What exams do I need to be a early childhood teacher in South Carolina?

South Carolina issues this role under the Early Childhood, Grades PK-3 certificate, which requires 1 exam: Praxis Early Childhood Education (5025), passing score 156.

Requirements/South Carolina

Early Childhood Teacher in South Carolina.

One content test, chosen from three.

Exams: 1
Passing: 156
Certificate: Early Childhood, Grades PK-3

The exam you have to pass

In the order most candidates take them.

Praxis Early Childhood Education5025

Pass156

See what is scored →

What people get wrong

Each of these costs a candidate either money or a test date.

South Carolina accepts 5534, 5024 or 5025 for this field. A live deadline applies: Education of Young Children (5024) at 160 is discontinued after 31 August 2026.
South Carolina offers a choice on several fields, and the options are not the same difficulty. Read the pair before you register rather than picking the familiar code.

Required, but not an exam

A bachelor’s degree
An approved educator preparation program, or an approved alternative route
Background check and application through the SCDE certification office

Now go pass it.

Knowing the list is the easy part. Built To Pass teaches the strategy layer that works on any of these, aimed at the domains where you are actually losing points.

Start with your exam

Verified 2026-08-06 against South Carolina Department of Education, Certification Assessment Program 2025-26 (posted July 2025). Certification rules change by state board vote. Confirm with the state before you register for a test.