Application Disclaimer

It is important that you read the following information in its entirety before beginning your application with FACES.

Posted February 16, 2024: Due to the increased risk of fraud and submission of illegitimate documents: 

  1. FACES will verify teaching experience before approving your application.
  2. All Foreign Credential Evaluation (FCE) reports must read AUTHENTICATED. Applications that have reports that indicate, “verification still in progress”, “Unofficial”, or something similar, will be declined until an authenticated report is uploaded. 

FACES is currently processing applications for the 2025-2026 academic year!

AT THIS TIME, WE ARE ONLY ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR THE FOLLOWING SUBJECT AREAS:

ART, BIOLOGY, CHEMISTRY, ENGLISH, ESOL, FRENCH, GERMAN, MATH, MIDDLE LEVEL SCIENCE, MUSIC, PHYSICAL SCIENCE, PHYSICS, SPANISH AND SPECIAL EDUCATION.

In order to obtain a teaching certificate in South Carolina, you must have a university degree with a major in the subject you will teach. Generally, a university major will consist of at least 15 courses in the subject for which you are making your application. Your degree must also have a teaching component, containing several courses in Pedagogy or Education. PLEASE UNDERSTAND: A strong interest or even experience in teaching is not sufficient to obtain a teaching certificate. You must have the appropriate degree, along with teacher training from a university.

  • English Teachers: To be qualified to teach English, you must have an education degree in English and at least two (2) years of experience teaching at the level in which you are applying. 
    • To teach High School English, you must have at least one (1) course in American Literature and one (1) course in British Literature/Shakespeare or World Literature.
  • Foreign Language Teachers: To be qualified to teach a Foreign Language, you must have a degree in education in that language or a degree in English Teaching if you are a native speaker and at least two (2) years of experience teaching at the level in which you are applying. 
  • Math Teachers: To be qualified to teach Math you must have a Math Education Degree (an Engineering or Accounting Degree is not acceptable) and at least two (2) years of experience teaching at the level in which you are applying.
    • To be qualified in High School Math, you must have at least two (2) courses in Calculus.
  • Science Teachers: FACES is only accepting applications from teachers who can be certified in at least two science content areas. To be qualified to teach Science, you must have an education degree in Science and at least two (2) years of experience teaching the subject areas in which you are applying. 
    • Applications from teachers who can be certified in only one science area, such as Biology or Chemistry, only, will not be considered.
  • Special Education Teachers: To be qualified to teach Special Education, you must have a degree in Special Education (a degree in Education is not sufficient) and at least two (2) years of experience teaching Special Education.
  • Teachers of all Subject Areas: The education component should include at least 6 courses similar to the following:
    • Human Growth and Development
    • Educational Psychology
    • History of Education
    • Philosophy of education
    • Instructional Technology
    • Curriculum Design
    • Assessment Strategies
    • Teaching Methods
    • Techniques for Teaching in one's subject
    • Pedagogical Courses
  • Student Teaching - is required for all subject areas and must be listed on your foreign credential evaluation.

Potential Costs: Though FACES does not directly collect fees, in order to submit your application, you will be required to upload a foreign credential evaluation ($150-$275) from a NACES-approved agency and criminal background check (cost varies by country) to prove eligibility for the J-1 visa.

Information Regarding Submission of the Online Application:

Please scan and have the following ready in digital format. These are required in order to submit your application.
You will be asked to upload them when submitting your application. They may be in any digital image format (.jpg, .pdf, .tif, .etc). Please do not exceed 5 megabytes per file. An application submitted without accompanying documents cannot be processed.

  • Photo of yourself – your photo should be a head shot of you smiling
  • All university diplomas, both original and English translation if the original is not already in English
  • All university transcripts, both original and English translation if the original is not already in English
  • Front and back copies of your driver’s license. 
    • Temporary or Learner's Permit Licenses are not accepted. 
    • Motorcycle Licenses are not accepted.
  • Proof of ALL teaching experience since receiving your Bachelors degree. Click here to download the "Verification of Teaching Experience" form, required by our state's Department of Education to be completed by Payroll/Human Resource personnel at each employer.
    • FACES will verify your teaching experience before approving your application
  • Three (3) letters of recommendation (LOR): Letters without the following requirements will not be accepted: the reference letters must be dated, signed with the person’s position indicated, and on official school stationary. 
    1. One letter must be from your current Principal or immediate supervisor.
    2. Second letter must be from your former Principal or former Supervisor, if you have one, or if your current position is your first teaching position, the letter must come from your current Assistant Principal.
    3. Third letter must be from your current Department Chairperson or Guidance Counselor.
  • Picture page of your passport
  • Foreign Credential Evaluation (also known as Course-by-Course Evaluation): Our state's department of education requires the foreign credential evaluation from a NACES-approved agency to confirm that applicants’ degrees are authentic and equivalent to American degrees in education. There are several NACES approved agencies that you can use to complete the foreign credential evaluation. We highly suggest applicants from Cameroon choose World Education Services (WES), to complete their foreign credential evaluation. 
    • NACES: https://www.naces.org/members
    • An agency can take anywhere from one month or longer to complete an evaluation.
    • Should you be offered and accept a position to teach in South Carolina, sponsored by FACES, FACES will reimburse you up to $150.00 USD for the foreign credential evaluation during your Orientation in Columbia, South Carolina.
    • **Obtaining the foreign credential evaluation does not guarantee acceptance into the FACES program as an Approved Candidate nor does it guarantee your selection by a South Carolina school district.**

Other Important Information about Applying with FACES

  1. All communication regarding your application will be by e-mail. Please be sure to give a valid e-mail address and check your e-mail regularly.
  2. The ability to drive a car is an absolute prerequisite to be accepted in the FACES program. If you do not have a driver's license and at least one year of safe driving history with a 4-wheel vehicle, please do not apply. We will be happy to accept your application after you have fulfilled this requirement.
  3. The ability to speak English at a high level is essential.
  4. FACES does not charge any application fees; should you be asked by anyone to pay a fee know that they are not affiliated with FACES and report them to info@facesinc.org

J2 Dependents: Based on the cost of living and access to quality daycare for young children, FACES follows the criteria that candidates with children under the age of five will not be considered until the youngest dependent is five years of age by September 1st of a US academic year, unless the candidate does not plan for the dependent to come to SC until age five or older. Additionally, FACES does not allow candidates to bring more than four dependents with them to SC. J2 dependents are limited to spouse and non-married children under the age of 21.

Approximate Application and Placement Annual Cycle (September – September):

Applications are processed from September 1st - June 30th.

New Teachers are welcomed to South Carolina from July 1st - August 31st.

Completed applications consist of:

  1. All requested documents have been uploaded, reviewed, and approved by Application Team Members.
  2. Speak with a FACES staff member via WhatsApp
  3. Submission of a self-made video (questions are emailed to you following an initial review of your application and subsequent WhatsApp phone call with a FACES staff member).

Placement season typically begins March 1st and runs through mid-June, though some districts are requesting interviews with Approved Candidates as early as January.

Please understand that FACES may not respond to applicants who do not satisfy the requirements explained on this page.

Fill out your application