An educator who has advanced to a Professional certificate, typically valid for five school years, must earn 120 renewal credits during that five-year period to renew the certificate.
Options for earning renewal credit depend on an educator’s employment status and are outlined in the State Board of Education (SBE) Renewal Credit Matrix. As part of these credits, an educator may also need to meet Read to Succeed (R2S) endorsement requirements and Jason Flatt Act suicide awareness training requirements that are established in state statute.
The South Carolina Department of Education (SCDE) Certificate Renewal Matrix is intended to encourage educators, throughout their careers, to engage in meaningful, quality professional development activities that are directed toward promoting student achievement.
All educators, regardless of their employment, may use Options 1-3 of the Renewal Credit Matrix to renew their Professional certificate. These options include:
- College Coursework
- Certificate Renewal Courses Approved by SCDE
- Continuing Education Units (CEUs) approved by the SCDE
Educators employed in a South Carolina public school district or a participating renewal entity have an expanded range of relevant opportunities for earning renewal credits, including the many professional development offerings coordinated by their employers. These expanded opportunities are outlined in Options 4-11 of the Renewal Credit Matrix and allow educators to earn renewal credits for:
- Professional Publications
- Instructional Activities (e.g., teaching a college course)
- Professional Trainings
- Serving as a Professional Assessor or Evaluator
- Mentorship, Supervision, or Instructional Coaching
- Educational Projects, Collaborations, Grants, or Research
- Professional Development Activities (e.g., conferences, workshops, task forces)
- Professional Development CEU Credits
The Renewal Credit Options webpage provides detailed information about each of the renewal opportunities for earning renewal credits. This page also includes a list of SCDE-approved professional development course providers.
Additional information regarding certificate renewal may be found on the following webpages:
Requesting Renewal
Educators working in a public school district or a participating renewal entity must submit documentation of their renewal credits to their employer and request renewal through the employer.
Educators who are not working in a public school district or a participating renewal entity must request renewal through their user account in My SC Educator Portal and submit documentation to the SCDE Office of Educator Services.
Expired Certificates
An educator is eligible to renew an expired Professional certificate up to ten school years past the expiration date. Although the educator may renew the expired certificate at any time within this ten-year period, the renewal credits must have been earned within the five-year period prior to the request for renewal.
If the Professional certificate has been expired more than ten years, the educator must reapply for certification and meet all current requirements, pursuant to State Board of Education regulation.
Retired Educator Certificate
Educators who held a Professional certificate at the time they retired from a South Carolina public school district may be eligible to apply for the Retired Educator Certificate. The lifetime credential allows educators to maintain a certification for the purpose of returning to employment with a school district on a full- or part-time basis. The Retired Educator certificate is initially issued for a period of five school years and may be maintained every five years by submitting the required request via the Educator Portal. The Retired Educator certificate does not require renewal credits to maintain.
Becoming a Renewal Credit Provider
Educational entities and organizations interested in providing renewal credit opportunities to South Carolina educators should review the Becoming a Renewal Credit Provider webpage.
