The School-Age and Youth Development certificate program is designed to help upgrade and enhance the skills of professionals and for those interested in possessing a career in school-age and youth development. Professionals working with children ages 5-17 will be provided with training related to experiences in human relationships; indoor/outdoor environments; activities; safety, health and nutrition; and administrative skills.

Admission into this program requires proof of high school graduation (or GED) and qualifying scores on SAT, ACT or the TTC placement test. If students have transfer credits of C or better from an approved, regionally accredited postsecondary institution, they may not need to take the placement test.

Program admission requires that students have a health assessment denoting good health, a negative tuberculosis skin test and compliance with technical standards. A clear criminal background check by the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) also is required. In addition to SLED background checks, some child development centers and schools may require fingerprinting as well. Students entering these laboratory courses may opt to additionally be fingerprinted. Fingerprinting and a SLED background check are required for the Early Care and Education work force.