Preparation for Teacher Certification and Licensure

Teacher Certification and Licensure

A. Advanced Certification and Professional School Services

• Elementary and Secondary School Principal
• Library Media Specialist
• School Counselor
• School Psychologist
• Reading Specialist
• Speech-Language Pathologist

B. Elementary & Secondary Certification Programs

• Art
• Early Childhood Education
• Elementary Education
• English
• Foreign Language
  • French
  • German
  • Spanish
• Mathematics
  • Advanced
• Music
  • Instrumental/General
  • Vocal/General
• Physical Education/Health/Safety
• Science
  • Biological Sciences
  • Chemistry
  • General Science
  • Physical Science
  • Physics
• Social Studies
  • U.S. History/Oklahoma
  • History/Government/Economics
  • World History/Geography
• Special Education
  • Mild/Moderate Disabilities
  • Severe/Profound/Multiple Disabilities
• Speech/Drama/Debate

C. Other Special Certification Programs

• Bilingual Education/Teaching English as a Second Language

Admission to Teacher Education

Students at the University of Central Oklahoma who expect to become candidates for the Bachelor of Arts in Education, the Bachelor of Science in Education, Bachelor of Fine Arts in Education, or the Bachelor of Music Education degrees (or otherwise qualify to teach) are required to make formal application for Admission to Teacher Education during their sophomore year (enrolled in or completed 40 semester hours and meeting criteria below) to the Council on Teacher Education. Application must be made according to published dates. No late applications will be accepted. There is one round of Teacher Education applications in each of the fall and spring semesters. Candidates must be admitted to the teacher education program to enroll in restricted major and professional courses.

Conditions for admission to teacher education effective Fall 2019 are:

Please note: All candidates for the Bachelor of Arts in Education, Bachelor of Music Education, Bachelor of Fine Arts Education, Bachelor of Science in Education degrees or who are attempting to qualify for any teaching certificate are required to apply for admission to teacher education. They must meet the requirements listed below. Once admitted, candidates must maintain all requirements.

1. Achieve a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.75 in all courses completed at UCO and other colleges or universities at the time of application. However, if the teacher candidate’s overall GPA is less than 2.75, the teacher candidate may qualify for admission to Teacher Education if the following criteria are met:
   1. Have a minimum GPA of 3.00 in the last 30 hours completed.
   2. OR If the teacher candidate is concurrently enrolled in coursework at UCO at the time of application and will be able to obtain an overall GPA of 2.75 OR achieve a minimum GPA of 3.00 in the last 30 hours completed, the application will be considered “Pending Approval” until the individual
      has achieved the GPA requirement.
2. All coursework taken in the degree certification major or common courses required for majors must be completed with no grade lower than “C” OR if concurrently enrolled in the same coursework in which the teacher candidate has achieved a grade lower than a “C,” the application will be considered as “Pending Approval” until a grade no lower than a “C” - is achieved.
3. All coursework taken in Professional Teacher Education must be completed with no grade lower than “C,” OR if concurrently enrolled in the same coursework in Professional Teacher Education in which the teacher candidate has achieved a grade lower than a “C,” application will be considered “Pending Approval” until a grade no lower than a “C”-is achieved.
4. Successfully completed 40 hours of college credit, OR if concurrently enrolled in coursework to meet the 40 hours at the time of application; the teacher candidate will be considered “Pending Approval” until a total of 40 hours of college credit hours have been completed.
5. Completion of PTE 3023 (or concurrent enrollment).
6. Demonstrate a proficiency in written and oral English as indicated by having a grade of “C” or better in six hours of English Composition (ENG 1113 & 1213, or ENG 1153 & ENG 1223), OR if concurrently enrolled in the same English course in which the teacher candidate has achieved a grade lower than a “C,” the application will be considered “Pending Approval” until a grade no lower than “C”.
7. Early Childhood, Elementary, and Special Education majors must successfully complete 4X12 requirements with a grade of “C” or better to graduate and/or be certified to teach in the State of Oklahoma.
8. Submit Code of Ethics in D2L as instructed by Teacher Education Services.
9. Pass the Oklahoma General Education Test (OGET) prior to submission of application, OR if the teacher candidate is scheduled to take the OGET exam during the semester of application, the application will be considered “Pending Approval” until documentation is received showing a passing score OR submit documentation of:
   1. a composite score of 22 or higher on the ACT with the writing section included OR
   2. a total score of 1120 or higher on the SAT including the following scores on the essay section: 5 or higher on Reading, 4 or higher on Analysis, and 5 or higher on Writing.
10. Schedule an interview with a program coordinator and/or faculty member to review their plans, program requirements, etc. The program coordinator or faculty member will submit a verification of the interview to Teacher Education Services (TES).
11. Complete electronic background check through the designated UCO vendor. Background checks must be cleared and are valid for one year.
12. Receive formal approval by the Council on Teacher Education.

