How to become a substitute teacher in South Carolina.

Substitute teaching is a rewarding career option for several reasons. Not only do you get to help students achieve, you become an important role model within the community you serve. Becoming a substitute teacher in South Carolina might be a perfect for you if you’re: 

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

To become a substitute teacher in South Carolina is relatively uncomplicated. You are not required to have substitute teacher certification, credentialing, or license. Nor do you need any type of permit or certificate from the South Carolina Department of Education. South Carolina does not require state-wide training or fingerprinting for substitute teaching (aka: subbing), either. 

That said, you do need to meet some minimum requirements before starting a substitute teaching position. Below is a general guideline for substitute teacher requirements in South Carolina. Note that school districts may require additional steps beyond what the state requires, often found in the job description. 

Kelly Education works with nearly 40 district partners in South Carolina. If you work in one of those districts, our recruiting and onboarding team will walk you through the requirements and hiring process. 

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 

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, being in the classroom after applying for a job isn’t immediate. Completing the requirements can take a bit of time, so you’ll want to adjust your expectations accordingly. 

Let’s take a closer look at the costs and timeframe necessary to complete each step of the process. 

Education verification.

You’ll need to provide your high school or college transcripts as part of the pre-employment process. If you have a college degree or any college coursework under your belt, you’ll request your college transcripts and forgo your high school transcripts. 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 to submit. 

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

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 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.

All employees must complete an I-9 form to verify eligibility for employment in the U.S. Again, if working with Kelly Education, a recruiter will help you complete the electronic form, which takes about 10 to 15 minutes. You’ll also need to show two valid proofs of ID such as a passport or driver’s license. 

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 a TB test.

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, it is Kelly Education policy that all prospective substitute teachers complete training. Kelly provides free online ClassSmarts training that takes approximately 1.5 hours to complete. 

Kelly Education also requires New Hire Orientation. It highlights Kelly Education and district-specific policies and procedures. 

Getting started with Kelly Education and our school district partners. 

If you’re interested in this rewarding career path, 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. 

Are you ready to make a difference with flexible work that matters? Visit myKelly to learn more! 

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