Frequently Asked Questions

How do I gain admission to OSU's Professional Education Program?

Students should contact Kathy Boyer, (405) 744-6253, and complete the Application for Admission to the Professional Education Program.  Please call her at 405-744-6253 for an appointment.  Forms are available in the Professional Education Office located in 325 Willard. 

When should I apply for admission to Professional Education?

Most students apply when they enroll in a Foundations of Education course.  Full Admission to the Professional Education Program is a prerequisite for specific courses including the clinical experience and obtaining the university's recommendation for licensure and certification.

How do I become fully admitted to Professional Education?

Candidates must successfully complete: (1) a Foundations of Education course with a minimum grade of "C", (2) pass the Oklahoma General Education Test (OGET), (3) satisfactorily complete the field experience course including portfolio submission #1, and (4) successfully complete a Professional Education interview-also usually a part of the field experience course.  (5) Candidates must earn and maintain at least a 2.50 cumulative graduate retention GPA.

How do I meet the foreign language proficiency requirement?

Candidates admitted to the Professional Education Program must demonstrate proficiency in a foreign language at the novice high level.  Proficiency may be documented by two years of high school in the same language with a grade of "B" or better, five college hours with a grade of "C" or better, transfer proficiency from another Oklahoma Institution, or successfully complete an approved examination. 

What Examinations do I take and when do I take them?

Three certification examinations are required for Oklahoma educators: the OGET, OSAT and OPTE.

1. The Oklahoma General Education Test (OGET) should be taken after completing 45 to 60 hours of general education course work, somewhere toward the end of your sophomore year. Successful completion is required for Full Admission to the program. 
2. The Oklahoma Subject Area Tests (OSAT) are designed to assess subject-matter knowledge and skills.  It is recommended that the candidate take the exam upon successful completion of  90 semester credit hours; have admission to Professional Education, including appropriate GPA; and have successfully completed specific courses for the certification teaching areas.
3. The Oklahoma Professional Teaching Examination (OPTE) is designed to assess professional knowledge and pedagogical skills. It is recommended that the candidate take the examination during the clinical/student teaching experience. 

A minimum score of 240 is required for passing on all examinations.  Additional OSAT examinations may be taken to add certification areas. 

How do I register for the Certification Examinations?

The Certification Examinations for Oklahoma Educators are administered by a national testing company and registration forms or internet registration is available @ www.ceoe.nesinc.com.  For test dates consult the web site. 

What is the e-Portfolio and when do I need to do it?

The portfolio will provide candidates with a personal tool for reflecting upon their teaching skills, knowledge and understandings. This portfolio is an edited collection of the teacher candidate's evidence of learning and professional growth and reflections representing progress through the entire professional education program. The portfolio will provide the basis for assessing the candidate's progress in, and completion of, the program. Upon graduation, the completed portfolio may be edited and used as a dossier to help the new teacher in placement interviews. The candidate will create the portfolio in LiveText, a web-based tool for storing, presenting, and assessing candidate data.  The candidate must make the portfolio available upon request for admission, prior to student teaching, at the completion of student teaching, or for program accreditation purposes.

View the Portfolio Handbook.

Field Experiences and Clinical Internships

What is a field experience?

Students participate in a field experience prior to student teaching.  You will work with the Clinical Experiences Office to set up a schedule where you will be observing a teacher in his/her classroom. You will be required to participate in a variety of diverse field/clinical experience settings, so plan your experiences accordingly (rural, suburban, and urban with varying socio-economic demographics).

When do I do my clinical experience/internship?

Student internships are generally completed your final semester of the undergraduate program at OSU. Secondary education majors student teach in the spring semester. It is important to work with your advisor and faculty to determine your exact student teaching semester.  There is an on-line Student Teaching Application that is required the semester prior to student teaching.  The form is available @  http://www.okstate.edu/peu/documents/studentteachingapplication.pdf.  For more information about student teaching, see the Student Teacher Handbook.

Where can I do my clinical experience/internship?

The school districts listed below are potential placement sites for student teachers. You will not be allowed to student teach in a school that you attended, a school your children attend, or a school where a family member attends or works. Remember, you will be required to participate in Field Experiences in a variety of diverse settings.

View potential placement sites for Interns.

How do I become certified to teach?

During your final semester you will submit an application for an Oklahoma School License, along with a processing fee, and OFFICIAL transcripts of ALL college work to Professional Education.  Upon completion of one of OSU's approved teacher education programs, the University will recommend you for teacher certification and forward your papers to the State. 

Are criminal background checks required? 

Any person applying for the first issuance of an Oklahoma license must submit fingerprints to the State Department for certification.  The fingerprint requirement applies even if you have recently submitted fingerprint information in another state. 

How do I obtain a teaching license or certificate in another state?

Most states have an interstate agreement with Oklahoma, and you will need an Institutional Verification Form from the receiving state to be completed and signed by the certification officer at OSU stating that you completed an approved teacher preparation program and are eligible for a license.  Some states require additional testing.  Contact the appropriate State Department of Education for requirements at http://nasdtec.org.  Go to Interstate Agreement, then Select a Jurisdiction. 

Where do I go for help? 

If you have additional questions, you should call the Certification Office, 405-744-6252 or email profed@okstate.edu.  To contact the Oklahoma State Department of Education call 405-521-3337 or check their website @ http://sde.state.ok.us./home/defaultie.html.  Click on Index; Certification (teacher); then Frequently Asked Questions.

COMPLETION OF CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS

If I meet certification requirements, do I meet graduation requirements?

Certification and degree requirements are not the same. Students must meet all academic requirements for graduation for their degree to be conferred.  Students must meet all certification requirements (including foreign language proficiency) to be recommended by OSU for licensure/certification in any state.  There are certification requirements beyond degree/graduation requirements.