S.C. Code Regs. § 43-63 - Requirements for Career and Technology Education Work-Based Certification

A. POLICIES AND REGULATIONS GOVERNING CERTIFICATION

The policies and regulations governing the certification requirements for Career and Technology Education educators as presented in this document replace all such procedures and regulations approved prior to this publication, except as indicated.

(1) Certificates are issued in levels based on educational background and experience in the field in which the certificate is requested. The level of the certificate is used to determine salary.

(2) Career and Technology Education Program Areas Covered in This Regulation

(a) Engineer/Industrial Technology Cluster: All courses in this program area are included in this regulation. Entry level into teaching these courses shall be defined in this regulation.

(b) Family and Consumer Sciences Cluster: The courses covered in this program area are Clothing and Interior Design, Culinary Arts, and Early Childhood. An associate degree is the minimum requirement for entry level into teaching these courses.

(c) Health Science Technology Cluster: All courses in this program area are included in this regulation. An associate degree is the minimum requirement for entry level into teaching these courses.

(d) Hospitality and Tourism Cluster: All courses in this program area are included in this regulation. An associate degree is the minimum requirement for entry level into teaching these courses.

(e) Information Technology Cluster: All courses in this program area are included in this regulation. An associate degree is the minimum requirement for entry level into teaching these courses.

B. PERSONS REQUIRED TO HOLD A CERTIFICATE

(1) A valid South Carolina educator's certificate is required of each individual employed in an instructional or classroom teaching position in a public school of this state.

(2) Each individual who serves in a position designed for the support of the instructional program is also required to hold the appropriate South Carolina educator's certificate.

C. REQUIREMENTS FOR CERTIFICATION

(1) The applicant must meet all requirements for certification that are in effect on the date of receipt by the Office of Teacher Certification, Division of Teacher Quality, of all required documentation. The responsibility for providing accurate and complete documentation of eligibility is that of the applicant.

(2) Age requirement: A person must be at least 18 years of age before making application for an educator's certificate.

(3) The Application

(a) The statement of qualifications or appropriate educator's application should be secured from the Office of Teacher Certification, Division of Teacher Quality, State Department of Education, Columbia, South Carolina 29201. The completed application should be submitted to the same address.

(b) The applicant will be informed in writing after the application is received what documentation is necessary to complete the certification process.

(4) Documentation Required

(a) Verification of all work experience in the field for which the applicant wishes to be certified must be provided (Forms available). Work experience completed while in the armed forces may be validated by providing official military documents certified as true copies by a notary public. These documents must show what the work experience was and the time served in that field.

(b) Two (2) technical references from employers in the area for which the applicant wishes to be certified must be provided (Forms available).

(c) A notarized copy of high school diploma or state high school equivalency certificate.

(d) Official transcripts of any college or technical college credit must be provided. Transcripts must be sent directly from the registrar and bear the seal of the issuing institution (Request form available).

(e) Copies of certificates of completion of any industry-sponsored training must be sent directly from the sponsoring agency or company. Copies certified as a true copy of the original by a notary public may be provided by the applicant.

(f) Successful completion of the approved competency examination and basic skills examination as approved by the State Board of Education is required.

(g) Applicants in Cosmetology and Barbering shall provide copies of their South Carolina Board of Cosmetology Licenses. These copies must be certified as true copies by a notary public. This documentation is accepted in lieu of the approved competency examination.

(h) Applicants in Health Science Technology shall provide copies of active, nationally recognized health professions licenses, certificates, or registrations. The requirements for the licensure, certification, or registration must include at least two (2) years of formal postsecondary education in addition to the program prerequisites. These copies must be certified as true copies by a notary public. This is used in lieu of the approved competency examination.

(i) Applicants for certification must successfully complete the approved program designed to prepare these prospective Work-Based Certified Career and Technology Education educators for the instructional environment. The program components will include, but not be limited to, a two-week (10-day) institute, training seminars, and professional development meetings. Successful completion of the two-week institute is a requirement for issuing the certificate. Applicants are expected to meet the standards for all Career and Technology Education educators as outlined in the guidelines which may include additional preparation.

