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SFA Home / Education / Departments / Educator Certification / Services

Requirements

Standard

In order to receive a recommendation for a Standard certificate, the student must meet the criteria specific to the type of standard certificate requested.  The types are listed below:

Standard Classroom Teacher Certificate Requirements:

1. Completed all course work assigned for the particular certification area.

2. Earned a degree at the bachelor's level.  (Degrees are conferred in May, August and December.)

3. Passed the State Mandated Exams.   For a classroom teacher certificate, at least two exams - content and pedagogy - are required.

4. Completed field experience, as appropriate to the certificate.  Field experience may be fulfilled with one of the following options:

   • Student teaching which is completed in one semester

   • Acceptable Instructional Aide experience while participating in the Tuition Exemption Program.

   • One year teaching internship as a PBIC student with a Probationary certificate.*

5. Applied for the Standard Certificate (click here for instructions).

*Teaching Internship requires full-time employment in an approved accredited public or private school.  Employment must be documented on a Teacher Service Record (TSR).

Other Standard Certificate Requirements: (Including certificates such as Principal, Superintendent, Counselor, Diagnostician, Master Teacher)

1. Completed all course work assigned for the particular certification area.

2. Earned an advanced degree, if required.  (Degrees are conferred in May, August and December.)

3. Passed the State Mandated Exams.   For most of the professional or administrative-level certificates, only one exam is required.

4. Applied for the Standard Certificate (click here for instructions).

Probationary

In order to receive a recommendation for a Probationary certificate, the student must meet the criteria specific to the type of probationary certificate requested.  The types are listed below:

1.  Post Baccalaureate Initial Certification (PBIC) students must have completed the requirements listed below:

1. Seeking initial certification

2. In the process of completing the field experience requirement by participating in a one-year teaching internship course (ELE 542 or SED 542)

3. Received approval from the PBIC Manager

4. Applied for the Probationary Certificate July 1 - March 1 of the academic year (click here for instructions). 

2.  Individuals who have been assigned as an Assistant Principal or as a Principal on a temporary basis must have completed the requirements listed below:

1. Earned at least a Bachelor's degree

2. Completed two creditable years of teaching as a classroom teacher

3. Currently admitted to SFASU Graduate School and Principal Preparation Program

4. Enrolled in SFASU Principal Preparation Program courses (i.e., Fall and Spring semesters or enrolled in AED 599 for at least one semester hour)

5. Employed as an assistant principal or principal

6. Submitted a letter of verification of employment from his/her superintendent

7. Completed at least four of the following six core courses:  

   • AED 501

   • AED 516

   • AED 517

   • AED 519

   • AED 549

   • AED 565
     

8. Received approval from Dr. Janet Tareilo, Principal Program Coordinator

9. Applied for the Principal Probationary Certificate July 1 - May 30 of the academic year (click here for instructions).

Probationary Certificate Recommendation Schedule

• Recommendations for PBIC Probationary Certificates are made on the 21st day from the first day of SFASU classes in the Fall and Spring semesters.

• Recommendations for the Principal and Superintendent Probationary Certificates are made on the 21st day from the first day of class in the Fall and Spring semesters.  Summer I and II recommendations are given Mid-term as indicated in SFA's schedule.

• Recommendations for Extended Probationary Certificates for PBIC, Principal, and Superintendent students are made according to the expiration date of the initial Probationary Certificate; however, due to extenuating circumstances, sometimes recommendations are made after the probationary certificate has expired.

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