Admission to Student Teaching

All students desiring to student teach are required to make formal application to the Council on Teacher Education for admission to student teaching. Applications must be submitted no later than Friday of the fourth week of the fall semester to enroll in student teaching for the next fall semester. In other words, the teacher candidate planning to student teach in Fall 2021 must apply in Fall 2020. Periodically, admission to student teaching guidelines and requirements change. It is the responsibility of the individual seeking admission to student teaching to meet requirements that are in place at the time of application to student teach. Therefore, individuals should review the most recent UCO catalog and teacher education handbook to determine the most current admission to student teaching requirements.

Conditions for admission to student Teaching effective Fall 2019 are:

1. Admitted to Teacher Education OR submission of concurrent application.
2. Continuation of meeting the standard prerequisite for admission to teacher education:
   1. Achievement of a minimum grade point average of 2.75 in all subjects completed at UCO or other colleges or universities to the time of application with no grade lower than “C.”
   2. OR Achievement of a minimum grade point average of 3.0 in the last 30 credit hours completed.
3. Complete the following courses prior to student teaching:

Course Prefix	Course No.	Course Title
PTE	3020	Foundations of American Education / Clinical Experience
PTE	3133, 3152, or 3163	Child / Adolescent / Developmental Psychology
SPED	4123	Teaching Individuals with Disabilities
PTE	4533	Contemporary Learning Sciences
PTE	4172	Education Assessment

4. Complete 3 hours of speech communication with no grade below a “C” (MCOM 1113).
5. Complete three-fourths of the course work required in the currently declared major in which student teaching is to be completed. For early childhood, special education, and elementary majors, the 4 x 12 support courses are considered part of the major.
6. Maintain a grade of “C” or better in all major and PTE coursework taken. For early childhood, elementary, and special education majors, a grade of “C” or better must be achieved in the support courses (4 x 12).
7. Complete all methods course(s) in the area of specialization in which the student plans to student teach prior to the student teaching semester.
8. Complete and document the Foreign Language Proficiency requirement (novice-high level–speaking and listening only) in one of the following ways:
   1. High School Course Work – Complete two or more years of the same foreign language in high school with an average GPA of 2.75 or higher across these courses and no grade lower than “C.”
   2. Testing - Pass the CLEP test in a foreign language to demonstrate competency.
   3. Native Speaker - Demonstrate this competency through an interview as determined by members of UCO’s Department of Modern Languages in conjunction with Teacher Education Services. (Contact Teacher Education Services for more information.) Candidates may be referred to appropriate university personnel or another institution for competency testing in these languages.
   4. UCO College Course Work - Complete a course in a foreign language (e.g., FRCH 1114 or GERM 1114 or SPAN 1114) and attain a grade of “C” or better.
   5. Transfer College Course Work - Complete foreign language course work at another institution and submit a course description and a transcript indicating that a grade of “C” or higher indicates novice-high level competency.
   6. Sign Language - Complete SPED 4910 - Seminar: American Sign Language or a comparable college level course with a grade of “C” or better. Students who wish to demonstrate competency in Sign Language should see the Chair of the Donna Nigh Department of Advanced Professional and Special Services in LIB 315 or call 405 - 974-5283 for additional information.
9. Complete a minimum of 60 hours of -clinical experience prior to student teaching.
10. Complete an electronic Background Check through the designated UCO vendor or provide documentation of completion within the last year. This check must document that there have been no conviction(s) of a felony, any crime involving moral turpitude, or a felony violation of the narcotic laws of the United States or the State of Oklahoma.
11. Complete and maintain artifact requirements for all courses taken up to the point of admission to student teaching.
12. Take the following certification tests prior to student teaching and provide documentation to the TES office prior to the first week of student teaching:
    1. Oklahoma Subject Area Test (OSAT) in major or area of specialization.
    2. Oklahoma Reading Test (ORT) for special education majors only.
    3. Oral Proficiency Interview (OPI) for modern languages education majors only.

