South Carolina Special Education Teacher Guide
Everything you need to know about becoming a special education teacher in South Carolina: licensing requirements, continuing education, salary data, and key resources. Whether you’re just starting out or renewing your license, this is your complete South Carolina guide.
How to Become a Special Education Teacher in South Carolina
What is a child study team? It’s a question every new special education teacher eventually asks, and the honest answer is: it depends on the state. As NASET’s own Referral to the Child Study Team guide explains, this school-based team goes by different names depending on where you teach; Child Study Team (CST), School Building Level Committee, Pupil Personnel Team, or Prereferral Team, among others. In South Carolina specifically, the equivalent process runs through Child Find, the state’s continuing effort to locate and evaluate all children with disabilities, supported locally by school-based teams often called MTSS or Student Support Teams.
To become certified, candidates need a bachelor’s degree from a state-approved educator preparation program, and must pass a pedagogy assessment (fulfilled through Praxis PLT, PPAT, or edTPA) along with the Praxis Subject Test for special education. New teachers receive a three-year, non-renewable Initial Certificate, then advance to a five-year Professional Certificate after completing the ADEPT summative evaluation process.
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Continuing Education & License Renewal in South Carolina
South Carolina’s Professional Certificate renews every five years and requires 120 renewal credits or Continuing Education Units (CEUs), tracked through the My SC Educator Portal. Starting July 1, 2026, completing a district’s annual professional development program alone will satisfy all renewal credit requirements for new cycles, streamlining the process considerably.
South Carolina doesn’t operate a state-level approval list for outside providers, so NASET course completion certificates are best submitted directly to your district for review as CEU credit ahead of that transition.
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Special Education Teacher Salary in South Carolina
The earning potential for South Carolina special education teachers varies by experience, location, and credentials:
- Average salary: $55,000–$62,000 per year
- Entry-level (0–3 years): around $42,000–$49,000
- Experienced (8+ years): up to $70,000–$80,000
- National Board Certification bonus: an additional $5,000 per year
- Key factors: district pay scale, shortage-area incentives, location within the state
A new state law sets a $52,000 minimum salary specifically for full-time certified special education teachers beginning with the 2026–2027 school year, and pursuing board certification remains one of the more reliable ways to strengthen your case for career advancement beyond that floor.
IEPs in South Carolina
13.8% of South Carolina students hold an IEP, slightly above the national average of 13%, and the U.S. Department of Education rates the state’s ability to meet IDEA requirements as “Meets Requirements,” the highest possible rating. The Office of Special Education Services (OSES) oversees compliance across the state’s 85 districts. Reviewing strong IEP models alongside determining measurable annual goals in an IEP can help teachers write IEPs that hold up to review, whether the referral came through Child Find or a parent request.
👉 Become a NASET Member today for full access to our IEP toolkit, sample IEPs, and progress-monitoring resources!
Key Resources for South Carolina Special Education Teachers
State Resources:
- OSES — South Carolina Department of Education — Child Find procedures, IEP guidance, and compliance resources
- South Carolina Council for Exceptional Children (SCCEC) — professional development and networking for special educators (verify SC-specific chapter URL before publishing)
- SCDE — Educator Certification — certification pathways, renewal options, and the My SC Educator Portal
- Referral to the Child Study Team — NASET’s guide to how pre-referral teams work across different states
- Complete State-by-State Special Education Teacher Guide
Understanding how your specific district structures its MTSS or Student Support Team process is one of the most practical things a new South Carolina special education teacher can learn early, since it directly shapes how and when students reach you for services.
Advance Your Career With NASET
The National Association of Special Education Teachers is the leading professional organization for special education teachers in the United States, and South Carolina educators are among the most active in the NASET special education community. Whether you are just starting out or are a veteran looking to grow, NASET is built for you.
The Membership gives you unlimited access to professional development resources, publications, job boards, and district-eligible courses, everything a South Carolina SPED educator needs in one place.
The Board Certified Special Educator (BCSE) certification demonstrates your expertise and commitment to the field, and counts toward your South Carolina district renewal credit when submitted with approval numbers AUN# 300003228 or CPE# 910014.
Whether you are renewing your license, exploring IEP best practices, or building toward certification, NASET special education membership is your partner for every stage of your career in South Carolina.
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