D. CERTIFICATION EXAMINATIONS

(1) Certification examinations are required of all educators certified under the Career and Technology Education Work-Based Certification process. Examinations may include the following:

(a) Competency Examination

(i) The successful completion of a related competency examination is a prerequisite to issuance of the professional Career and Technology Education certificate. The required examination and minimum qualifying scores acceptable for certification in each area are determined by the State Board of Education.

(ii) Applicants not bearing proof of competence (i.e., nationally recognized certification, licensure, or registration) must pass a nationally recognized competency examination within two (2) years of application. Refer to the guidelines for accepted certification, licensure, or registration.

(b) Basic Skills Examination

(i) Successful completion of the basic skills examination is prerequisite to issuance of the professional Career and Technology Education certificate. The required minimum qualifying score is determined by the State Board of Education.

(ii) The exam must be taken during the first year of induction certification. The candidate will have five years to successfully pass the examination.

E. EDUCATION AND WORK EXPERIENCE REQUIRED FOR CERTIFICATE CLASSIFICATION

(1) The classification of the educator's certificate is determined by the applicant's level of formal education and formal work experience and the degree to which that education and formal work experience are appropriate to the area in which certification is desired. An appropriate degree shall include a minimum of 30 semester hours of course work appropriate to the field of certification. The requirements for achieving these classifications are to be met in conjunction with the requirements delineated on pages 1 and 2. The Career and Technology Education educator's certificate classifications are as follows:

(2) Levels of Certification

(a) Level VIII--Doctorate

(i) An applicant shall have an earned doctoral degree in accordance with State Board of Education regulations, shall meet requirements in an initial area of certification, and have at least six months of work experience related to the area of certification and/or internship (at least 21 hours in a concentrated field of study).

(ii) The certificate is valid for a five-year period after obtaining a professional certificate.

(b) Level VII--Specialist

(i) An applicant shall have a master's degree in accordance with State Board of Education regulations in an initial area of certification. Also required are thirty (30) semester hours beyond the master's degree of which twenty-one (21) hours must be in a concentrated area of study. Further, the applicant must have at least six months of work experience or an internship related to the area of certification.

(ii) The certificate is valid for a five-year period after obtaining a professional certificate.

(c) Level I--Career And Technology Education

(i) An applicant shall have earned a master's degree in accordance with State Board of Education regulations, shall meet requirements in an initial area of certification, and have at least six months of full-time work experience and/or internship related to the area of certification. The certificate is valid for a five-year period after obtaining a professional certificate; OR

(ii) Bachelor's Degree:

(a) Bachelor's Degree and eighteen (18) semester hours post-baccalaureate credits in an appropriate field plus one (1) year of full-time work experience or internship related to the area of certification OR

(b) A Bachelor's Degree in an appropriate field plus two years of full-time work experience and/or internship related to the area of certification; OR

(iii) No Bachelor's Degree:

(a) Successful completion of three (3) years of college (ninety [90]) semester hours or equivalent) in an approved postsecondary program plus three (3) years' full-time work experience related to the area of certification; OR

(b) Successful completion of two (2) years (sixty [60]) semester hours or equivalent) in an approved post-secondary program plus four (4) years of full-time work experience related to the area of certification; OR

(c) Successful completion of one (1) year (thirty [30] semester hours or equivalent) in an approved post-secondary program plus five (5) years of full-time work experience related to the area of certification; OR

(d) Six (6) years of successful full-time work experience in the field employed to teach plus a high school diploma or equivalent.

(d) Level II--Career And Technology Education

(i) An applicant shall have earned a bachelor's degree and eighteen (18) semester hours post-graduate credits in an appropriate field, have at least six months of full-time work experience and/or internship related to the area of certification, and shall meet requirements in an initial area of certification. The certificate is valid for a five-year period after obtaining a professional certificate; OR

(ii) A Bachelor's Degree in an appropriate field plus one (1) year's full-time work experience related to the area of certification; OR

(iii) Successful completion of three (3) years of college (ninety [90]) semester hours or equivalent) in an approved postsecondary program plus two (2) years full-time work experience related to the area of certification; OR

(iv) Successful completion of two (2) years (sixty [60]) semester hours or equivalent) in an approved post-secondary program plus three (3) years' full-time work experience related to the area of certification; OR

(v) Successful completion of one (1) year (thirty [30]) semester hours or equivalent) in an approved post-secondary program plus four (4) years of full-time work experience related to the area of certification; OR

(vi) Five (5) years of successful full-time work experience in the field employed to teach plus a high school diploma or equivalent.

