Requirements/South Carolina
Elementary Teacher in South Carolina.
Four subtests, and South Carolina lets you choose which battery.
- Exams
- 4
- Passing scores
- 157 · 155 · 159
- Certificate
- Elementary Education, Grades 2-6
The exams you have to pass
In the order most candidates take them.
01
Praxis Elementary Education Multiple Subjects: Reading and Language Arts5002
Pass157
02
Praxis Elementary Education Multiple Subjects: Mathematics5003
Pass157
03
Praxis Elementary Education Multiple Subjects: Social Studies5004
Pass155
04
Praxis Elementary Education Multiple Subjects: Science5005
Pass159
What people get wrong
Each of these costs a candidate either money or a test date.
- South Carolina accepts either battery: Multiple Subjects (5001) at 157, 157, 155, 159, or Content Knowledge for Teaching (7811) at 161, 150, 154, 162. The mathematics subtest is seven points easier on the CKT route; the social studies subtest is seven points harder. Compare before choosing.
- Elementary Education: Multiple Subjects (5001) is four separately scored subtests with four different cut scores: 157, 157, 155 and 159. Passing three of four does not pass the test.
- The Read to Succeed Literacy Teacher endorsement is separate. In-service teachers add it with Teaching Reading: Elementary (5205) at 159 or Pearson Foundations of Reading (890) at 240.
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 them.
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 examVerified 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.