South Carolina

South Carolina Candidate Financial Support

South Carolina is pleased to announce that funding is available to help offset the cost of the assessment fee. This funding is made possible through the South Carolina General Assembly. Please read the information below for specific details, deadlines and contact information.

Funding Available - First-Time Candidates State Funding
The South Carolina Center for Educator Recruitment, Retention, and Advancement (CERRA) will provide up front $2,500 loans for teachers seeking National Board Certification; half of which will be forgiven with no interest when a complete and scorable portfolio is submitted in year one of the process and the remainder upon certification. Teachers who begin the application process after July 1, 2007 and who teach in schools which have an absolute rating of below average or unsatisfactory shall be eligible for full forgiveness of all assessment fees upon submission of all required materials for certification, regardless of whether certification is obtained. The forgiveness of all assessment fees will be at the rate of 33% for each year of full time teaching in the schools which have an absolute rating of below average or unsatisfactory. Window to apply: August 1-November 1, 2008

Funding Available - First-Time Candidates Federal Funding
The South Carolina Center for Educator Recruitment, Retention, and Advancement (CERRA) does not provide federal subsidy funds for first-time candidates.

Funding Available Retake Candidates
The South Carolina Center for Educator Recruitment, Retention, and Advancement (CERRA) will utilize NBPTS Candidate Subsidy funds to support veteran (banking) candidates who decide to retake one or more exercises/entries.

Several organizations provide scholarship support to candidates pursuing National Board Certification. For more information, visit the Scholarship page.

• According to Proviso 1A.28 (SDE-EIA:XI.C.3-National Board Certification Incentive) classroom teachers, or classroom teachers who work with classroom teachers who are certified by the State Board of Education, and who have certified by the National Board of Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS), shall be paid a salary supplement of $7,500 in the year of achieving certification. The salary supplement will be added to the annual pay of the teacher for the length of the national certificate (10 years).
• NBCTs have a 10-year re-certification cycle for their South Carolina certificate. South Carolina NBCTs are exempt from taking six semester hours for certification renewal during the 10-year life of the NBPTS certificate. Additionally, NBCTs moving to South Carolina will receive a SC certificate and their re-certification will be consistent with National Board certification.
• South Carolina grants certification to anyone from out of state who has National Board certification and a valid educator certificate in the area of certification from that state, without any additional requirements (e.g. test scores, courses). 
• The state of South Carolina has signed the 2005-2010 NASDTEC Interstate Contract and will award their highest level certificate to any person who has obtained National Board Certification in an area corresponding to that for which certification is sought, provided the applicant also holds a comparable and valid certificate issued by any Member state and has complied with any requirements of the receiving state regarding experience, degrees held, citizenship, and moral, ethical, physical, and mental fitness, and completion of any post-baccalaureate study required by the receiving Member.

Review a list of school districts in this state that offer support and/or incentives for candidates and National Board Certified Teachers. It is possible that your school district or local businesses offers support not included in the above link.   Check with your school or your school district’s Web site for more information.

If you are aware of local incentives supporting National Board Certification in your school district please Contact Us.  Include complete contact details so that we can reach you to verify the information.