A credential issued by the state of Oklahoma attesting that you are qualified to be a teacher.  In the state of Oklahoma, teachers can only become certified after successfully completing the Residency Year program.   

The state of Oklahoma requires all teacher candidates to pass three certification exams prior to gaining a license to teach.  You will learn more about these tests and when to take them through group advising.  The three exams and their costs are listed below.

• OGET-Oklahoma General Education Test (Current cost $80.00)
• OSAT-Oklahoma Subject Area Test (Current cost $100.00)
• OPTE-Oklahoma Professional Teaching Exam (Current cost $140.00)

A concise, one-page description of graduation requirements for a specific undergraduate major. 

Time outside of your regular class hours where you will use what you are learning in your coursework as you interact with school children in their regular classroom settings.  There are four official field experiences that are shared by all majors.  They are associated with EDS 3003, EIPT 3483, a field experience associated to a specific methods class, and your student teaching/internship experience.  There are also field experiences that are specific to your individual program areas. 

All teacher candidates must demonstrate that they are proficient at the novice-high level in a language other than English.  This can be demonstrated by passing the proficiency exam or by completing the first two college level courses in a foreign language.  American Sign Language counts as a foreign language. 

Process by which students are officially accepted into a teacher education program.  Full admission to a program area is required for students to enroll in education courses. 

A tool to assist students in fulfilling all requirements to become fully admitted to their chosen teacher education program. 

Education students who have been accepted into their teacher education program.  This status allows students to enroll in education classes.

One semester of coursework following graduation to complete the remainder of the program requirements.  After completion of all program requirements, the University of Oklahoma can recommend you to the State of Oklahoma Department of Education for initial licensure. 

A tool to help students make sure that they have addressed all of the details required to graduate.

Advising done in a group session.  This approach allows the adviser to distribute information efficiently, address questions that may be shared by several students, and demonstrate effective use of the website to enroll and access pertinent forms.  Students report that the group advising session helps them gain insight from other students about making wise choices as they progress through their program.  All students in the College of Education must attend group advising each semester before their enrollment stops will be lifted. 

A temporary permit to teach in Oklahoma.  The license may be renewed each year for a maximum of five years.  During this licensure period, teachers participate in the state sponsored Resident Teacher Program. 

The final step in the full admission process.  Students meet with faculty from their chosen program area to discuss personal credentials and attributes as well as program expectations.  More information will be available through group advising. 

An individualized plan showing the projected courses for each semester leading to program completion.The Jeannine Rainbolt College of Education follows the University policies of Graduate Sooner as outlined in the graduation planner for students. You can access a digital copy of your graduation planner at  http://www.ou.edu/graduatesooner/home/resources/graduation_planners.html Mapping out the path to graduation empowers students through deeper understanding of their graduation requirements.  Students should complete their own mapout following the suggested plan on the back of their program area degree sheet. Students should bring this mapout in to an individual advising session to go over with an advisor.

Students in the College of Education who have not yet completed all of the requirements to be fully admitted to their specialized program area.  

Those classes that are shared by all students who are preparing to become teachers. 

A requirement of all teacher education candidates in the State of Oklahoma.  More information will be available from program area faculty. 

A mentoring program in the State of Oklahoma to provide support for first year teachers.  Each Resident Teacher has a supporting committee consisting of an administrator, a mentor teacher, and a higher education representative.  At the end of the first year, the committee determines if the new teacher will be recommended for full certification or if he or she needs another year of support in the Residency Year program. 

A contract between the student and the College of Education that specifies exactly what the student must do during the next semester to bring his or her work up to acceptable standards to remain in the College.  While on contract, the student does not have early enrollment privileges.   The student will be allowed to enroll after the semester grades have been posted and the adviser determines that the conditions of the contract have been met.  At that point, the student goes off contract.  If the conditions of the contract are not met, the student will be dismissed from the College but may transfer to another college within the university. 

Classes that are specific to your chosen program area (e.g. Science Education).

One semester of full-time work with students in a classroom.  For Science Education majors, this semester is prior to graduation.  For all other majors in the College of Education, this semester occurs immediately after graduation. 

Students are prepared to teach children from birth through third grade.  After completing the program students will be recommended to the Oklahoma State Department of Education for an initial license to teach preschool through third grade.  Click here to find more information about this major.

Click here to download the checksheet.

Students are prepared to teach children in first through fifth grades.  After completing the program students will be recommended to the Oklahoma State Department of Education for an intial license to teach grades 1-5.  You can gain certification to teach a subject area (mathematics, English, social studies or science) in middle school (grades 6-8) by completing additional coursework and passing the corresponding middle level OSAT.  You will learn more about this through group advising. Click here to find more information about this major.

Click here to download the checksheet.

Students are prepared to teach Spanish, French, Latin, or German at the preschool through high school levels.  Separate degree checksheets are available for the different languages.  After completing the program students will be recommended to the Oklahoma State Department of Education for initial licensure to teach the appropriate foreign language. Click here to find more information about this major.

Click here to download the Spanish checksheet.

Click here to download the French checksheet.

Click here to download the Latin checksheet.

Click here to download the German checksheet.

Students are prepared to teach English, composition, and literature at the middle school and high school levels. After completing the program students will be recommended to the Oklahoma State Department of Education for initial licensure to teach language arts. Click here to find more information about this major.

Click here to download the checksheet.

Students are prepared to teach mathematics at the middle school and high school levels. After completing the program students will be recommended to the Oklahoma State Department of Education for initial licensure to teach mathematics. Click here to find more information about this major.

Click here to download the checksheet.

Students are prepared to teach science at the middle school and high school levels. You must pass each separate exam to become certified to teach biological sciences, chemistry, physics, earth science, and physical science.  After completing the program students will be recommended to the Oklahoma State Department of Education for initial licensure to teach the appropriate science subject area(s). Click here to find more information about this major.

Click here to download the checksheet.

Students are prepared to teach U. S. history, world history, Oklahoma history, geography, government, economics at the middle school and high school levels.  In order to be certified to teach all of these subjects, you must pass two separate OSAT exams.  You will learn more about this through group advising.  After completing the program students will be recommended to the Oklahoma State Department of Education for initial licensure to teach the appropriate social studies subjects. Click here to find more information about this major.

Click here to download the checksheet.

Students are prepared to teach children with mild/moderate disabilities in preschool through high school.  After completing the program students will be recommended to the Oklahoma State Department of Education for initial licensure in special education. Click here to find more information about this major.

Click here to download the checksheet.