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
NASET special education support starts with knowing what South Carolina requires of its educators. Over 5,750 special educators serve 85 districts across the Palmetto State, and according to the U.S. Department of Education, the state holds the highest rating of “Meets Requirements” for its NASET special education programs, with 13.8% of students holding active IEPs. Here is what the certification process looks like.
Certification is managed through the South Carolina Department of Education (SCDE) via the My SC Educator Portal. To earn your initial teaching certificate in special education, you will need:
- A bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university
- Completion of a state-approved Educator Preparation Program (EPP), including student teaching or a clinical experience
- Passage of the required Praxis II subject area exams for your specialty (such as autism, learning disabilities, intellectual disabilities, or hearing impairments)
- Passage of the Praxis pedagogy exam
- Successful completion of the ADEPT evaluation during your first years in the classroom
The Initial Certificate is valid for three years and cannot be renewed. To advance to the Professional Certificate, which is valid for five years and renewable, you must pass all required Praxis exams and complete the ADEPT evaluation before the Initial Certificate expires. Compare certification requirements across all 50 states
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Continuing Education & License Renewal in South Carolina
South Carolina requires 120 renewal credits every five years to renew a Professional Certificate. Renewal is submitted through the My SC Educator Portal, and all documentation must be on file before the certificate expiration date.
Teachers with Professional Certificates expiring in 2020 or later must also complete the Read to Succeed (R2S) Literacy Teacher endorsement as part of the renewal process. Coursework completed for R2S also counts toward the 120-credit total, so the two requirements can be satisfied together.
NASET special education coursework has confirmed district-level acceptance in South Carolina as of March 27, 2026. Educators submit documentation through their district renewal coordinator using approval numbers AUN# 300003228 or CPE# 910014. Contact your coordinator to confirm eligibility before enrolling, as each district handles pre-approval independently.
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Special Education Teacher Salary in South Carolina
South Carolina has seen steady increases in teacher pay in recent years, with special education roles among the most in-demand positions in the state. NASET special education certifications are increasingly cited by SC district coordinators as credentials that support career advancement and higher earning potential.
Salary Overview:
- Average statewide teacher salary: $54,287
- Special education teacher salary range: $49,000 to $56,000 annually
- Starting salary with a bachelor’s degree: $40,000
- Starting salary with a master’s degree: $50,000
- Proposed legislative minimum for certified SPED teachers: $52,000 beginning 2026-2027
- Districts in Charleston, Columbia, and Greenville offer local supplements on top of state base pay
Job Market:
- Over 5,750 special education teachers employed across 85 school districts statewide
- South Carolina reported 1,613 teacher vacancies in the 2023-2024 school year, a 9% increase from the prior year
- Special education is among the hardest-to-fill positions in districts statewide
- Designated a critical shortage area by the U.S. Department of Education
- Advanced credentials and board certifications are increasingly tied to career advancement and higher earning potential
IEPs in South Carolina
Special education services in South Carolina are governed by the SCDE Office of Special Education Services (OSES), which ensures all local education agencies comply with IDEA requirements. The IEP process follows these key steps:
- Referral: A parent, teacher, or school professional submits a written request for evaluation
- Evaluation: The LEA conducts a full evaluation using the state’s Standards for Evaluation and Eligibility Determination (SEED) framework
- Eligibility determination: The IEP team reviews evaluation data to confirm eligibility
- IEP development: The team writes the IEP, including goals, services, accommodations, and placement
- Annual review: The IEP is reviewed at least once per year, with a full re-evaluation every three years
South Carolina also offers a Facilitated IEP (FIEP) program through OSES, where a neutral facilitator assists teams in reaching consensus during complex meetings, at no cost to families or districts. NASET’s IEPs from Around the Country resource gives South Carolina teachers real-world IEP examples from across the U.S., a practical reference for understanding what high-quality, compliant IEPs look like in different settings. As part of the broader NASET special education toolkit, the NASET Forms, Checklists, and Procedures library is another go-to resource for staying organized throughout the IEP process, from referral through annual review.
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Key Resources for South Carolina Special Education Teachers
State Resources:
- Family Connection South Carolina is the state’s federally designated Parent Training and Information Center
- Disability Rights South Carolina for legal advocacy and IEP support for families
- NASET State Guide to compare South Carolina requirements with all 50 states
- SCDE Office of Special Education Services covers policies, the SEED framework, and dispute resolution
- My SC Educator Portal for managing certification and renewal online
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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