(e) Level III--Career And Technology Education

(i) An applicant shall have earned a bachelor's degree in an appropriate field in accordance with State Board of Education regulations and have at least six months of full-time work experience and/or internship related to the area of certification, and shall meet requirements in an initial area of certification; OR

(ii) Successful completion of three (3) years of college (ninety [90]) semester hours or equivalent) in an approved postsecondary program plus one (1) year of full-time work experience related to the area of certification; OR

(iii) Successful completion of two (2) years (sixty [60]) semester hours or equivalent) in an approved post-secondary program plus two (2) years of full-time work experience related to the area of certification; OR

(iv) Successful completion of one (1) year (thirty [30]) semester hours or equivalent) in an approved post-secondary program plus three (3) years of full-time work experience related to the area of certification; OR

(v) Four (4) years of successful full-time work experience in the field employed to teach plus a high school diploma or equivalent.

F. INITIAL WORK-BASED CERTIFICATE

(1) Induction Certificate

(a) A two-year nonrenewable induction certificate will be issued in the same five classifications listed in Section E. (2) if the following conditions are met:

(i) Verification of full-time work experience as required for certification;

(ii) Two references from person having firsthand knowledge of the applicant's technical experience; and

(iii) An official verification of all formal education.

(b) Term of issuance-one year with the provision to renew for a second year.

(c) Employment as a full-or part-time teacher in a South Carolina public school.

(2) Three-Year Pre-Professional Certificates

(a) A three-year nonrenewable pre-professional certificate may be issued after the expiration of the two-year induction certificate if the following requirements are met:

(i) Attain minimum qualifying score on the competency exam in the field for which induction certification is held,

(ii) Demonstrate competency in teaching methods as specified in the Regulation Regulation 205.1, Assisting, Developing, and Evaluating Professional Teaching, and

(iii) Take the basic skills examination as approved by the State Board of Education.

(3) Professional Certificate

(a) Upon the expiration of the three-year pre-professional certificate, a professional Career and Technology Education certificate valid for five years will be issued if the following requirements are met:

(i) Demonstrate competency in teaching methods as specified in the guidelines, and

(ii) Attain at least the minimum qualifying score on the approved basic skills examination.

(b) Applicants who do not complete the requirements for a professional certificate during the five years of induction and pre-professional certification must meet all certification requirements for a professional certificate in effect at the time they qualify.

G. ADVANCEMENT OF CERTIFICATES

(1) Certificates may be advanced based on guidelines approved by the State Board of Education.

(2) Certificates may be advanced by:

(a) Providing the required documentation of indicating that State Board of Education requirements for certificate advancement have been met;

(b) Making a written request to the Career and Technology Education Certification Section, Office of Teacher Certification, Division of Teacher Quality, to have the certificate advanced; and

(c) Paying the required fee for advancement of the certificate.

H. GENERAL INFORMATION

(1) Correspondence Schools

If courses are in the area in which the applicant teaches or are in general education, upon presentation of substantiating evidence correspondence courses may be accepted as renewal credit.

(2) Supervised Skill Update

Three hundred twenty (320) clock hours of work experience in the area being taught can be counted to substitute for three (3) semester hours of approved renewal credit. Self-employment experience is not acceptable. The proposed work experience must show that appropriate new skills will be developed. This allowance is to be made only one (1) time during any five-year renewal period. Prior application and approval is required for this credit. Applications may be secured from the Office of Teacher Certification, Division of Teacher Quality, State Department of Education, Columbia, South Carolina 29201.

(3) Approved Subject Area Work Experience Completed Five (5) Years Prior To Application

At least twelve (12) months of full-time work experience in the certificate area must have been completed within five (5) years of making application for certification. Applicants with valid out-of-state certificates with three (3) years teaching experience in the five (5) years prior to the application shall meet this requirement.

(4) Part-Time Work Experience Related To The Area Of Certification

Part-time work experience may be used to meet up to fifty (50) percent of the work experience requirements for any level of certificate.