Have the recommendation for continuation in the teacher preparation program (student teaching) section of application signed. Students must receive approval of the chairperson of the department or their designee in the major field. Receive formal approval by the Council on Teacher Education. Written approval will be provided after the Council on Teacher Education has met, verified that requirements have been met, and approved the individual student’s application.

Periodically, admission to student teaching guidelines and requirements change. It is the responsibility of the individual seeking admission to student teaching to meet requirements that are in place at the time of application to student teach. Therefore, individuals should review the most recent UCO catalog and teacher education handbook to determine the most current admission to student teaching requirements.

Teacher Certification

Certification Procedures for Persons Graduating In-State and General Regulations for Eligibility

Compliance with certification requirements is the responsibility of the individual seeking certification. Advisors can assist in the process, but compliance with all rules and regulations pertaining to certification is the responsibility of the candidate.

The individual seeking certification is responsible for following all guidelines presented in the University of Central Oklahoma undergraduate catalog or graduate catalog, depending upon the academic level of the certificate sought. Graduate level certificates require graduate level course work and completion of a master’s degree for standard certification. Bachelor level programs require the completion of an educational bachelor’s degree for standard certification.

Periodically the program guidelines, course work, and state regulations change. It is the responsibility of the individual seeking certification to meet the revised standards. An individual should therefore review the most recent UCO catalog, certification course lists, and state regulations, particularly when an extended period of time has elapsed during the completion of a program.

Program Procedures and Guidelines for Certification

The University of Central Oklahoma Teacher Education Services office is located in the Education Building, Room 207, 405-974-5447. Applications and other information regarding certification may be obtained from that office. Applications for certification based on the completion of University of Central Oklahoma approved programs are processed through Teacher Education Services.

To obtain certification, the individual must:

1. Complete all courses identified for general education and the respective professional education and specialized areas.
2. Contact the appropriate department chairperson regarding the course work for the respective program, particularly if it seems likely that some courses previously completed could substitute for required courses in the program. Official substitution forms should be completed where courses, based on their titles, do not seem to match. If course names and levels from different institutions are determined by the chairperson to be equivalent, substitutions are NOT necessary.
3. Complete the process for being admitted to the Teacher Education program by following the procedures and guidelines enumerated earlier in the section entitled “Admission to Teacher Education.
4. Complete the student teaching process following the procedures and guidelines enumerated earlier in the section entitled “Admission to Student Teaching.” Guidelines are also available in Teacher Education Services.
5. Apply to take the appropriate state certification examinations according to UCO guidelines and suggested the timeline. Application is made on the examination website at www.ceoe.nesinc.com. (See Certification Examinations)
6. Must have successfully completed the requirements for all courses, including class and student teaching artifacts, at the time of application for licensure.
7. After completing certification requirements and all applicable course work has been posted on the UCO transcript, including degree, if applicable, obtain an application for recommendation for the initial certification from Teacher Education Services.
8. Applicants must submit the application for recommendation and an official transcript with the degree posted to Teacher Education Services.
9. Effective November 1, 2001, Oklahoma requires applicants for initial teacher certification to have on file with the Oklahoma State Board of Education a current OSBI and FBI fingerprint-based criminal history record. Contact the Oklahoma State Board of Education for more information regarding fingerprints and the OSBI background check. www.ok.gov/sde
10. When the Certification Officer at UCO completes the review of course work with respect to the appropriate UCO approved program requirements, certifies that those requirements have been completed, and receives agreement from the Dean, the application is then forwarded to the Teacher Certification Section of the State Department of Education.

Initial Issuance of a Certificate

The State Board of Education shall issue a teaching certificate to any person who completed their initial teacher education program after July 2010, and who meets all of the following requirements. (If the individual completed their initial teacher education program prior to February 1, 1982, he/she should contact the State Department of Education regarding certification requirements):

1. Has successfully completed all training and courses required by the State Board of Education based on the guidelines and program in effect at the time of application for certification.
2. Has graduated from an accredited four-year college or university and holds the standard baccalaureate degree (Those seeking career-technical certificates should verify requirements with the Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education).
3. Has received a passing score on the certification examinations.
4. Has made application to Teacher Education Services in EDU 207 and paid the appropriate application fee for each class of certificate sought.
5. Has received recommendation from the preparing institution for the certificate desired if the teacher preparation work was completed in Oklahoma. The State of Oklahoma certificate application form must be signed by the Coordinator of Teacher Certification.
6. Has met all other requirements as may be established by the State Board of Education.

