The Alternative Pathways to Educator Certification (APEC) Program at Coker University provides a pathway for non-certified employees of partnering school districts to become certified classroom teachers. Participants, or APEC Fellows, receive certification area-specific coursework, ongoing support, and mentoring as they engage in a year-long work-embedded teacher residency alongside a veteran mentor teacher. The first year of the Coker APEC program is the preservice year. Fellows have the option to continue with graduate coursework towards the completion of a Master of Education in Curriculum and Instructional Technology with Coker University.

To learn more about this alternative certification program or to apply, please visit Coker University’s APEC Website. 

Certification Fields

Coker APEC serves employees of partnering school districts in the Pee Dee Region and provides opportunity to seek certification in the following areas:
 

Primary Level

• Early Childhood (PK-3)
• Elementary (Grades 2-6)

K-12

• Art
• Dance
• Music-Choral
• Music-Instrumental
• Physical Education

High School (Grades 9-12)

• Biology
• Mathematics

 

Eligibility

To be eligible for an alternative certification program, all applicants must first meet the general eligibility requirements in addition to any requirements set by the program. To review the general eligibility requirements, please visit the webpage Guidance for Prospective Alternative Route Certification Program Participants.

Potential candidates for APEC Coker must have a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution. Coker APEC has partnerships with particular school districts. The program has specific deadlines each year. For more information regarding eligibility and deadlines, please visit Coker University’s APEC Website.
 

Certification Overview

Individuals interested in Coker APEC will apply directly to the program provider. If eligible and enrolled, fellows are required to complete the preservice year and the required Praxis subject area examination. Afterwards, the fellows will follow the application requirements for certification with the South Carolina Department of Education. After completion of the application process, and a confirmation of employment in the certification field with a partnership school district, fellows will be issued their first Coker APEC Alternative Route Teaching Certificate and become program participants.

Participants who complete all program requirements after three years certified with the Coker APEC alternative route certificate will be issued a Professional Teaching Certificate.
 

Enrollment Inquiries

The South Carolina Department of Education does not facilitate eligibility evaluation or program participation for Coker APEC. For information regarding this approved alternative certification program, please contact Wendy Folsom at Coker University by phone (843-383-8136) or by email (wfolsom@coker.edu).