SC Certification

All employees who hold a position that requires certification must hold a valid SC certificate. Click here to apply for SC Certification. New Employees are required to submit all certification applicant materials to the SC Department of Education by November 1st.

Click here for South Carolina required Praxis exams and view the Praxis Test Centers and Dates

SC Licensure Forms:

• Initial Application/Application Instructions
• Request for Change/Action Form
• Experience Verification Form
• College Recommendation Form

SC Licensure Documents and Information:

• Electronic Fingerprint Procedures
• South Carolina Licensure Manual

Program of Alternative Certification for Educators
The Program of Alternative Certification for Educators (PACE) was established to enable degreed individuals, who otherwise do not meet certification requirements, to gain employment in the public schools in a PACE approved subject area teaching position.

• Click here for PACE eligibility requirements
• Click here to apply for PACE Certification

PACE Forms:

• Application (Online)
• Major Equivalency Statement
• PACE Work Experience Form
• PACE Self Employment Experience Form
• PACE Extension Request Form
• PACE Request for Professional License
• PACE Course Approval Form

Project CREATE is a program offered through South Carolina’s State Department of Education. Their mission is to “grow a highly qualified special education teacher force in the State's public schools. Through a partnership with 11 leading colleges and universities in South Carolina, all with NCATE/State-approved teacher preparation programs in special education, the project underwrites course tuition and textbooks costs for qualified individuals to obtain add-on, alternative, or initial certification in special education.” Qualified individuals in the past have included regular education teachers, classroom aides, and paraprofessionals who meet certain criteria.

The state’s Project CREATE website is located here. Interested individuals should begin at the site and can click on “How to Qualify” at the left side of the screen to answer a series of questions and determine if they’re eligible.

Courses to satisfy Project CREATE requirements are available through state universities, and the contact at CCU for the program is Dr. Sharon Richter (Tel. 843-349-5020; srichter@coastal.edu).

 American Board for Certification of Teacher Excellence (ABCTE) - Passport to Teaching

The American Board is dedicated to preparing, certifying, and supporting individuals who want to improve their communities by becoming a teacher. The training and certification program is designed to inspire career changers to become teachers and give them a rigorous and efficient process to achieve their goals and inspire learning in the classroom.

Questions concerning the certification process, changes (upgrades, adding areas, adding experience) to a certificate, changes in middle level certification, highly qualified requirements, PACE, etc. can be addressed to:

Donna Durant - Certification Specialist
Email: ddurant@horrycountyschools.net
Phone & Fax: 843-488-6909