(5) Semester Hours

All credits are computed in semester hours. (Three quarter hours are equivalent to two (2) semester hours.)

(6) Out-Of-State Candidates

Out-of-state candidates holding valid, standard certificates from other states must meet the State Board of Education requirement for full or initial certification. These certificates may be renewed as any other.

(7) Continuing Education Units

Continuing education courses may be accepted when earned in the content area of the specialized body of knowledge and approved by the Office of Teacher Certification, Division of Teacher Quality, South Carolina Department of Education, Columbia, South Carolina 29201.

(8) Student Teaching

Career and Technology Education certified personnel are not required to do student teaching.

(9) Acquiring Additional Areas Of Certification

A person who holds a valid South Carolina Career and Technology Education educator's certificate may, upon written request and payment of the required fee, add additional endorsements in accordance with the following criteria:

(a) Verification of full-time work experience as required for certification;

(b) Two technical references from persons having firsthand knowledge of the applicant's work experience, and

(c) Attainment of at least the minimum qualifying score on the required competency examination.

(10) Certification For Individuals With Unique Occupational Training And Experience For Which There Is No Competency Examination

The changing nature of business and industry and their employment needs require that school districts be able to develop and implement new training programs to meet those needs in areas where no competency examination is available.

(a) The applicant must meet all other requirements for Career and Technology Education certification (except the competency examination). Application for a certificate will be allowed in the cases of new and innovative programs providing the following additional criteria are met. The applicant must have:

(i) A bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited college or university in the area of assignment and at least one year of related work experience in the area of assignment. The certificate level will be based upon the highest degree held and years of documented related work experience; and

(ii) Documentation of outstanding achievements related to the area of assignment, which could be used to verify competence in the field.

(iii) The district must submit documentation of the need (local needs assessment) for the new program for which licensure is sought. In 1994 the State Board of Education called for the following criteria for needs assessments:

Written documentation of the employment needs of new or expanding business/industries employing graduates of the program(s), ... must be submitted and endorsed by the CEO, President, or Human Resources Manager of one of the businesses in question and must include, as a minimum, (a) current and three-year projected employment needs, (b) indication of business/industry involvement with the local educational agency ..., (c) letters from the local Employment Security Commission, local development board, or local chamber of commerce specifying the needs for graduates of the program(s) for which licensure is requested.

I. EMPLOYMENT OF INDIVIDUALS WITH INDUSTRY CERTIFIED CAREER AND TECHNOLOGY EDUCATION TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE

(1) School districts shall be allowed to hire individuals with recognized eminence in career and technology areas to teach in high schools and career centers. This employment provides districts the opportunity to take advantage of outstanding expertise available where (a) programs and certification have not been approved by the State Board of Education and (b) programs have been approved by the State Board of Education but no certified teacher is available.

(a) School districts will be allowed to petition the State Board of Education through the Division of Teacher Quality at the State Department of Education for a temporary certificate that will allow the employment of an individual in an instructional position provided the individual meets the criteria listed below. The temporary two-year certificates are nontransferable to another district and can only be requested by the school district.

(b) An individual seeking employment under this provision will be issued a certificate that will be valid for one year unless revoked at the request of the district. The temporary certificate may be renewed one additional year. After two years the individual will be required to meet certification requirements listed in this regulation.

(c) The individual must have at least four years of experience in the area of assignment. The certificate will be issued at the corresponding level of educational attainment and/or verified work experience listed in this regulation.

(d) Documentation of outstanding achievements related to the area of assignment can be used to verify competency in the field.

(e) The individual must have received an "all clear" report from the FBI fingerprint process before the two-year temporary certificate can be issued.

(f) School districts shall closely monitor teaching content and techniques utilized by such individuals to ensure that appropriate instructional methods are used in accordance with State Board of Education guidelines. The Office of Career and Technology Education will monitor course content.

J. GUIDELINES

The State Department of Education has authority to develop guidelines in accordance with provisions of this regulation.

Notes

S.C. Code Regs. § 43-63

Amended by State Register Volume 17, Issue No. 5, Part 1, eff May 28, 1993; State Register Volume 22, Issue No. 6, Part 1, eff June 26, 1998; State Register Volume 26, Issue No. 7, eff July 26, 2002.