In addition to meeting minimum eligibility requirements, applicants for the CTE work-based certification program must meet the eligibility requirements for their field.  Each field has its own minimum requirements for education background, industry experience, and industry licenses / certifications / examinations / credentials.

• Minimum Eligibility Requirements
• Application Procedures

Eligibility Requirements by Field

Certification Area	Minimum Education Requirement	Eligibility Requirement	Industry Certification Required after Year 1	Minimum Years of Work Experience Required
Automotive Collision Repair	High School Diploma/GED	Demonstrated work experience as an automotive collision repair or master repair technician.	Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) certification  Master Collision Repair/Refinishing Technician or I-Car Certification	4
Automotive Technology	High School Diploma/GED	Demonstrated work experience as an automotive repair technician.	ASE certification Suspension/Steering  Brakes  Electrical/Electronic Systems  Engine Performance  G1 Maintenance & Light Repair	4
Aviation	High School Diploma/GED	Aviation Certification	Aviation Certification	4
Barbering	High School Diploma/GED	Demonstrated work experience as a barber.  South Carolina Labor Licensing & Regulation (SC LLR) license for Master Barber Instructor		4
Carpentry	High School Diploma/GED	Demonstrated work experience as a residential or commercial carpenter.  Company owner/manager experience only does not meet experience requirement for this area of certification. Cabinetry/roofing/framing alone does not qualify.	NCCER Commercial Carpenter Certificate or NCCER Craft Instructor Certificate or SC LLR Residential Builder License	4
Commercial Transportation	High School Diploma/GED	Valid CDL License (Class A for tractor trailers) and clean driving record.	Commercial Vehicle Training Association (CVTA) Instructor Certification	2
Clothing Design and Construction	Associate's Degree in Related Area	Approval required from Office of Career and Technology.		2
Cosmetology	High School Diploma/GED	Demonstrated work experience as a cosmetologist.  SC LLR Instructor license.		4
Culinary Arts	Associate’s Degree in Culinary Arts or Baking & Pastry	Demonstrated work experience as a chef or sous chef and directly involved in the preparation of food.  Restaurant owner/manager experience only does not meet the requirement.	Certified Culinary Educator (ACF) or Food Safety and Sanitation Instructor Certification	2
Diesel Technology	High School Diploma/GED	Demonstrated work experience as a diesel engine repair technician.	ASE certifications: Diesel Engines Suspension & Steering Brakes  Electrical/Electronic Systems	4
Digital Art and Design	Minimum Associate’s Degree in Related Area	Demonstrated work experience in the marketing or advertising industry directly responsible for the design, development and production of print or web marketing and advertising materials.	Adobe Certified Associate (ACA)  Adobe Photoshop AND ACA Adobe InDesign AND ACA Adobe Illustrator	4
Drafting	Minimum Associate's Degree in Mechanical Engineering, Drafting, CAD, Engineering Drafting, Architectural Engineering, or Civil Engineering	Demonstrated experience in the construction industry with specific experience in drafting field to include CAD and drafting.	Certified SolidWorks Associate-Academic or Certified Autodesk User AutoCAD AND Autodesk Certified User Inventor AND Autodesk Certified User Revit	2
Electricity	High School Diploma/GED	Demonstrated experience as a residential or commercial electrician.	NCCER certification as an industrial electrician  or MASC certification as a journeyman electrician or a residential journeyman electrician or SCLLR Electrician’s License	4
Electronics	High School Diploma/GED	Demonstrated experience as an electronics repair technician.	Electronics Technician Association’s (ETA) DC, AC, Analog, and Digital electronics modules.	4
Emergency and Firefighting Services	High School Diploma/GED	Demonstrated experience as a county or municipal fire fighter.	South Carolina Fire Academy (SCFA) Instructor and Firefighting II and I certified.	4
Engineering Technology	Associate's Degree in Related Area	Office of Career and Technology Education approval required prior to application.	Must obtain certification from: PLTW or Siemens or CORE	2
Environmental Control Systems	High School Diploma/GED	Demonstrated work experience as a Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) residential or commercial installation/repair technician	MASC certification for mechanical or air conditioning journeyman  or NATE Core test and the Heat pump (air to air) service test that will give certification in Heating, Ventilating, and Air Conditioning or  SCLLR HVAC License	4
Esthetics	High School Diploma/GED	Demonstrated work experience in esthetics. SC LLR Instructor license.		4
