Welcome, South Carolina Educators!
Upward courses are offered for official graduate-level semester credit hours through UMass Global, a regionally accredited university. Because our courses carry transcripted university credit, they provide a dual-value path for South Carolina teachers to satisfy SCDE renewal requirements AND potentially move into higher pay brackets.
South Carolina Professional Certificate Renewal
South Carolina professional certificates require 120 renewal credits every five years. Upward’s university-backed model is the most efficient way to stay compliant.
- High-Value Conversion: The South Carolina Department of Education (SCDE) values university credit at a premium rate: 1 semester hour = 20 renewal credits.
- Two Upward Courses: Completing just two 3-credit Upward courses earns you all of the 120 renewal credits you need.
- Pre-Approved Status: Because our courses are transcripted by UMass Global, they fall under Option 1 (College Coursework) of the SCDE Renewal Matrix.
- Documentation: You simply submit your official UMass Global transcript to your district’s Renewal Coordinator or via the My SC Educator Portal.
South Carolina Educator Salary Advancement
In South Carolina, your paycheck is often tied to your Class Level. Upward courses are designed to help you climb the scale in most districts, permanently elevating your base salary.
Confirm your Upward course selection with your district administrator, and get started today!
Get Started
Course Selection & Approval
Confirm requirements and approval with your district administrator and select your courses.
Checkout & Earn Rewards
Complete the checkout process on this website and you will immediately be enrolled in our loyalty program. Refer friends and take multiple courses to earn Upward Rewards!
Complete Coursework
We'll email you your welcome packet, and you're all set! Complete coursework between one and six months (not earlier or before) from the date of your registration.
Graduate Level Courses
Earning Credit
- Email your completed coursework to support@upwardteachers.com
- Upward evaluates your coursework within one week of your submission, and submits your grade to UMass Global (our accredited university partner)
- UMass Global posts your grade within five business days of receiving Upward's assessment
- You login to your UMass Global account to order your transcripts. Note that the university is an entirely separate organization from Upward, and any questions on your transcript or university account can be emailed to exed@umassglobal.edu
- Celebrate your achievement, and sign up for more Upward Rewards!