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Educator Certification for Speech-Language Pathologists

Steps for an SLP to Apply for Educator Certification

Effective July 1, 2020, the State Board of Education (SBE) approved issuance of educator certificates in the certification field of speech-language pathologist (SLP). The South Carolina Department of Education (SCDE) no longer issues educator certificates in the field of speech-language therapist. For issuance of an educator credential, the SCDE accepts approved master’s level programs for the preparation of SLPs. Acceptable programs include those accredited by the Council on Academic Accreditation (CAA) of the American Speech Hearing Association (ASHA) as well as programs admitted to candidacy by the CAA-ASHA.
 
An SLP applying for an educator certificate must

  • Complete an online application through My SC Educator Portal prior to all other steps.
  • Submit the non-refundable $105 processing fee online through My SC Educator Portal.
  • Complete the fingerprinting and criminal history review process.
  • Submit official transcripts from each college or university attended. The undergraduate transcript determines the earliest date for which an applicant may receive educator experience credit; the transcript for the SLP program is necessary to determine if the certificate will be issued at the Master’s or Master’s +30 class level for compensation purposes.
  • Upload a legible copy of a current, valid SLP or SLP Intern license issued by LLR to My SC Educator Portal.
    • Note: An applicant who submits a legible copy of a current, valid SLP Intern license issued by LLR must also document a qualifying score on the required Praxis assessment by requesting an official score report from ETS.
  • If applicable, submit Experience Verification Form(s) to receive educator experience credit for work as an SLP providing services to children and/or to document experience as an SLP or teacher working in a public school setting (either as an employee of a school district or a third-party provider).
  • If applicable, upload a copy of any valid out-of-state educator certificate to My SC Educator Portal.

Certificate Information

To be issued a South Carolina educator certificate at the Professional level, and individual must meet the following requirements:

  • Completion of a state-approved certification program at the master's level or higher meeting South Carolina State Board of Education requirements for the preparation of speech-language pathologists
or 
  • Completion of a preparation program for speech-language pathologists at the master's level or higher approved by the Council of Academic Accreditation in Speech-Language Pathology of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association
    • An individual with an active SLP license issued by LLR will be issued the SLP certification field.
    • An individual with an active SLP Intern license issued by LLR will be issued the SLP Intern certification field for a period of up to one school year. The certificate in SLP Intern may be extended if needed by submitting a renewed active SLP Intern. 
      • Note: For issuance of the educator certification, an applicant who submits an active SLP Intern license issued by LLR must also document a qualifying score on the required Praxis assessment by requesting an official score report from ETS. 
    • To update the certification field from SLP Intern to SLP, the individual must submit a request through My SC Educator Portal and upload a copy of the active SLP. The LLR license submitted must be valid beyond the June 30 expiration date of the current educator certificate. 

Individuals with an Educator Certificate in the Field of Speech-Language Therapist

Individuals currently certified in the field of Speech-Language Therapist may continue to maintain and renew that credential and serve in their current roles. To maintain the certificate in the field of Speech-Language Therapist, the educator must meet standard certificate renewal requirements every five years.
 
An SLP who holds an educator certificate in the field of Speech-Language Therapist may request an evaluation to determine eligibility for the certification field of speech-language Pathologist by submitting a request to add an area through My SC Educator Portal. Once submitted, upload a PDF copy of a valid SLP license issued by the South Carolina Department of Labor, Licensing, and Regulation (LLR) to My SC Educator Portal.

 

SLPs with Expired South Carolina Educator Certificates

Professional Certificates Expired Less than Ten Years

An SLP with a South Carolina Professional certificate that has been expired less than ten years is eligible to request renewal if all requirements have been met.

Professional Certificates Expired More than Ten Years

If an SLP previously held a South Carolina Professional educator certificate that has been expired for more than 10 years, the individual must:

  • Complete an online application through My SC Educator Portal prior to all other steps.
  • Submit the non-refundable $105 processing fee online through My SC Educator Portal.
  • Complete the fingerprinting and criminal history review process.
  • Submit official transcripts from each college or university attended. The undergraduate transcript determines the earliest date for which an applicant may receive educator experience credit; the transcript for the SLP program is necessary to determine if the certificate will be issued at the Master’s or Master’s +30 class level for compensation purposes.
  • Upload a legible copy of a current, valid SLP or SLP Intern license issued by LLR to My SC Educator Portal.
  • If applicable, submit Experience Verification Form(s) to receive educator experience credit for work as an SLP providing services to children and/or to document experience as an SLP or teacher working in a public school setting (either as an employee of a school district or a third-party provider).
  • If applicable, upload a copy of any valid out-of-state educator certificate to My SC Educator Portal.

