DIVISION OF SCHOOL EFFECTIVENESS OFFICE OF EDUCATOR SERVICES

DIVISION OF SCHOOL EFFECTIVENESS OFFICE OF EDUCATOR SERVICES 8301 Parklane Road Columbia SC 29223 WWW. Ed. SC. Gov 1

Requirements for Licensure � A degree from a regionally accredited college or university with either a state-approved teacher education program or from an institution that has programs approved for teacher education by CAEP (formerly NCATE) � Application Form – Available online to complete or print � A copy of the social security card � Recommendation Form � Official College Transcripts � Praxis II Examination Scores � Experience Verification (if applicable) � A separate form must be used for each school or entity. � Partial years listed on separate lines. � Background check from Morpho-Trust � Application fee (can be submitted electronically) 2

Reciprocal Licensure Requirements �If someone is coming in from another state and requesting reciprocal licensure, they must have a current license from another state in a licensure area comparable to SC. A front and back copy must be submitted. �Reciprocal applicants may exempt content area exams. �They will be given professional licensure if they possess three or more years of teaching experience within the last seven years in the state they are presenting licensure from. An initial license will be given if they have less than the required three years experience. Experience verification forms are needed to establish experience credit for the applicants. �If the applicant receives an initial, the educator will be required to take the PLT exam during the three year validity period of the initial license. 3

Approved Programs �Degree from an institution that is regionally accredited and the teacher education program is state board approved in the state they operate in. The only exception to regional accreditation at this time is …. . �South Carolina State Board approved program at Bob Jones University. �Regional Accreditation is by Higher Learning Commision – (Middle States Association, New England Association, North Central Association, Southern Association, Western Association) 4

Required Exams � The required Exams are the Praxis II: Principles of Learning and Teaching exam (PLT) � And Praxis II: Subject/Specialty Area Exams � The official score report must be submitted directly from the Educational Testing Service (ETS) to our agency � If the score(s) are 10 or more years old and no longer available from ETS, the educator may submit a notarized copy of an official score report or an official letter from another state department of education, college/university, or school district verifying the score � If no examination exists for the particular subject area, the educator is still required to submit PLT scores to receive initial certification 5

FBI Fingerprint Card and Background Check �The applicant must undergo a criminal records check by the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division �And a national criminal records check supported by fingerprints conducted by the FBI �Eligible applicants who have prior arrests and/or convictions must be approved by the State Board of Education before a license can be issued to them � Background checks from other states or agencies are not transferable to South Carolina. 6

Initial Licensure �Initial licenses are issued for three years. Initial licenses are issued to candidates who have recently completed a teacher education program or to educators seeking reciprocal licensure with another state and they have less than 3 years of educator experience in the state they are coming from. The 3 years experience must have been earned in the last 7 years. �Educators must present the PLT exam and successfully pass ADEPT evaluation to advance to a Professional level license. 7

Initial Licenses are Non-Renewable Licenses � Public School Employment If you are employed in the public school system and have not completed the ADEPT evaluation or passed the PLT within the three year validity period of your initial license, the school district may request a one year extension to provide you more time to meet licensure advancement requirements. Educators are permitted four 1 -year contracts. � Private School Employment (or any school unable to provide ADEPT evaluation) If you are not able to complete ADEPT evaluation because you are in a school that does not offer ADEPT, you may have your initial license extended annually at the request of the employer. Educator will be required to submit 120 renewal credits every five years to continue the annual extensions. 8

Professional License �Professional License is issued for five year validity period � 120 renewal credits must be submitted every five years to renew the license for an additional five years �Districts and educational entities oversee the renewal process for their employees. If your district is not going to handle the renewals for your employees, you should contact Marcia Berry (803 -896 -0307) regarding your option to be an educational entity for license renewal. This provides more renewal credit options for your school and your educators. 9

RENEWAL OF CREDENTIALS Professional Certificates An educator who is not currently employed in a South Carolina school district or an approved entity must earn 120 renewal credits (or 6 semester hours) coursework outlined in: � Option One (college credit) � And/or Option Two (SDE) of the Renewal Credit Matrix � And/or Option Three – ASHA credits or Bd. Of Psychology Credits The coursework must relate to one of the following: �The educator’s current area(s) of certification, or �Coursework leading to another area of certification, or �Coursework in special education and/or technology 10

Foreign Teachers �If you have a foreign teacher here on work visa who is seeking licensure, please contact: J 1 Visas – Sherry Schneider – 803 -896 -0384 H 1 B Visas – Sharon Keefe – 803 -896 -0399 11

Other Licensure Transactions �Upgrading Licenses to Bachelor’s +18, Masters +30, Doctorate Levels �Adding areas of Licensure �Evaluating files for upgrade or add-on licensure �Adding experience credit to educator files �Program approvals for advanced degrees or licensure add-on �Course approvals for licensure add-on or licensure renewal 12

Request for Change Action Form All of the licensure transactions mentioned can be requested by the educator completing and submitting the Request for Change Action form. This form is available on our website. It can be completed and printed online but it is not electronically submitted from our website. Educators may mail, email or fax this form to us. Fax Number – 803 -896 -0368 13

Call Center �The Office of Educator Services Call Center is open from 1: 00 PM to 4: 30 PM, Monday through Friday. �Toll Free Number: 877 -885 -5280 �Local Number: 803 -896 -0325 14