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Certification Reciprocity Process for South Carolina School Counselors
If you are a school counselor seeking certification in South Carolina through reciprocity, you have specific requirements and application processes to follow (see SC Out-of-State Overview). The process ensures that your credentials and experience from another state are recognized, provided they meet South Carolina’s standards. Here are the steps and requirements for certification:
Avenues for Certification
- Initial Certificate
- Professional Certificate
Requirements for Each Avenue
Initial Certificate
- Eligibility:
- Less than twenty-seven (27) months of qualifying educator experience within the last seven (7) years.
- Application Requirements:
- Create a user account in the My SC Educator Portal.
- Complete the Standard Application.
- Pay the $105 nonrefundable application processing fee online.
- Complete the fingerprinting process and criminal records review.
- Submit Official Transcripts from all colleges/universities attended.
- Provide a copy of your valid, current out-of-state credential.
- Submit proof of a qualifying score on the Professional School Counselor Exam (ETS Test Code 5422) or a passing score from your licensing state’s examination.
- Submit an Experience Verification Form completed by each employer.
- Additional Requirements:
- Must complete South Carolina’s summative evaluation process as part of the ADEPT system.
- Document the successful completion of a pedagogy assessment within the validity period of the Initial certificate.
- Certificate Validity:
- Up to three (3) school years, nonrenewable but extendable at the request of an employing school district.
Professional Certificate
- Eligibility:
- At least twenty-seven (27) months of qualifying educator experience within the last seven (7) years.
- Application Requirements:
- Same as the Initial Certificate, with the additional requirement of providing twenty-seven (27) months of qualifying experience.
- Additional Requirements:
- While employed in a public school setting, complete South Carolina’s summative evaluation process as part of the ADEPT system to advance to a continuing contract.
- Certificate Validity:
- Professional certificate, renewable, allows adding leadership and administrative fields.
If you need further assistance during your application process, you can email certification@ed.sc.gov or call the Educator Services help desk at (803)-896-0325.