Certification Hot Topics
New Praxis Exams are approved by the State Board of Education
On December 10, 2003 the Board gave second reading (final) approval to Praxis examinations and passing scores in the fields of Early Childhood, Severe Disabilities, and Middle Level areas as follows.
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There will be a phase-in plan for these scores. The Education of the Young Child exam will become effective on July 1, 2004; however, from July 1, 2004, until June 30, 2005, the current exam (0020-Early Childhood) will still be accepted as well. Effective July 1, 2005, only the new exam will be accepted for certification purposes.
The Severe to Profound Disabilities exam will also become effective July 1, 2004. Since this is a new certification area (and we have no approved teacher preparation programs in place at present), there is no current exam to phase out. As programs are developed and approved in Severe Disabilities, the new exam will be required for certification purposes.
The four Middle Level exams will be effective April 1, 2004; however, we will still accept the secondary Praxis exam(s) in the respective content fields (English, math, science, and social studies) as meeting the examination requirement for Middle Level as well. Therefore, there will be no need to phase out any current examination since the option will exist between the new Middle Level exam or the existing secondary content exam(s) as of April 1, 2004.
This information will be reflected in the 2004-05 Praxis registration bulletin to be distributed in the late spring.
Certification Grade Spans
Current grade span to change July 1, 2005
Any student graduating from a teacher preparation program leading to initial certification after September 1, 2005, will be issued a certificate using the new grade spans specified.
- Early Childhood = prekindergarten-grade 3
Elementary = grades 2-6
Middle level = grades 5-8
Secondary = grades 9-12
The areas of art, music, physical education, English as a second language (ESL), foreign languages, theater, and special education (all categories) have a prekindergarten (preK)-12 grade span.
Master's + 30 
See Revised Guidelines
Effective September 1, 2003, all graduate hours for master's plus thirty-level certification must be completed within seven (7) years from the time the coursework was started. Individuals who do not complete the requirements during the seven years must complete the requirements for the college/university to revalidate the coursework before it is submitted for credential advancement. All worksheets issued prior to September 1, 2003, are valid until completion. Twenty-one of the thirty hours earned above a master's degree must be in an area of South Carolina certification. Nine additional hours may be electives. The master's plus thirty credential is only valid for educators who earn at least thirty hours above the master's degree (e.g., Specialist Degree, second master's degree). Educators must submit a Request for Change/Action form as well as official transcripts in order to advance their certificate to the master's plus thirty level.
Bachelor's + 18 See Revised Guidelines
Effective September 1, 2003, all graduate hours for the bachelor's degree plus eighteen semester hour's certification must be completed within seven (7) years from the time the coursework was started. Individuals who do not complete the requirements during the seven years must complete the requirements for the college/university to revalidate the coursework before it is submitted for credential advancement. Educators must submit a Request for Change/Action form as well as official transcripts in order to advance their certificate to the bachelor's plus eighteen.
Worksheets
All add-on worksheets issued prior to September 1, 2003, where requirements have changed, will expire on December 31, 2003. Educators will be expected to complete requirements in effect as of December 31, 2003. You may submit a Request for Change/Action form to request an evaluation of the requirements in effect at that time.