South Carolina Professional Certificate Renewal Requirements
Everything you need to renew your Professional Certificate in South Carolina: required hours, accepted PD types, fees, and approved providers.
Requirements at a Glance
120
PD hours required
5
years per cycle
Free
Renewal fee
Free
Late fee
Accepted PD Activity Types
- College or university coursework (Options 1-3, available to all educators)
- SCDE-approved certificate renewal courses
- Continuing Education Units (CEUs) from approved providers (1 CEU = 10 renewal credits)
- Professional publications (employed educators in public school districts)
- Instructional activities such as teaching college courses
- Professional trainings
- Service as a professional assessor or evaluator
- Mentorship, supervision, or instructional coaching
- Educational projects, collaborations, grants, or research
- Professional development activities like conferences and workshops
- District-required professional development (employed public school educators)
Special Rules & Notes
Important notes for this license
- 120 renewal credits required per 5-year renewal cycle
- 1 CEU = 10 renewal credits; 1 semester hour of college credit = a set number of renewal credits per SCDE matrix
- Renewal credits must be earned within the five-year period prior to the renewal request
- Educators employed in a public school district: district-required PD each year of the 5-year cycle satisfies renewal requirements
- Non-employed educators must use Options 1-3 of the Renewal Credit Matrix only
- Starting July 1, 2026: educator certificates will become permanent under the Educator Assistance Act (no further renewal after that point)
- Expired certificates may be renewed up to 10 years past expiration
- Renewal submitted through My SC Educator Portal for non-district employees; district HR submits for employed teachers
Approved PD Providers
Sorted by price per hour — cheapest first. Est. total based on 120 hours needed.
| Provider | Price / Hour | Est. Total Cost | States Approved | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
TeacherStepBest price Online teacher education courses for re-certification and license renewal. Offers graduate credit through Converse University. | $3.32/hr | $398.40 | 6 | Visit |
TeacherStep
Best priceOnline teacher education courses for re-certification and license renewal. Offers graduate credit through Converse University.
Price / hour
$3.32
Est. total (120 hrs)
$398.40
States approved
6
How to Submit Your Hours
Once you've completed your 120 hours, submit your renewal application through the South CarolinaDepartment of Education's official online portal. Have your PD certificates ready to upload.
Go to South Carolina Renewal Portal