Once all required documentation listed above is submitted, the SCDE will issue a Professional educator certificate to eligible individuals. Documentation submitted previously remains on file. The certificate will be issued for a five-year period.

Expired Initial Certificates

If an SLP previously held a South Carolina Initial educator certificate that is expired, the individual must:

  • Complete an online application through My SC Educator Portal prior to all other steps.
  • Submit the non-refundable $105 processing fee online through My SC Educator Portal.
  • Complete the fingerprinting and criminal history review process.
  • Submit official transcripts from each college or university attended. The undergraduate transcript determines the earliest date for which an applicant may receive educator experience credit; the transcript for the SLP program is necessary to determine if the certificate will be issued at the Master’s or Master’s +30 class level for compensation purposes.
  • Upload a legible copy of a current, valid SLP or SLP Intern license issued by LLR to My SC Educator Portal.
  • If applicable, submit Experience Verification Form(s) to receive educator experience credit for work as an SLP providing services to children and/or to document experience as an SLP or teacher working in a public school setting (either as an employee of a school district or a third-party provider).
  • If applicable, upload a copy of any valid out-of-state educator certificate to the Educator Portal.

Once all required documentation is submitted, the SCDE will issue a Professional educator certificate to eligible individuals.

Performance Evaluation Process

SLPs Employed Directly by a School District

  • SLPs employed directly by a school district will participate in the district's evaluation process using the appropriate model of the state's system for assisting, developing, and evaluating professional teaching (ADEPT). They will follow the same contract levels as other certified educators
    • SLPs must successfully complete the ADEPT summative evaluation process at the annual contract level to be eligible for a continuing contract. 

Contracted SLPs

  • SLPs employed through a third-party vendor will be evaluated using the employer’s protocols. An employer may choose to use the state’s ADEPT evaluation model for SLPs in conjunction with a school district but is not required to do so.

Certificate Renewal Requirements

An individual holding an educator certificate only in the instructional service field of Speech-Language Pathologist is eligible to renew the educator certificate by submitting a current copy of the valid SLP license issued by the South Carolina Department of Labor, Licensing, and Regulation (LLR). The SLP may request to renew the educator certificate after January 1 of the year in which the certificate will expire and must submit an LLR license that will be valid beyond the June 30 expiration date of the educator certificate. For example, if the educator certificate will expire June 30, 2025, the LLR license submitted must be valid beyond June 30, 2025.

An educator holding both SLP certification and additional certification fields (e.g., classroom teaching, leadership, etc.) must earn a total of 120 renewal credits every five years to renew. Credits earned to renew the LLR license may be applied to the required 120 credits for certificate renewal. 

Educators holding SLP certification or multiple certification fields are still required to meet any additional legislative renewal requirements related to their current certification and employment. Educators working in public middle and high schools must complete the suicide awareness and prevention training requirements of the Jason Flatt Act.

Certificate Renewal Procedures

Educators Employed by a School District

All licenses, certificates of completion, and official transcripts documenting renewal credits must be submitted to your district's renewal coordinator or personnel office, following procedures established by the district. District renewal coordinators will then enter renewal credits on behalf of their employees. The SCDE does not process certificate renewal or enter renewal credits for educators employed by a school district.

Educators Otherwise Employed

Educators not employed in South Carolina public school districts should submit their renewal documentation to the SCDE for evaluation. To request a renewal evaluation, the educator must:
  • submit a request to renew a Professional certificate in My SC Educator Portal;
  • upload a copy of an active SLP license issued by LLR;
  • submit official transcript(s) (if credit was earned through a college/university);
  • upload certificates of completion (if credit was earned through SCDE renewal coursework); and
  • upload a copy of your ASHA transcript (if credits were earned through ASHA CEUs)
Once all items indicated above are submitted, the SCDE will review and renew the Professional educator certificate based on the submitted documentation.