Teacher Certification Process

College of Education

Back to College of Education Teacher Certifcation Process Students in the College of Education seeking teacher certification must adhere to all rules and regulations set forth by Athens State University and the Alabama State Department of Education.  To make your transition from student to teacher a success, the following information is provided to guide you in a timely completion of your program. Beginning Your Program – First Semester Meet with Advisor to develop program of study and to evaluate general education requirements.  If any general education courses are missing, (now is the time to take these courses since they must be completed and TRANSCRIPTED) before applying for admittance to the Teacher Education Program (TEP). Make sure all transcripts from other schools have been submitted to this University. Complete ED 301 and pre-register for ED 302 for second semester.  Beginning Summer 2008, students will be required to complete fingerprinting/ABI-FBI background review in ED301. Please go to the “Fingerprinting” link for more information.  Provide current (within the last 3 years) negative TB test to the Certification Office for placement in official file. Sign up, take, and pass the AL Prospective Teacher Test (APTT) and be sure score is sent to this University (code 1024).  www.act.org/alabamapttp Continuing Your Program Take ED302 in your second semester and prepare for admittance to the Teacher Education Program (TEP).  Review link for TEP admission. TEP Link Application for TEP must be completed online. Review the Professional Education courses in your program of study and note the five classes, which can be taken before TEP admission. Maintain required grade point average (GPA) throughout the remainder of your program. Professional Education: 2.75 for all majors, excluding Career Tech, which requires 2.5. Teaching Field:  2.75 for all Elementary, Early Childhood, SPE Collaborative Teacher (K6 and 6-12) and Physical Education majors.  All other majors must have 2.5 or above in the Teaching Field. Overall GPA for all majors must be 2.5.   Note:   If at any time the GPA in any area of your program falls below the requirement, you will be dropped from TEP and cannot take any more TEP courses until GPA is brought back to the required level, which will entail repeating some non-TEP classes. Register for and take the PRAXIS II content knowledge test before applying for internship.  A copy must be sent to the AL State Dept of Education (code 7020) and to Athens State University (code 1024).  Must have a passing score on this test in order to apply for a teaching certificate.  www.ets.org/praxis Apply for Internship two semesters before student teaching.   (See Field Experiences link for student teaching).  The request must be electronically forwarded to the Director of Field Experiences.  Failure to submit in a timely manner will result in not being able to student teach for another semester.   All courses (unless specifically stated in program of study) must be taken and passed before internship. Register for 9-semester hour internship and pay graduation fee before student teaching begins.  Select correct prefix for major. Take the College of Education’s Post-Test (the dates will be announced during internship). Submit your Portfolio for a final review to your Advisor at the end of internship and before graduation. If applicable, present policy study at the end of student teaching. Completing Your Program Complete all paperwork received at the exit seminar for certification and forward to the Certification Office in envelope provided.  A $20 money order from the post office with no expiration date or cashier’s check (for certificate) addressed to the AL State Department of Education (SDE) must be turned in with the completed paperwork to the Certification Office or submitted electronically to the AL State Department of Education.   Important Reminders  No paperwork for certification will be mailed to the State Department of Education (SDE) before the official graduation date and receipt of Praxis II PLT scores for Spring 2008 graduates.  Beginning Fall 2008, the Athens State Post exam must be taken before paperwork for certification is sent to the SDE. The Praxis II PLT will no longer be accepted as of Fall 2008 with the exception of those Fall 2008 interns who registered to take the April 2008 test. This will be the last semester to accept the Praxis II PLT in place of the Athens State University Post Exam. Once paperwork for certification is forwarded to Montgomery the timeframe for receiving teaching certificate is usually 2 to 3 months.  The Certification Office will furnish each graduate a card stating date paperwork is mailed to the SDE.  Copies of this card can be used in application packets for employment until actual certificate is received. Upon completion of program, failure to apply for teaching certificate can result in having to retake courses and meet new program of study requirements should changes occur from the SDE or the University. Highly Qualified letters come directly from the AL State Department of Education.  The Certification Office cannot issue highly qualified letters for employment purposes. If a grade below a “C” is made in any of the professional education or teaching field courses for your major, the course must be repeated. There is a five-year time limit (from time first course is taken at ASU to completion) on completing a program.  After this time, current program will be adhered to. MEET WITH YOUR ADVISOR(s) AND CONSULT YOUR CATALOG REGULARLY TO MAKE SURE YOU STAY ON TRACK.            .