While traditional pathways require the completion of an educator preparation program through an accredited college or university of higher learning, this by no means excludes those with differing backgrounds from achieving South Carolina Educator Certification. DIRECT provides the teaching training for a work-based alternative teacher certification program coordinated by the South Carolina Department of Education (SCDE), Office of Career and Technical Education (CTE) that allows new CTE teachers to meet eligibility for the initial professional education requirements for certification through the SCDE Office of Educator Services.