Timeline for Extensions
After each set of five consecutive Initial certificate extensions, educators employed in a South Carolina (SC) private school or employed in a SC public school district position without access to ADEPT must meet renewal requirements in order to remain eligible for additional extensions. This process continues throughout the lifetime of the Initial certificate so long as it continues to receive annual extensions at the request of an employing SC school. Educators that do not receive an extension to their certificate or who do not complete renewal requirements each five years must reapply for a new Initial certificate under current application requirements.
An example timeline is provided below:
| Initial Certificate Validity |
Requirements for Maintenance |
| During Original 3 Year Validity |
No requirements to maintain certification |
| End of 3 Year Validity |
- Advance to Professional;
- Advance to Limited Professional; or
- Have your SC school employer request an extension on your behalf
|
| During Extension Years 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 |
- Have your SC school employer request an extension each school year; and
- Begin completing renewal requirements
|
| End of the 5th Extension Year |
- Show that renewal requirements were completed during extension years 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5; and
- Have your SC school employer request an extension
|
| During Extensions Years 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10 |
- Have your SC school employer request an extension each school year; and
- Begin completing renewal requirements
|
| End of the 10th Extension Year |
- Show that Renewal Requirements were Completed during Extension years 6, 6, 8, 9, and 10; and
- Have your SC school employer request an extension
|
Renewal Requirements
In order to remain eligible for extensions each five year cycle, educators employed in a South Carolina private school or employed in a South Carolina public school district position without access to ADEPT must earn 120 eligible renewal credits.
Timeframe Eligibility
Eligible renewal credits must have been earned within the current 5 year extension cycle in order to be applicable toward renewal requirements. Credits earned during a previous 5 year extension cycle or during the original 3 year validity of the Initial certificate are not applicable toward current renewal requirements.
Eligible Renewal Credits
The South Caroline Department of Education (SCDE) has established partnerships with various educational entities which provide professional development coursework and graduate coursework opportunities for Professional certification renewal. All coursework offered by these providers are pre-approved for earning renewal credits. For information on course enrollment, scheduling, costs, content, or credit type, please contact the coursework provider:
In addition to coursework offered through SCDE pre-approved providers, all coursework pre-approved for meeting endorsement requirements are also pre-approved for earning renewal credits.
Educators may also complete academic credit-bearing coursework through a Regionally Accredited Institute of Higher Education for renewal credit.
- 1 semester hour = 20 renewal credits
- Eligible coursework must be presented on an Official Transcript
- Eligible coursework must:
- Relate to the educator's current field(s) of certification;
- Meet requirements for adding another field of certification to the educator's certificate; or
- Relate to the topics of technology, curriculum design, or instructional practices
Educators are encouraged to seek pre-approval for any college or university coursework they seek to complete for renewal purposes. For formal course approval, please submit a detailed course description along with a request through My SC Educator Portal. The Office of Educator Services does not offer course approvals via phone call or email.
