll Free Number: 877-885-5280Local Number: 803-896-0325