David Ward, speech-language pathologist
South Carolina's open K-12 educational interpreter jobs are listed here, with the state's new interpreter regulation, the main employers, and pay data.
Regulation 43-243.2
The State Board of Education added Regulation 43-243.2, effective February 27, 2026. It covers anyone who interprets prekindergarten through grade 12 classroom content for deaf or hard of hearing students, whatever the job title. From the 2026-27 school year on, a district may not employ you, or keep you employed, as an educational interpreter unless you show:
- national certification or an EIPA rating of 3.5 or higher
- a high school diploma
- successful completion of the EIPA Written Test (EIPA:WT)
- a sworn statement that you will follow the National Association of Interpreters in Education Code of Ethics
- a background check under Section 59-25-115
The continuing education requirement, 80 hours every four years, also begins in 2026-27. You hand the documentation to the district that employs you.
The regulation raises the minimum twice:
- 2030-31: national certification or EIPA 3.7, plus an associate degree
- 2034-35: national certification or EIPA 4.0, plus a bachelor's degree
If you have taken the EIPA and are waiting on results, the district may hold off on verifying that item until they arrive. Interns enrolled in an interpreting program at an accredited college, working under a qualified interpreter, are exempt. The Department of Education's Office of Special Education Services monitors districts through staffing reviews.
The Sign Language Interpreters Act
The Sign Language Interpreters Act, in force since January 1, 2024, requires a recognized certification to interpret for state agencies and hospitals. Its definition of agency leaves out school districts, charter schools, and special schools, so K-12 interpreters answer to Regulation 43-243.2.
SC School for the Deaf and the Blind
The South Carolina School for the Deaf and the Blind (SCSDB) has its main campus in Spartanburg. Its Statewide Interpreting Services employs staff and contract interpreters for settings that include education at all levels.
To join the contract pool, you register as a state vendor, request a Department of Social Services Central Registry search, and send proof of credentials such as national certification, EIPA score, and EIPA:WT. SCSDB serves as a local testing site for the Center for Assessment of Sign Language Interpretation (CASLI), which develops the exams RID uses for certification. The school posts staff openings on the state's GovernmentJobs site.
SCSDB's outreach work started in 1984 with 12 school districts and grew into a statewide division that includes sign language interpreters. Its certified teachers of the deaf and hard of hearing push into public school classrooms to co-teach and support staff.
Pay
The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimated a mean annual wage of $55,230 for South Carolina interpreters and translators in May 2025, counting all industries.
The jobs on this page are South Carolina's open educational interpreter postings.