Courses for South Carolina Teachers
We have helped thousands of South Carolina teachers advance their careers, increase their salaries, and fulfill their Professional certificate renewal requirements.
How Can We Help You?
We've carefully selected Nationally Accredited University Partners so you can earn graduate credits recognized across the country for salary advancement and certificate renewal in South Carolina.
Moving across the salary schedule is one of the most impactful financial decisions you can make as an educator. South Carolina uses a class-based salary schedule where your pay is determined by your degree level and years of experience. With our courses you can maximize your annual and lifetime earnings through salary advancement by completing graduate-level, professional development courses. Whether you are looking to move from Class III (Bachelor's) to Class VII (Master's) or beyond, our programs are designed to provide the highest return on your educational investment.
Explore Salary Advancement CoursesAccelerate your career with a Master's Degree. We offer a selection of fully remote, graduate-level courses that can be applied directly toward a Master of Education (M.Ed.) through our partner, Colorado State University Pueblo. Earn high-quality graduate credits toward your Master's degree without stepping out of the classroom.
Explore Master's Option
Nationally Recognized & Accredited
Note on District Approval: Salary class advancement in South Carolina is determined by your district's salary schedule. We recommend verifying with your district HR department that our graduate-level courses will count toward your salary class advancement. Most South Carolina districts recognize credits from our regionally accredited university partners — including University of Massachusetts Global, Valley City State University, CSU Pueblo, and Adams State University. Contact us →
📄 South Carolina Professional Certificate Renewal Requirements
South Carolina educators who hold a Professional certificate must earn 120 renewal credits during each five-year certificate cycle to renew. Renewal credits are administered by the South Carolina Department of Education (SCDE) and governed by the State Board of Education (SBE) Renewal Credit Matrix.
The most straightforward path for most teachers is Option 1: College Coursework — graduate-level courses from a regionally accredited institution. Each semester credit hour earns 20 renewal credits, meaning just two 3-credit courses fully satisfy the entire 5-year renewal requirement.
Renewal Credit Requirements at a Glance
| Certificate Type | Renewal Cycle | Credits Required | College Credit Equivalent |
|---|---|---|---|
| Professional Certificate | 5 years | 120 renewal credits | 6 semester credit hours |
How CFT graduate credits convert to SC renewal credits: Under the SCDE Renewal Credit Matrix (Option 1 — College Coursework), 1 semester credit hour = 20 renewal credits. This means:
- 1 CFT course (3 credits) = 60 renewal credits — half the full 5-year requirement
- 2 CFT courses (6 credits) = 120 renewal credits — the complete 5-year renewal requirement
College Coursework Eligibility Rules
- Coursework must directly relate to the educator's current certification field(s), a field they are pursuing, or their professional education goals
- Must be taken for credit through a regionally accredited college or university, a CAEP-accredited institution, or a college/university with educator preparation programs approved by the SC SBE
- Must be documented on an official transcript issued by the institution
- Must result in a grade of C or better (or passing in a pass/fail course)
⚠️ Additional Statutory Requirements
In addition to the 120 renewal credits, South Carolina law requires all educators to complete two specific trainings as part of their renewal: the Jason Flatt Act (suicide awareness and prevention training) and, for most classroom teachers, Read to Succeed (R2S) literacy endorsement requirements. These are separate from the 120 renewal credits and must be completed independently. Check with your district or the SCDE for your specific R2S requirements.
Other Approved Renewal Credit Options
Educators employed in a South Carolina public school district or participating renewal entity have access to additional renewal credit options (Options 4–11 of the SBE Renewal Credit Matrix), including professional development activities, mentoring, instructional coaching, educational projects, and professional publications. College coursework (Option 1) remains the most efficient path for most teachers.
Renewal Submission Process: Educators employed in a public school district submit renewal credit documentation to their employer, who processes the renewal through the My SC Educator Portal. Non-employed educators submit documentation directly to the SCDE Office of Educator Services via the portal. Keep official transcripts and completion records for your own files.
Source: SCDE Professional Certificate Renewal; SCDE Renewal Credit Options. Requirements current as of 2025–26.
