How to become a substitute teacher in South Carolina.

To become a substitute teacher in South Carolina, the Department of Education does not require a substitute teacher certification, credentialing, a license, permit or certificate. The state also does not require state-wide training or fingerprinting for substitute teaching.  

Below are the minimum substitute teacher requirements in South Carolina. Note that school districts may require additional steps beyond what the state requires, often found in the district's job description.  

Minimum South Carolina state requirements, at a glance*:

• Age: 18 years old 
• Education: High school diploma or equivalent 
• Employment verification to work in the U.S. 
• Background check
  

In addition to South Carolina state requirements, Kelly Education requires:

• Pre-hire training 
• New hire orientation 
• County criminal and national sex offender background checks 

Kelly Education works with nearly 40 district partners in South Carolina—so we are experts in helping folks navigate the hiring process. If you work in one of our districts, our recruiting and onboarding team will personally walk you through the requirements.  The good news is that becoming a substitute teacher in South Carolina is relatively uncomplicated. 

A deeper dive into substitute teacher requirements.

Based on the above requirements, you can see that becoming a substitute teacher in South Carolina is relatively easy. However, the application process has steps that take some time. You’ll want to adjust your expectations accordingly.  

Let’s take a closer look at the cost and timeframe to complete each step.  

Education verification.

You'll need to provide your high school or college transcripts as part of the pre-employment process. Some school districts in South Carolina pay a higher rate for substitute teachers with college credits. Therefore, even though the minimum requirement is a high school diploma or equivalent to substitute teacher in South Carolina, you want to provide transcripts for your higher education credits if you have them. If your highest level of education is a high school diploma or equivalent, then you’ll request your high school transcripts or verification of your GED or equivalent to submit.  

Some schools and institutions charge a fee for transcript requests, generally ranging from $10 to $15. Plan accordingly by allowing 3 to 5 days to receive your transcripts.    

If you work in a district that partners with Kelly Education, a recruiter can advise you on the best approach to requesting transcripts and the pay rates you can expect based on your education level.  

Employment verification.

Like most jobs, substitute teachers must provide proof that they can legally work in the U.S. To complete this step, you'll submit an I-9 form with valid identification credentials. This form can be completed in just a few minutes. If working with Kelly Education, we'll guide you through this process.

Background check and fingerprinting.

Completing background checks on prospective substitute teachers and teaching staff helps to ensure students' safety. Both Kelly Education and the South Carolina Department of Education require background checks before substitute teachers can begin working.   The cost of a background check varies by district. In South Carolina, fingerprinting is not required, which saves time and money.  

Though it’s generally not required as part of the onboarding process, some South Carolina districts might require a drug screening test. All districts in South Carolina require TB testing.

Training.

State-wide training is not required to become a substitute teacher in South Carolina. However, Kelly Education believes that training is critical to ensuring the success of its substitute teachers. Regardless of prior experience or district requirements, all prospective Kelly Education substitute teachers must pass our free, online ClassSmarts training that takes approximately 1.5 hours to complete.  

Kelly Education also requires New Hire Orientation before our substitute teachers can enter a classroom. The one hour online module highlights Kelly Education and district-specific policies and procedures.  

Become a substitute teacher in SC with Kelly Education. 

This might just be the right role for you if you’re:  

• Seeking a flexible schedule 
• Interested in making consistent income 
• Interested in eventually becoming a teacher full-time 
  
• Wanting to make a difference in your community 

You can get started by filling out our interest form. A Kelly Education recruiter will support you every step of the way, answering any questions and explaining the next steps to becoming a substitute teacher at our partner districts in South Carolina.  

* Information subject to change. This is a general guideline. School districts may have more requirements, in addition to state requirements.