Global Logistics	Associate's Degree or High School Diploma/GED combined with Supply Chain and Logistics experience	Demonstrated experience with supply chain, transportation, and shipping and receiving. Office of Career and Technology Education approval required prior to application.	Certification in Logistics, Transportation and Distribution (CLTD) from the American Society of Transportation and Logistics. AND SREB Training	4
Graphic Communications	Minimum Associate’s Degree in Related Area	Demonstrated work experience in the print industry; design, pre-press, press; and post-press operations using a variety of mechanical/inked print machines.	South Carolina Department of Education Trade Exam or Certified Graphics Communication Manager from the In-Plant and Mailing Association (IPMA)	4
Health Science Technology	Associate's Degree in Related Area Health Science Certification Areas	Demonstrated work experience in one of the approved health care professions after professional certification.  Professional health care license required. Health Science Certification Areas	Health Science Certification Areas	2
Heavy Equipment	High School Diploma/GED	NCCER Instructor Certification Training Program (ICTP) Certification Demonstrated work experience as a commercial heavy equipment operator and maintenance technician.	CPR AND First Aid AND OSHA-10 for Construction Industry Optional: ASE Certification	4
Hospitality and Tourism	Associate's Degree in Related Area	Demonstrated experience in hotel and motel management, meeting and event planning, or tourism and travel management.	American Hotel and Lodging Association Certification	4
Information Technology	Associate's Degree in Related Area	Demonstrated work experience in the information technology industry. Professional industry certification required.	Microsoft Technology Associate (MTA) certifications/education/training in the area(s) of Networking, Programming, Gaming, Cyber Security, Software, or Hardware Repair.	2
Law Enforcement Services	High School Diploma/GED	Demonstrated work experience as a state, county, or municipal law enforcement officer with patrol experience.  Must be a graduate of a police academy.		4
Machine Tool Technology	High School Diploma/GED	Demonstrated work experience as a machine tool technician.	National Institute for Metalworking Skills (NIMS) State credential.	4
Masonry	High School Diploma/GED	Demonstrated experience as a residential or commercial mason.	NCCER certification for Masonry-Level One	4
Media Technology	Associate’s Degree in Related Area	Demonstrated work experience in the TV/Video broadcasting industry as a producer, assistant producer, director or on-air-reporter. Radio broadcasting experience does not meet the industry work experience requirement for this area of certification.	South Carolina Department of Education Trade Exam	4
Nail Technology	High School Diploma/GED	Demonstrated work experience as a nail technician.  SC LLR Instructor license.		4
Plumbing	High School Diploma/GED	Demonstrated work experience as a residential or commercial plumber.	MASC certification as a journeyman plumber or SCLLR Plumbing License	4
Power Equipment Technology	High School Diploma/GED	Demonstrated work experience as an outdoor power equipment repair technician.	South Carolina Department of Education Trade Exam or Certificate approval by the Office of CTE	4
Welding	High School Diploma/GED	Demonstrated work experience as a welder.	American Welding Society (AWS) certification as a certified welder. or  AWS Certified Welding Educator or AWS B2.1 or D1.1	4

Industry Experience Required Per Education Level

Education	Work Industry Experience
Any post-secondary degree not in the requested area of certification OR a high school diploma/GED certificate	A minimum of 4 years (12 months within last five years)
30 semester hours in the requested area of certification	A minimum of 3 years (12 months within last five years)
60 semester hours OR an associate’s degree in the requested area of requested certification	A minimum of 2 years (12 months within last five years)
90 semester hours OR an associate’s degree +30 semester hours in the requested area of certification	A minimum of 1 years (12 months within last five years)
Bachelor’s, master’s, or doctorate degree in the requested area of certification	A minimum of 6 months (6 months within last five years)

Ineligible Fields

The CTE certificate fields below are classified as academic and are not certified under the work-based program. Certification in these academic fields is obtained by completing an approved educator preparation program from a regionally accredited institute of higher education or participating in a South Carolina Department of Education approved alternative certification program (see Traditional Pathways or Alternative Pathways).

• Agriculture Education
• Business and Marketing Education
• Computer Science
• Family and Consumer Sciences
• Industrial Technology Education