Alternative Teaching Certification in South Carolina
South Carolina offers several state-approved alternative certification routes for candidates who hold a bachelor’s degree, including PACE, ABCTE, Teach for America, Teachers of Tomorrow, and Adjunct Teaching Certification. Most require a criminal background check and the applicable South Carolina Praxis assessment, though eligibility, testing, and experience requirements vary significantly by pathway.
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South Carolina is short on qualified teachers in nearly every subject area, and the state has built five separate routes for career changers to reach the classroom without a traditional education degree. The Program of Alternative Certification for Educators (PACE), American Board for Certification of Teaching Excellence (ABCTE), Teach for America (TFA), Teachers of Tomorrow (ToT), and Adjunct Teaching Certification each work differently, but all let you start teaching before you finish every requirement for full certification.
Interested in learning about the traditional approach? Contact schools offering teaching certification programs in South Carolina.
Already hold a teaching certificate from another state? South Carolina’s teacher reciprocity agreements may qualify you for certification without going through one of these alternative routes.
Most alternative pathways require a bachelor’s degree and a criminal background check, but eligibility, testing, coursework, and prior preparation requirements differ by program. Some routes, including PACE and Teachers of Tomorrow, are intended for candidates who haven’t completed a traditional educator preparation program, while others have their own separate eligibility rules. Check the specific pathway’s current requirements before applying.
PACE – After meeting education, experience, and examination requirements, you will be issued a Statement of Eligibility to teach. Then, you must find a teaching position in South Carolina and begin your educator training program while teaching. A training program will be designed for you and will include three courses, which must be taken at a college/university housing a teacher education program in the state. Once you have completed the induction phase and passed the pedagogy exam, you may proceed to apply for a Professional Certificate.
ABCTE – After meeting education requirements and obtaining a South Carolina teaching position, you will receive an Alternate Route Certificate. You may teach under this certificate for three years, complete the induction and evaluation program, and pass the pedagogy exam before advancing to the Professional Certificate.
TFA– After meeting requirements, you will receive an Initial Certificate and be placed as a teacher into a high-need area of the state. You must commit to teach there for at least two years while completing the program. If you teach for a third year and complete additional education requirements, you will earn a Professional Certificate.
Teachers of Tomorrow (ToT) – The South Carolina General Assembly authorized this for-profit alternative route in 2017 for career changers who hold a bachelor’s degree but haven’t completed a teacher preparation program. After meeting ToT’s admission requirements, you begin teaching under an alternative route certificate while completing the program’s coursework and evaluations.
Adjunct Teaching Certification – A school district that wishes to employ you must contact the Department of Education requesting Adjunct Teaching Certification if you meet requirements. You must be assigned a mentor in your content area and receive annual evaluations while teaching under the Adjunct Teaching Certificate. You must also complete professional development requirements each year you have the certificate. You may only teach two credit-bearing courses in your area each school year. This certification does not lead to professional certification.
Alternative Certification Requirements
Education Requirements
PACE:
- You must have a bachelor’s degree (or 30 semester hours of undergraduate coursework or 24 hours of graduate coursework) in a PACE-approved content area to enter the program
- After enrollment, you must complete your training program and three designated courses
ABCTE:
- You must have at least a bachelor’s degree in one of the following areas (and wish to teach that area): English, Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, Physics or Science to enter the program
TFA:
- You must have at least a bachelor’s degree in a certifiable area from a state-approved teacher education program to enter the program.
- Once enrolled in the program, you must complete 9 semester hours of graduate-level coursework
Teachers of Tomorrow (ToT):
- You must have a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university and not have completed student teaching in a traditional teacher preparation program
Adjunct Teaching Certification:
- You must have at least a bachelor’s degree and either a major in a South Carolina certification area listed here or pass the applicable Praxis Subject Assessment for that area (see below).
- Once you receive the Adjunct Teaching Certificate, you must complete 20 contact hours of professional development for each year that you hold the certificate.
