6.0 Certification

Effective May 31, 2001, Title 68 O.S. 238.1 requires all certificate holders to be in compliance with Oklahoma state income tax laws BEFORE a teaching certificate can be RENEWED.

Effective November 1, 2001, Oklahoma statute 70 O.S. 6-190 requires applicants for initial Oklahoma teacher certification to have a full federal fingerprint-based background clearance. The OSU Professional Education Unit is available to assist you with information on where you may conduct this process; contact Ms. Casey Powell at 405-744-6253 or pcasey@okstate.edu.

Since different agencies are responsible for different areas, the requirements for certification and the requirements for graduation are not necessarily the same. Students must meet all academic requirements for graduation in order to receive the degree and the respective diploma. Students also must meet all certification requirements in order to be recommended to the Oklahoma State Department of Education for certification. OSU acknowledges its responsibility to prepare graduates to meet state certification requirements in Oklahoma. Academic success and test proficiency for certification may differ.

• 6.1 Applying for Certification

  To receive Oklahoma State University’s in-state or out-of-state certification “Recommendation” or “Verification” of program completion, the applicant must:

  1. be admitted and maintain admission to Professional Education;
  2. complete the appropriate level of degree;
  3. meet the Foreign Language Proficiency Requirement;
  4. complete the required courses with the required grades and GPA;
  5. have confirmation of the final clearance of the portfolio submission;
  6. pass the required PPAT (Praxis Performance Assessment for Teachers);
  7. certification Examinations for Oklahoma Educators for Oklahoma certification;
  8. pass the Teacher Candidate Training: Trauma-Responsive Teaching and Legal Issues in Education micro credential (contact Mr. Dillon Graham at 405-744-5021 or dillon.graham@okstate.edu); and
  9. complete the state’s application for certification.

  Unless the applicant has successfully completed all of the above, Oklahoma State University will not make a recommendation or verify program completion for an in-state or out-of-state certificate.

• 6.2 Out-of-State Certification

  Those applying to other states will need to contact that state’s Department of Education and request an out-of-state application packet. Most states will require official transcripts, a copy of the Oklahoma certificate, and an Institutional Recommendation Form, which must be completed by Ms. Casey Powell in the Office of Educator Support (pcasey@okstate.edu; 405-744-6253; fax: 405-744-1834).

   

• 6.3 Certification Examinations for Oklahoma Educators 

  Certification in Oklahoma requires the candidate to pass two sets of tests (OSAT & PPAT). These tests are administered under the direction of the OEQA and the test administration companies (i.e., Pearson, ETS). OSU’s OES provides support to assist the candidate in meeting deadlines for filing applications and understanding the testing processes. The Office of Educator Support will assist the candidate in determining readiness for specific tests.

   

  Oklahoma Subject Area Tests (OSAT)

  Those candidates seeking certification in Oklahoma must take the appropriate certification test(s) in order to be certified. NOTE: The candidate must take and receive a score in the appropriate OSAT or OSATs (some programs have multiple OSAT exams) prior to the deadline to apply for student teaching. Test information and registration materials are available at http://www.ceoe.nesinc.com. OEQA defines the certification fields for which individual OSAT tests have been developed.

   

  Assessment of Pedagogical Knowledge (APK) 

  The Assessment of Pedagogical Knowledge (APK) has been approved and replaces the Praxis Performance Assessment of Teachers (PPAT) beginning in Fall of 2025.  Candidates can register to take the exam at the CEOE website beginning June 3, 2025.  The assessment includes 100 multiple choice questions and two constructed-response items (one case study and one work product). 

   

  NES Foundations of Reading 

  Beginning July 1, 2025, all Elementary Education, Early Childhood Education, and Special Education candidates will need to pass the NES Foundations of Reading exam to qualify for certification in their content area.