Certification Frequently Asked Questions

The customer support team in the Office of Educator Services is available to assist applicants and educators by email and telephone. Please note that complete certification applications and requests with all documentation on file are evaluated in the order in which they are received.
 

Customer Support by Email

When contacting Educator Services by email, you must provide your full name and EID account number so that we can access your certification record. Please direct your email inquiry to the appropriate email account:

Alternative Certification Programs: altcertification@ed.sc.gov
Career and Technical Education (CTE) Work-based Certification: ctecertification@ed.sc.gov
Educator Certification: certification@ed.sc.gov
 

Customer Support by Phone

Telephone assistance is available at (803) 896-0325 during the following hours except on state holidays.
 

Day	Telephone Hours
Monday	12:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Tuesday	9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Wednesday	12:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Thursday	9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Friday	12:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

To apply for South Carolina educator certification, complete the following procedures:

1. Choose and qualify for a pathway to certification.
2. Submit an electronic application request through My SC Educator Portal.
3. Submit all application materials required for your chosen certification pathway.

South Carolina offers several pathways to certification, each with its own eligibility criteria and application requirements. Please see the Guidance for Prospective Educators webpage for an overview of each pathway leading to educator certification in South Carolina.  After choosing a pathway, you may Begin the Application Process.

Requests may be made using My SC Educator Portal. In addition, most supporting documents and forms may be uploaded directly into your certification records through the portal. Schools or agencies that are completing a form or providing supporting documents on an educator's behalf may email PDF attachments to certification@ed.sc.gov.

Additional guidance is available through the following resources:

• Certification Forms
• How to Submit Official Transcripts

Maintenance procedures vary depending on the type of certificate held.  If you are unsure which certificate type you hold, view your certificate through My SC Educator Portal.

Maintaining an Initial Certificate

Initial Certificate Maintenance may be achieved through the following methods:

• Advancing to Professional certification through employment at a South Carolina public school;
• Receiving annual extensions at the request of an employing South Carolina public or private school;
• Advancing to Limited Professional certification through employment at a South Carolina private school; or
• Reapplying for a new Initial certificate.

Maintaining a Professional Certificate

Professional Certificate Maintenance may be achieved through meeting renewal requirements or requesting a school year extension.

Maintaining an Alternate Route Certificate

Alternative Route Certificate Maintenance Requirements differ based on the alternative certification program in which the educator is participating.

Maintaining an Any Other Certificate Type

For advisement on maintenance for any other certificate type, please contact the Office of Educator Services at certification@ed.sc.gov.

All educators holding a Professional certificate are expected to earn an appropriate R2S Endorsement as part of their certificate renewal process. Coursework and timeline requirements differ based on the certificate fields and validity period held. For advisement on required coursework and timelines, please refer to our R2S Endorsements webpage.

Educators must hold an Initial or Professional certificate to qualify for adding any fields or endorsements.  For advisement on available methods for adding fields or endorsements, please visit our Certification Fields & Endorsements webpage.

To receive experience credit on a valid South Carolina educator certificate, the applicant must provide a Verification of Teaching Experience Form, completed by the employer's human resource or payroll personnel.

Additional information regarding experience credit eligibility and alternative documentation, please review the Adding Experience webpage.

The class level designated on an educator certificate indicates the highest degree earned by the individual. An educator who holds a valid South Carolina credential may be eligible for advancement to another class level by completing additional graduate level coursework or degrees from a regionally accredited college/university.

For additional information on class levels and eligibility, please review the Education Class (Degree) Levels webpage.