Student Teaching/Clinical Experience Clearance

To apply for clearance to perform the student teaching, internship, or clinical component of an educator preparation program in a South Carolina public school setting, please visit the Student Teaching Clearance webpage for instructions.

Educator Certification

A South Carolina educator certificate is issued to eligible individuals who have submitted all required documentation. Certification decisions are made based on a complete application, which includes the electronic certification application itself and all supporting documentation. Delays in submitting required materials will prolong the certification process.

To apply for South Carolina educator certification, the applicant must complete the following steps:

• Create a user account and submit an application through My SC Educator Portal prior to all other steps.
• Pay the non-refundable application fee through My SC Educator Portal.
• Complete the Fingerprinting and Criminal History Review Process. Specific instructions for completing the fingerprinting process are available to an applicant through the Educator Portal only after the application for certification is submitted.
• Submit Official Transcripts from all regionally accredited colleges and universities where a degree, undergraduate or graduate coursework, or an educator preparation program was completed.
• Submit Experience Verification Forms for any teaching experience completed after conferral of a bachelor's degree.
• Complete any requirements for the specific certification pathway. Please see the pathways listed for additional information.
  • Military Spouse Applicant
  • Licensed Out-of-State Educator
  • Educator Preparation Program Completer
  • Speech-Language Pathologist
  • School Psychologist
  • Exchange Visitor Teacher Program Participant
  • International Degree Program Completer
  • Advanced Fine Arts Applicant
  • Montessori Education Program Completer
  • Internship Certificate Applicant
  • Adjunct Certificate Applicant
  • Alternative Route Candidate
  • Career and Technical Education (CTE) Work-Based Candidate
  • Retired Educator Certificate
    This option is ONLY available to educators who held a valid, renewable South Carolina certificate at the time of retirement from the South Carolina retirement system

Effective Date of Credentials

Effective dates of credentials are established in State Board of Education Regulation 43-53, Credential Classification. If the Office of Educator Services receives an educator’s request and all required documentation between

• May 1 and November 1: The change in status, if approved, will be effective July 1 of the same calendar year.
• November 2 and April 30: If the educator submitted the request within 45 days of fulfilling the requirements, the change in status, if approved, will be effective on the date that all requirements were satisfied.
• November 2 and April 30: If the educator submitted the request more than 45 days after fulfilling the requirements, the change in status, if approved, will be effective on the date that all information was received by the SCDE.