South Carolina Special Education Certification & Requirements

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Special Education in South Carolina

According to the U.S. Department of Education’s state-by-state rankings of special education services, South Carolina “Meets Requirements,” the highest rating. While the national average of students with disabilities is 13 percent, the proportion of students with special needs in South Carolina is slightly higher, with 13.8 percent holding Individualized Education Programs, reports the National Center for Education Statistics. South Carolina employs over 5,750 special education teachers to staff its 85 school districts. The state has 1,230 public schools, 42 charter schools and 399 private schools. The South Carolina Department of Education (SCDE) and its Office of Exceptional Children oversee regulations pertaining to educator licensure and special education services.

Licensure Requirements

For Undergraduates

To earn an initial certificate to teach in South Carolina, you must complete an accredited teacher education program. Select South Carolina institutions integrate state-approved teacher education programs into undergraduate coursework, while many offer certificate-only programs or graduate degrees in education or special education that can be pursued after earning a bachelor’s degree. Some of the state’s alternative routes to licensure only require a bachelor’s degree in education, special education or a core academic area.

For Graduates

TheSCDE awards certification to college graduates who have completed a valid teacher preparation program or those who hold a master’s or doctorate degree in what SCDE deems an applicable area. See the SCDE’s list of acceptable graduate degrees to determine if a particular course of study meets the requirements for South Carolina licensure.

Types of Licenses

The educator certification section of the SCDE’s website outlines the educator licenses it awards and the criteria to obtain them. New teachers who have competed approved courses of study and comply with fieldwork and testing requirements can receive a three-year renewable Initial Certificate. Transitioning to a five-year Professional Certificate entails passing qualifying exams and meeting formal evaluation requirements.

Reciprocity

The SCDE’s reciprocal applicants guide indicates that educators may be eligible for licensure in South Carolina if they hold a valid standard teaching certificate issued by another state. Refer to the reciprocal programs list to determine if the SCDE recognizes your state’s teaching license for reciprocity. Applicants from outside of the U.S. must have legal immigration and work status and credentials that are comparable to those required of South Carolina educators. In addition, candidates who trained at international institutions must submit their credentials to an approved evaluation service, which will determine equivalency.

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Special Education Degrees in South Carolina

Project CREATE of SC collaborates with local public schools and 13 South Carolina colleges to help would-be special educators obtain alternative certification, initial certification or an endorsement in an area of special education. These certification areas include early childhood special education, emotional disabilities, hearing impairments, learning disabilities, mental disabilities, multi-categorical special education, severe disabilities, visual impairments and speech-language pathology. Project CREATE of SC also supports an advanced-level preparation program in speech-language pathology and a master’s degree program in communication disorders. The Program in Special Education at the University of South Carolina at Columbia is prominent due to its location at the flagship of the state’s university system. It offers three graduate-level degrees: a Master of Arts in Teaching interdisciplinary degree program (leading to teacher certification), a Master of Education (for certified educators) and a Doctor of Philosophy (a path toward administration, teaching at the college level or research). Students in the master’s degree programs can specialize in learning disabilities, emotional behavioral disorders, intellectual disabilities, severe and multiple disabilities or early childhood special education.

For profiles of all the schools in South Carolina that offer master’s in special education programs, click here.

Alternatives to Certification

The SCDE allows several alternative pathways to obtaining South Carolina licensure:

Participants in the highly-selective Program of Alternative Certification for Educators, or PACE, undergo intensive training over a three-year period, designed to help them make career changes to education.
Teach for America draws recent college graduates who participate in training and coursework while teaching in South Carolina’s high-need areas.
Individuals who pass American Board for Certification of Teaching Excellence (ABCTE) exams can begin teaching while working toward the full requirements for certification.
At a more advanced level, the Adjunct Teaching Certificate permits individuals with relevant work experience to teach up to two courses per year in their adjunct content area.

Special Education Jobs

Public schools

South Carolina’s Information Highway (SCIWAY) provides links to education jobs in South Carolina. The SCDE’s School Directory links to all of the state’s public school districts.

Private schools

Pattison’s Academy operates programs in several South Carolina locations, serving children with disabilities with a day program, summer camp and early intervention services.

South Carolina Educators and Professional Development

A project of the SCDE, eLearning SC provides online professional growth opportunities in integrating technology and delivering core curriculum. The eLearning SC portal also offers educators an online teaching certification program that allows them to add an endorsement or specialization to a current certificate.
Coastal Carolina University, located in Conway, offers non-degree courses of study for educators in the areas of general and special education.
On-site demonstration lessons, summer institutes and recertification coursework are among the professional development options at SC GEAR UP.

Groups and Organizations for South Carolina Special Educators

The National Education Association-affiliated state teacher’s union, the South Carolina Education Association (SCEA) is open to public school and higher education teachers, support professionals and teachers in training.
The Arc of South Carolina supports people with disabilities and their communities with education, advocacy work and resources.

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South Carolina Special Education Blogs

Family Connection Blog: The official blog of Family Connection South Carolina contains profiles of South Carolina individuals with disabilities and their families, as well as other inspiring and informative features.
Successful Teaching: Patricia Hensley writes about her experiences and ideas as a special education teacher in Greenville.
Trident Academy News & Announcements: Curricular strategies for children with language-based learning challenges, educator profiles and success stories comprise the listings on this private school’s blog.