The career and technical education (CTE) work-based certification program enables individuals with industry work experience in certain career and technical fields to be eligible for employment as a 9-12 grade level teacher in a South Carolina public school district. Once enrolled in the program, participants will attend training institutes, enroll in coursework, and complete examinations while employed in a South Carolina public school district. Participants will have a maximum of five school years (July 1 - June 30) to complete all CTE work-based certification program requirements and earn a Professional work-based teaching certificate.
Academic-Based CTE Fields
The following fields are not eligible for work-based certification and require applicants to complete an approved educator preparation program at a regionally accredited institute of higher education (see Traditional Pathways or Alternative Pathways):
- Agriculture
- Business and Marketing Education
- Computer Science
- Family and Consumer Sciences
- Industrial Technology
Minimum Eligibility Requirements
Career and technical, vocational, trades and industry, or similar types of teaching certificates issued by out-of-state entities are not transferable through reciprocity to South Carolina. Out-of-state applicants must meet all requirements for admission into the CTE work-based certification program that are in effect on the date of receipt of all required application materials.
To become eligible, all applicants must:
- Be at least 18 years of age at the time of application;
- Meet the minimum industry experience requirement for the requested work-based field;
- Complete the fingerprinting process and receive an “All Clear” on a criminal records check by the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division and Federal Bureau of Investigation; and
- Meet the minimum education requirements for the requested work-based field. For more information, please view the CTE Work-Based Fields and Eligibility webpage.