Issuance of a Certificate for Additional Certification Areas

Individuals who currently hold a valid Oklahoma certificate who desire to add an additional specialization area by testing must complete the following:

1. Satisfactorily complete the applicable state certification examination(s).
2. Make application for the new certificate through the State Department of Education.

Other criteria may be required for those who want to obtain additional certification in Elementary, Early Childhood, or Special Education. Those interested are encouraged to check with the Teacher Education Services office for specific information. For advanced certification requiring a master’s degree, see the current graduate catalog.

Teaching Certificate Definitions and Overview

For certification to be received, an individual must hold a bachelor’s degree and have completed the course requirements in professional education and in the area specialization, and have received a passing score on the applicable state certification examination(s).

Certificate - All teachers who meet the requirements of an approved certificate program after January 31, 1982, and have zero [0] years of experience as a classroom teacher shall receive this initial entry- level document. Application is made through the recommending university, and the certificate is valid for five years.

Residence Requirement

In order for the University of Central Oklahoma to recommend candidates for certification, the candidates must meet all requirements for teacher education. In addition, candidates must complete at least their last 24 semester hours in the area of specialization (the teaching field) and professional education at UCO. These 24 semester hours must include the following:

Course Prefix	Course No.	Course Title
PTE	4901	Practicum in Professional Teacher Education (If Contemporary Learning Sciences is taken elsewhere)
PTE	4583	Classroom Management and Instruction
PTE	4811	Contemporary Issues
PTE	4828, 4838, or 4848	Directed Observation and Student Teaching

Certification Examinations

The individual seeking certification must satisfactorily complete the Certification Examinations for Oklahoma Educators. The state certification examinations are administered six times each year on a set schedule with advanced registration required. Three different exams are required:

1. The Oklahoma General Education Test (OGET) must be passed for Admission to Teacher Education.
2. The appropriate Oklahoma Subject Area Test (OSAT) must be passed prior to the student teaching semester.
3. The Oklahoma Professional Teaching Examination (OPTE) or PPAT specific to the teaching level of the certificate sought must be passed for a certification recommendation.

Applications and study guides for state certification examinations are available from National Evaluation Systems online at www.ceoe.nesinc.com. The UCO Library also provides copies of study guides as well as practice exams available for checkout.

College Credit

Only work completed in state and regionally accredited colleges and universities, or transfer credit validated by an accredited college, will be accepted as a basis for teacher certificates. In order for the applicant to be eligible for certification, the grade point average of the applicant on all work submitted in qualifying for teacher certification shall be equal to or greater than that required for admission to the Teacher Education program at the University of Central Oklahoma.

Candidates transferring credit from out-of-state colleges or from Oklahoma colleges not having an approved program for a specific certificate area to an Oklahoma college or a university having an approved program in that certificate area shall have their work evaluated by the receiving institution. Transferring candidates shall expect to satisfy all requirements imposed by the approved program of the receiving institution in qualifying for certification.

The amount of college credit earned during one year, including correspondence and extension work, which can be used to meet certification requirements will be controlled by the rules and regulations of the college or university. However, not more than one-fourth of the work completed to satisfy requirements in any area of preparation (general education, professional education, specialization) nor more than one-fourth of the total academic work completed may be taken by correspondence and/or extension study.

Work Completed In Community Colleges

Only 64 semester hours of credit taken in an accredited community college may be counted toward satisfying the general education and specialized education requirements of an approved certificate program. Work taken in an accredited community college after achieving sixty-four (64) or more semester hours may count toward certification in the areas of general education and specialized education providing the following guidelines are met:

1. The course work is lower division work as determined by the course level assigned to the course by the four-year institution that will make recommendation for certification. If UCO designates a course as a junior or senior level course (3000 or 4000 level), then a comparable course completed at a junior college will NOT substitute for the course in the UCO approved teacher certification program.
2. The course work is applicable in meeting the approved program of certification at the recommending institution.
3. The course work CANNOT include any early childhood or elementary specialization area courses (this refers to the 40 hours of specialization).
4. The course work CANNOT include any professional education courses (this refers to courses in the 28-31 hours in professional teacher education).
5. The course work is counted in lieu of an equal number of hours of the 64 already taken at a community college so that no more than 64 semester hours, in total (including all general education), are being counted from community colleges.
6. The last nine semester hours of credit in the area of specialization were completed in an institution having an approved teacher certification program in the area of concern. Community colleges do not have state approved teacher certification programs.