Program of Alternative Certification for Educators
The Program of Alternative Certification for Educators (PACE) was established to enable degreed individuals, who otherwise do not meet certification requirements, to gain employment in the public schools in a PACE approved subject area teaching position.PACE requires a three year commitment to the content area and grade level for which you are admitted. Candidates may be evaluated for K-12, middle level, or secondary certification.
Eligibility Requirements
- An earned bachelor’s degree or above from a regionally accredited college with a major in an approved PACE certification area. Participants can be evaluated for a major equivalent if they have thirty or more semester hours earned in content area coursework, twenty-one of which were earned at the junior or senior level or above; or twenty-four or more semester hours earned in content area coursework at the graduate level.
- A passing score on the appropriate Praxis II subject area examination(s). Please review this link for Praxis test requirements for PACE related to Special Education - ED and theater.
- Employment as a teacher of record in a South Carolina public school district.
- Verification of two years prior full-time work experience or an earned master's degree. The work experience must include at least one year of continuous full time work. Part-time work experiences can be combined for an equivalent to one year of full time work experience, but cannot replace the one year of continuous full time work. Work experience does not have to be teaching experience. An earned masters degree will waive the experience requirement.
Admission Process
- The candidate submits an application form, verification of prior work experience, official transcript(s), nonrefundable application fee, and complete the electronic fingerprint process. If the candidate meets the academic requirements, he or she will receive a letter stating the qualification area. (A candidate who is interested only in a transcript evaluation can submit the transcript and an application form. A full application packet must be submitted if the candidate meets the academic requirements.)
- Once a qualified candidate has submitted all application materials including Praxis II subject area examination(s) scores and an all-clear FBI report is received, he or she will receive a Statement of Eligibility in their PACE approved subject area.
- The Statement of Eligibility qualifies the candidate to seek employment in a South Carolina public school district for the academic year indicated. The candidate submits a full application to the school district. If the district hires the teacher, the district submits a "Confirmation of Employment" (COE) form to the State Department of Education (SDE).
- When the SDE receives the COE, information concerning the next available preservice training will be sent to the candidate. The Statement of Eligibility, employment, and successful completion of the preservice training are required to earn the first alternative route certificate. The candidate's participation in PACE begins once the participant has successfully completed the pre-service.
- The critical need certificate is valid for the academic year following successful completion of the preservice training.
Program Progression
Prior to Year one: The teacher is fully admitted to PACE, successfully completes the preservice training and is issued his or her first alternative route certificate.Year one: The teacher continues the required training and works with his or her evaluation team to determine college courses to be completed during the second and third year. Courses must be selected from the list approved by the Division of Educator Quality & Leadership on behalf of the State Board of Education. All coursework must be from the list of pre-approved courses or formally approved by the SDE. In order to receive course approval the teacher must submit the PACE Course Request form available on our website.
Between Year 1 and 2:The teacher completes the in-service training and begins working on the three required college courses.
Year two: The teacher completes the required training seminars, continues working on the three required college courses, and successfully completes the Assisting, Developing, and Evaluating Professional Teaching (ADEPT) formal evaluation process.
Year three: The teacher submits official transcripts reflecting completion of three required college courses to the SDE, submits a passing score on the Principles of Learning and Teaching (PLT) exam appropriate to the teacher's certification grade level, successfully completes the ADEPT formal evaluation process, and applies for professional certification.
Notes
- Participants cannot change or add certification areas while completing their alternative certification program. Individuals who wish to consider adding additional areas of certification upon completion of PACE may view the requirements for individual subject areas on our website.
- Participants must be employed as a teacher in a South Carolina public school district in the area of their initial PACE certification for the three consecutive years they are participating in the program.
- All expenses of PACE must be paid by the candidate. For information about the PACE loan, please contact the Student Loan Corporation at 803-798-0916.
Related Links
- Special Education ED
- Self Test
- PACE Chart
- PACE Request Professional Cert. (1 page pdf)
- Course Request Form (1 page pdf)
- PACE Verify Work Exp. (1 page pdf)
- PACE Verify Wk Exp-Self Emp (1 page pdf)
- PACE Step-by-Step
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