PACE Forms
Initial Certification Application
First time PACE applicants and former PACE participants seeking readmission must submit the Initial Certification Application. If you are not sure if you qualify for PACE, you may request a free transcript evaluation by submitting the initial application form along with the PACE Work Experience Form and legible copies of all college transcripts. If eligible you would then submit a complete application packet. A complete application packet includes the application, a copy of your social security card, official transcripts, an official Praxis score report, the PACE Work Experience Form, the $95 application fee, and completion of the electronic fingerprint process.
PACE Work Experience Form
To be eligible for PACE, applicants must verify a minimum of two years of prior work experience by submitting the PACE Work Experience Form. An earned advanced degree can be used in lieu of the required experience. 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. Applicants who were self-employed may verify their prior experience by completing the PACE Work Experience - Self-employment Form. The Office of Educator Certification may ask for additional documentation to verify work experience.
Teaching Experience Verification Form
The Teaching Experience Verification Form is to be completed only if you have prior classroom teaching experience. This form is used to increase the years of teaching experience credit that you will receive on your certificate. This form will be reviewed by the Office of Educator Certification for approval.
Major Equivalency Statement
To be eligible for PACE, individuals must have a degree in the content area he/she intends to teach. If an individual does not have the degree in the desired teaching content area posted on his/her transcripts or the content coursework to meet the major equivalency as defined under eligibility requirements, there are two options for major equivalency the State Department of Education will accept. Both options require an evaluation of the transcripts by the department chair in the desired certification content area at a regionally accredited higher education institution. The options are described on the Major Equivalency Statement. This form will be reviewed by the Office of Educator Certification for approval.
PACE Course Approval Forms
Current PACE participants (those who have been fully admitted and are currently employed as a PACE participant in a South Carolina Public School) are required to complete three college courses. Course requirements and procedures vary depending on a partipant's content area.
Current participants will have access to a list of pre-approved courses. These courses do not require a course approval form. If participants want to take one of the required courses that is not on the pre-approved course list, they must submit the PACE Course Approval Form (1 page pdf) and a copy of the course description and syllabus for approval. Courses not pre-approved must be taken at the graduate level. More information on the required courses is available in the PACE Course Booklet posted for current participants on Blackboard.
PACE Extension Request Form
If there are extenuating circumstances that prevent a PACE participant from completing the program requirements within the three year time limit, the PACE participant and employing school district can use the PACE Extension Request Form to request a one-time, one academic year extension to complete program requirements. This form will be reviewed by the Office of Educator Certification for approval.
PACE Request for Professional Certificate
PACE participants who have completed all program requirements must submit the PACE Request for Professional Certificate form along with all official documents to be evaluated for a professional certificate. All program requirements should be completed by June 30 of the third year of program participation.
Request for Change/Action
To make certificate changes, including name and address changes, years of teaching experience credit changes, or certificate class level changes, participants must submit the Request for Change/Action form along with all official documents. This form will be reviewed by the Office of Educator Certification for approval.