Transferring your teaching license from Minnesota to South Carolina
South Carolina evaluates out-of-state teaching credentials on a case-by-case basis. Expect a credential review by South Carolina Department of Education and additional South Carolina-specific exam or coursework requirements before a full license is issued.
See 3,253 open teaching jobs in South Carolina →Your current credential (Minnesota)
- Issuing authority
- Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board (PELSB)
- License type
- Tier 1 License (non-traditional) or Tier 2 License (traditional) (1 year (Tier 1) or renewable (Tier 2))
- Reciprocity policy
- Minnesota evaluates out-of-state licenses individually. Tier 2 may be issued to teachers with at least 2 years of out-of-state teaching experience.
South Carolina certification
- Issuing authority
- South Carolina Department of Education
- License you'll earn
- Initial Teaching Certificate (3 years)
- Typical timeline
- 12–18 months traditional; PACE allows immediate classroom entry with completion over 3 years
- South Carolina reciprocity policy
- South Carolina participates in the NASDTEC compact. Out-of-state educators with valid certificates may receive a South Carolina certificate after evaluation; content exams may be required.
Exams typically required in South Carolina
Out-of-state applicants are usually asked to demonstrate content-area knowledge on South Carolina's preferred exams, even when basic-skills testing is waived through reciprocity. Plan for one or more of the following:
- Praxis Core Academic Skills (or qualifying SAT/ACT/GRE scores)Basic reading, writing, and mathematics
- Praxis Subject AssessmentsContent knowledge for your certification area
- edTPAPerformance assessment during student teaching
Steps to transfer your license
- Verify your Minnesota credential is current. South Carolina will request a verification of your active Tier 1 License (non-traditional) or Tier 2 License (traditional) from Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board (PELSB).
- Apply through South Carolina Department of Education. The application packet typically includes official transcripts, prior teaching service verification, and a fingerprint-based background check.
- Sit for any South Carolina-specific exams. Most states honor out-of-state content-area exams when scores meet their cutoff, but South Carolina may require an additional jurisprudence or state-specific assessment.
- Apply to South Carolina districts that match your endorsement. We're currently tracking 3,253 active openings — browse South Carolina teaching jobs to start identifying districts.