The South Carolina Teacher Salary Schedule: What You Need to Know
South Carolina uses a class-based salary schedule where your pay is determined by your degree level (called a "Class") and years of experience. The table below shows real salary data from Richland School District 2 — one of South Carolina's highest-paying districts in the Columbia metro area — comparing the lowest lane (Bachelor's degree) against the highest available lane (fully maximized) at the same experience step. This is the true picture of what completing all available lane changes means for your paycheck.
| Experience Step | Bachelors — Lowest Lane | Masters | Highest Lane (Fully Maximized) | BA → Max Lane Diff |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 0 (entry) | $50,750 | $53,750 | $58,850 | +$8,100/yr |
| Step 5 | $52,653 | $56,454 | $63,649 | +$10,996/yr |
| Step 10 | $54,629 | $60,463 | $69,349 | +$14,720/yr |
| Step 15 | $57,378 | $65,078 | $75,565 | +$18,187/yr |
| Step 20 | $60,858 | $70,049 | $82,344 | +$21,486/yr |
| Step 25 | $63,455 | $73,044 | $87,781 | +$24,326/yr |
| Step 35 (top) | $66,662 | $76,741 | $92,232 | +$25,570/yr |
Source: Richland School District 2 Teacher Salary Schedule. Columns shown: Bachelors (lowest lane) vs. Masters vs. highest available lane (fully maximized). Individual districts vary — use our Salary Calculator to see your personalized numbers.
What this means in practice: A teacher at the top step of the Bachelor's lane earns $66,662 per year. A teacher who has completed all available lane changes earns $92,232 at the same step — a difference of $25,570 per year. What makes Richland 2's schedule especially compelling is that the lane premium grows significantly with experience: the gap is $8,100/yr at entry but expands to over $25,000/yr at the top step. Over a 25-year career, that differential accumulates to over $400,000 in additional earnings.
The dual benefit most South Carolina teachers overlook: Every graduate semester credit you earn with Credits for Teachers counts as 20 renewal credits toward your Professional certificate renewal and moves you closer to the next salary class. A single 3-credit course delivers 60 renewal credits — half your full 5-year renewal requirement — while simultaneously advancing your class level. There is no more efficient investment in your teaching career.
Why Starting Early Changes Everything
Salary advancement works like compound interest. The sooner you earn graduate credits and move across the salary schedule, the more years you earn at the higher rate. The cards below show the South Carolina-specific lifetime earnings difference between a teacher who stays in the Bachelor's lane for their entire career versus one who completes all available lane changes — calculated using real salary data from Richland School District 2 over a 25-year career.
What this means: A South Carolina teacher who advances from the Bachelor's lane to the Master's lane earns over $160,000 more over a 25-year career. Teachers who complete all available lane changes earn over $400,000 more — an average of more than $16,000 per year in additional earnings at the top step. Unlike many states where the lane premium is flat, South Carolina's schedule delivers an expanding premium: the gap grows from $8,100/yr at entry to $25,570/yr at the top step, meaning the longer you teach, the more valuable your lane advancement becomes.
📈 Find Your Personalized Salary Roadmap: Not sure how much you could earn by advancing classes? Use our free Salary Calculator to see exactly how much more you could earn based on your current class, district, and years of experience.
Our University Partners
We've carefully selected Nationally Accredited University Partners so you can earn graduate credits recognized across the country for salary advancement and certificate renewal in South Carolina.
Invest in Your Career. Maximize Your Earnings.
The investment you make today pays dividends throughout your entire teaching career.
📈 See Your Personalized Numbers: Every teacher's situation is different. Use our free Salary Calculator to see exactly how much more you could earn based on your current class, district, and years of experience.
Three Steps to Advance Your Career
The process is straightforward. Our team is with you at every step.
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Browse and Select Your Courses
Choose from our catalog of graduate-level, self-paced online courses. Select the university partner and credit option that best fits your goals — whether you're pursuing a class change, building your renewal credits, or working toward a full Master's degree.
