South Carolina Teacher Licensure Guide for Online Master's Students

Who Licenses Teachers in South Carolina, and Which Exams Does It Use?

South Carolina licenses teachers through South Carolina Department of Education, Office of Educator Certification, and the exams it requires are the Praxis tests from ETS.

For the programs themselves, the online master's in education programs at universities in South Carolina are ranked at the in-state price, and the national and specialty lists cover schools in other states.

How Do I Get a South Carolina Teaching License With an Online Master's?

Getting a South Carolina teaching license with an online master's depends on a program the state can accept, and the Department of Education sets four tests for it: a regionally accredited school, approval by the licensing authority of the program's own state or by NCATE or CAEP, certification approval from that state's education department, and a sufficient student teaching or internship component. South Carolina calls the license an Initial certificate.

Out-of-state alternative programs do not qualify: such a candidate needs a standard certificate from that state or a South Carolina alternative program. Weigh the schools in our elementary education and secondary education rankings against those four tests.

Which Exams Does South Carolina Require for Teacher Certification?

South Carolina requires Praxis subject and pedagogy exams for teacher certification, and the State Board of Education adopts them by statute. Pedagogy can be met with the Praxis Principles of Learning and Teaching or the Pearson edTPA. A candidate sitting for a Praxis exam must name the department as a score recipient, and most tests can be taken at home.

Beginning September 1, 2026, early childhood, elementary and special education candidates must also pass Praxis 5205 Teaching Reading Elementary at 159 or Pearson 890 Foundations of Reading at 233. Higher scores of 165 or 240 add the Read to Succeed Literacy Teacher endorsement.

Can I Transfer a Teaching License to South Carolina From Another State?

A teaching license from another state can become a South Carolina certificate, because the department recognizes valid, standard credentials through the NASDTEC Interstate Agreement. The credential must be current, in good standing and show the issuing state's exams were met. Temporary, emergency, provisional and conditional credentials do not count, and fields earned only by exam, such as special education and ESOL, are not eligible.

Experience sets the level: 27 months in the last seven years, earned in the certificate's own state, brings a Professional certificate, and anything less brings a three-year Initial certificate that needs a pedagogy score. The 2020 Education Commission of the States comparison described the same tiers, and its table sits below.

Do I Need Clearance to Student Teach in a South Carolina School Through an Online Master's Program?

A student teaching placement in a South Carolina public school requires clearance from the Department of Education, whether an online master's program sits in South Carolina or elsewhere. The clearance application is due February 15 for a fall placement or June 15 for spring, and it includes fingerprinting through the state's vendor, since prints taken for another state or purpose cannot be used.

The resulting criminal history report is valid for up to eighteen months, so a delayed placement may mean repeating the fingerprints. An out-of-state candidate whose semester changes must submit an updated application.

Which Certificate Do South Carolina Principals and School Counselors Need?

South Carolina principals and school counselors both need the equivalent of a master's degree and a state-recognized preparation program, and a principal must also meet the experience guidelines for a Professional certificate, because leadership fields cannot be added at the Initial level. Counselors are a service field, which the department exempts from a pedagogy test.

The subject exam is the School Counselor test (5422) for counselors and Praxis 5412 or the School Leaders Licensure Assessment (6990) for principals, per the 2026-27 assessment list. Hold every program in our educational leadership and school counseling lists to that standard.

Does NC-SARA Membership Cover Teacher Certification for South Carolina Online Master's Students?

NC-SARA membership does not cover teacher certification for South Carolina online master's students, because SARA does not address licensing board approval of programs. South Carolina was approved in July 2016 through the southern compact, which helps participating schools reach its residents, yet the Department of Education alone issues certificates.

SARA does require participating schools to say whether a program meets licensure requirements in your state.

What Should I Ask an Online Program Before Enrolling From South Carolina?

Before enrolling from South Carolina, ask the online program for its written conclusion about South Carolina. 34 CFR 668.43 binds a school that promotes licensure preparation to list the states where the program does and does not meet requirements, and to notify you before enrollment if yours falls short or was never reviewed.

Then ask the South Carolina questions: will a college official sign the recommendation form, is the program approved in its own state and not an alternative route, who files your student teaching clearance, and which Praxis and reading exams does the curriculum prepare you for.