To address the goal of recruiting, retaining, and distributing highly effective teachers throughout South Carolina, especially in rural school districts, the State Board of Education adopted a resolution to implement Teach for America (TFA) in South Carolina. This national program is designed to bring future leaders into classrooms by recruiting and training those who commit to teach for two years in TFA partnership school districts and become lifelong advocates of educational excellence and equity.
To learn more about this alternative certification program or to apply, please visit the South Carolina Teach for America website.
Certification Areas
TFA participants are eligible for alternative certification in all classroom-based content areas. The program provider may choose the certification area based upon the needs of its partnership districts.
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 Teach for America must have a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution and have a passing score on the appropriate Praxis subject area assessment. The program has specific deadlines each year. For more information regarding eligibility, please visit the South Carolina Teach for America website.
Certification Overview
Individuals interested in Teach for America will apply directly to the program provider and will need to be admitted. Once TFA summer training and a passing score on the appropriate Praxis subject area assessment are successfully completed, candidates will follow the application requirements for certification with the South Carolina Department of Education. After completion of the application process, and confirmation of employment in the certification field with a TFA partnership district, candidates will be issued their first Teach for America Alternative Route Teaching Certificate and become program participants.
Participants who complete all program requirements after three years of program involvement will be issued a Professional Teaching Certificate.
Enrollment Inquiries
The South Carolina Department of Education does not facilitate eligibility evaluation or program participation for Teach for America. For information regarding this approved alternative certification program, please contact SouthCarolina@TeachforAmerica.org.
Additional details regarding this program can be found on our Guidelines for the South Carolina Teach for America Program webpage.