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Complete Your Coursework Online
All courses are 100% online and self-paced. Complete them on your own schedule — evenings, weekends, or summer break. Most teachers finish a 3-credit course in 4–8 weeks while continuing to teach full-time.
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Submit Your Official Transcript
Upon completion, your university partner will provide an official transcript. Submit this to your district HR department as evidence of renewal credit completion — your district will process the renewal through the My SC Educator Portal. The same transcript can simultaneously be submitted for salary class advancement.
What Educators Are Saying
Thousands of teachers have used Credits for Teachers to advance their careers and increase their salaries.
"I had no idea how much the class difference added up over time. Moving from Class III to Class VII changed my salary by over $9,000 a year — and the same courses counted toward my renewal credits. I wish I had started earlier."
"The courses were genuinely useful and I could do them on my own schedule. My district accepted the credits without any issues, and I knocked out a big chunk of my renewal requirement at the same time."
"I was skeptical at first, but it's completely legitimate. I've now moved two classes in three years and I'm earning significantly more per year than when I started — while also staying current on my renewal credits."
Frequently Asked Questions
South Carolina Professional certificate holders must earn 120 renewal credits during each 5-year certificate cycle. Using college coursework (Option 1), each semester credit hour equals 20 renewal credits — so two 3-credit graduate courses (6 credits total) fully satisfy the entire 5-year renewal requirement.
Yes. The SCDE Renewal Credit Matrix (Option 1 — College Coursework) accepts graduate-level courses from regionally accredited colleges and universities. All of CFT's university partners — University of Massachusetts Global, Valley City State University, CSU Pueblo, and Adams State University — hold regional accreditation. Coursework must relate to your certification field or professional education goals, and you must earn a grade of C or better.
South Carolina uses a class-based salary system tied to your degree level. The primary classes are: Class III (Bachelor's degree), Class IV (Bachelor's + 18 graduate credits), Class V (Bachelor's + 36 credits or Master's degree), Class VI (Master's + 18 credits), Class VII (Master's + 36 credits), and Class VIII (highest available class — Master's + 60 credits or equivalent). To advance, you submit official transcripts to your district HR department showing the additional graduate credits earned.
Yes — this is one of the most powerful aspects of earning graduate credits through CFT. The same official transcript from your university partner can be submitted to your district for both renewal credit documentation and salary class advancement. You earn the renewal credits and the class advancement simultaneously from a single course investment.
The Jason Flatt Act requires all South Carolina educators to complete suicide awareness and prevention training as part of their certificate renewal. This is a separate requirement from the 120 renewal credits and must be completed independently. The Read to Succeed (R2S) requirement applies to most classroom teachers and involves earning a literacy endorsement. Both requirements are mandated by state statute and are in addition to — not a substitute for — the 120 renewal credits. Check with your district or the SCDE for your specific R2S obligations.
If you are employed in a South Carolina public school district or participating renewal entity, submit your renewal credit documentation (official transcripts, completion certificates, etc.) to your employer. Your district will process the renewal through the My SC Educator Portal. If you are not employed in a public school district, you submit documentation directly to the SCDE Office of Educator Services via the portal. Keep copies of all official transcripts and completion records for your personal files.
South Carolina educators may renew an expired Professional certificate up to ten school years past the expiration date. The renewal credits must have been earned within the five-year period prior to the request for renewal. If the certificate has been expired for more than ten years, you must reapply for certification and meet all current requirements. It is strongly recommended to renew before expiration to avoid complications with employment.
Yes. All Credits for Teachers courses are 100% online and self-paced. There are no set class times, no live sessions to attend, and no commuting. Most teachers complete a 3-credit course in 4–8 weeks while continuing to teach full-time. You can work on coursework during evenings, weekends, or summer break — entirely on your own schedule.
We've partnered with Affirm to offer flexible payment options. Split your course costs into manageable monthly payments that fit your budget. For licenses and disclosures, see affirm.com/licenses.
PLEASE NOTE: The content provided on this page is solely provided for informational purposes and does not exempt users from their responsibility to ensure that our courses meet their state's continuing education requirements. Please check with your state certification agency for up-to-date policies for teacher certification renewal/continuing education.