Overview of South Carolina Testing Requirements

For initial licensure in South Carolina, all candidates must:

• Meet degree and licensure requirements for their licensure area.
• Pass the Principles of Learning and Teaching (PLT) test, with the exception of alternate route applicants meeting the criteria of their licensure process.
• Pass the appropriate Praxis Subject Assessments required for their licensure area.
• Submit the appropriate licensure form and fees.

For complete information on educator licensure, access the South Carolina Department of Education, Office of Educator Services licensure requirements.

• If you test in South Carolina at a test center or at home, and your Praxis profile address is in South Carolina, your score report will be sent automatically to the South Carolina Department of Education.
• If you test outside South Carolina or your Praxis profile address is not in South Carolina, your scores are NOT automatically sent to the South Carolina Department of Education. To have your scores sent to the South Carolina Department of Education, you must select the South Carolina Department of Education (state code 8108) as a score recipient when you register.
• For all methods of Praxis testing, to request additional score reports you must select the South Carolina Department of Education (state code 8108) with each additional score report request.

• South Carolina requires a Social Security Number (SSN) in order to process educator licensure paperwork. ETS does not require your SSN for its own purposes, but will submit it to South Carolina with your test results. Failure to provide your SSN may delay processing of your licensure application.
• ETS discontinued paper-delivered testing; however, Praxis tests will continue to be available in a paper-delivered format as required for ADA accommodations. All scores for previously administered paper-delivered tests are reportable for 10 years from the date the test was taken.

Applicants entering approved educator preparation programs must take the Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators (Core) exams. Graduates of approved educator preparation programs and certified educators who are adding areas to existing certificates must present the required Praxis test scores to qualify for licensure.

Applicants with a valid, standard certificate issued by another state, a U.S. territory or the Department of Defense Dependents Schools (DoDDS), may be eligible for licensure through South Carolina's reciprocity agreement. Interstate reciprocity does not apply to Career and Technology Education Work-based Licensure.

The submission of a completed application packet is required for reciprocity. Applicants should be certain to submit all required documentation to the South Carolina Department of Education, Office of Educator Services.

Applicants who are eligible for reciprocity will not be required to take the South Carolina content test(s) for licensure. Content tests may be needed to meet federal No Child Left Behind content competency requirements.

In South Carolina, you must take the appropriate Praxis tests for each area of licensure you seek.