Examinations
PACE:
- You must pass the applicable Praxis Subject Assessment(s) for your area of certification prior to entering the program. After entering the program, you must pass the Praxis Pedagogy exam for your grade level before advancing to the next level of certification, the Professional Certificate
ABCTE:
- You must pass the ABCTE Professional Teaching Knowledge exam prior to entering the program. After entering the program, you must pass the Praxis Pedagogy exam for your grade level before advancing to the next level of certification, the Professional Certificate
TFA:
- You must pass the applicable Praxis Subject Assessment(s) for your content area prior to entering the program. After your second year of employment as a teacher, you must pass a competence-building, goals-based evaluation. After successful evaluations for three years, you may apply for a Professional Certificate
Teachers of Tomorrow (ToT):
- You must pass the applicable Praxis Subject Assessment(s) for your content area as part of the certification process
Adjunct Teaching Certification:
- If your major is not in a certification area, you must pass the applicable Praxis Subject Assessment for that area.
Experience Requirements
PACE:
- You must have two years of full-time work experience (or a master’s degree)
ABCTE:
- No experience is required
TFA:
- No experience is required
Teachers of Tomorrow (ToT):
- No prior teaching experience is required to enter the program
Adjunct Teaching Certification:
- You must have five years of occupational experience within the last ten years in your area of certification
Criminal History Background Check
A criminal history background check is required for all new teachers, regardless of the path they take to teacher certification. Your fingerprints must be taken at one of the currently approved LiveScan fingerprinting agencies listed here.
You are responsible for paying all associated fees. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) will perform the criminal history background check. The State Law Enforcement Division will then process your background check and return the results to the Office of Educator Certification in approximately two weeks.
Contact Information
For more information on alternative certification programs, contact:
PACE: 803-896-0325 or [email protected]
ABCTE: 877-669-2228 or visit the ABCTE website to request information
TFA: Visit the TFA website for information on the next application session.
Teachers of Tomorrow (ToT): Visit the South Carolina Teachers of Tomorrow website for current program and application details.
Adjunct Teaching Certification: 803-734-4066 or [email protected]
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the fastest way to get an alternative teaching certificate in South Carolina?
ABCTE and Teachers of Tomorrow both let you begin teaching without prior experience, so they’re typically the quickest entry points if you already hold a bachelor’s degree in an eligible content area. PACE and Adjunct Teaching Certification require two and five years of relevant experience, respectively, before you can start.
Do I need a background check for alternative certification in South Carolina?
Yes. Every alternative route requires a state and federal criminal history background check, processed through the FBI and the State Law Enforcement Division. You’ll have your fingerprints taken at a LiveScan agency and pay the associated fees yourself.
Can I switch alternative certification programs partway through?
Generally, no. Each program has its own admission requirements, coursework, and evaluation timeline, and switching means restarting under the new program’s rules. Talk to the South Carolina Department of Education’s Office of Educator Certification before committing to a specific route if you’re unsure which one fits your background.
Does Adjunct Teaching Certification lead to full teacher certification?
No. Adjunct Teaching Certification is designed for professionals teaching a limited number of credit-bearing courses in their area of expertise, not a path to a Professional Certificate. If your goal is full certification, PACE, ABCTE, TFA, or Teachers of Tomorrow are the routes that lead there.
What subjects can I teach through South Carolina’s alternative certification programs?
It depends on the program and your existing degree. ABCTE currently covers English, Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, and Science. PACE and Teachers of Tomorrow cover a broader range of content areas tied to your bachelor’s degree. Check the PACE-approved content areas list for specifics.
- South Carolina has five alternative certification routes — PACE, ABCTE, TFA, Teachers of Tomorrow, and Adjunct Teaching Certification — each with its own timeline and requirements.
- A bachelor’s degree and a clean background check are the common threads — most routes require both, but testing, coursework, and eligibility rules differ by specific pathway.
- Experience requirements vary widely — ABCTE, TFA, and ToT require none, while PACE requires two years and Adjunct Teaching Certification requires five.
- Adjunct Teaching Certification doesn’t lead to full licensure — it’s a separate, limited credential for teaching up to two courses a year in your area of expertise.
Find accredited teacher certification programs in South Carolina, including alternative route options and application requirements for your certification path.
