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Teacher Certification

Program Admission

Application Process

  • You may apply to the Teacher Certification Program at any time after you have been accepted to CWU. We encourage you to apply as early as you are interested to begin receiving communications and support. Applications are processed only on the 1st of the month so delayed communication is to be expected.
  • If you have attended colleges or universities other than CWU, you need to send CWU official transcripts as soon as possible in order to meet the academic pre-requisites. We cannot accept unofficial transcripts for the Teacher Certification Program.
  • If you have ever taken the SAT or ACT and CWU has your scores, the results will be reviewed with your application.  If CWU does not already have your scores this item will appear in your ToDo list in MyCWU and you can send us your unofficial reports.
  • After your application has been processed you will get an e-mail informing you of your program admittance status and missing requirements if applicable. Any missing items with additional instructions will remain on your To-Do list in MyCWU until you have met that requirement.
  • Updates to program admittance status happen several times during a quarter.
    • Basic skills test results are updated as we receive scores from Pearson.
    • At the end of every quarter, the Teacher Certification Program completes a full review of admittance status after grades have posted.

Apply to Teacher Certification

Admission Requirements

Once your application has been reviewed, a To-Do list will appear in MyCWU. Items that begin with TCP are items that CWU does not have record of and need to be completed. When all items on your checklist have been met you will be Fully Admitted to the Teacher Certification Program! Any Basic Skills test attempts are updated as we receive scores. If you have new WEST-B attempts those reports are sent monthly. Any new major declarations and grades for the academic course pre-requisites are checked at the end of the quarter. If you have updates needing processed sooner than these timelines, please email teachercertification@cwu.edu to let us know.
  • Good Character and Fitness

    Washington State requires candidates to meet character and fitness standards as outlined by Form 4020b for initial certification. The Teacher Certification Program uses these questions embedded in the program application to screen potential issues early and connect candidates with OSPI for help.

  • Declared in Appropriate Majors

    You must be officially declared in majors that will lead to certification after you have graduated.

    If you are declared in intended majors or pre-majors those plans do not meet these requirements.

    Please contact your Education Advisor for support meeting this requirement. If you do not have an Education Advisor please email CEPSAdvising@cwu.edu to get connected today!

  • Academic Course Pre-Requisites

    You must pass one course from each area. You can check your AR/CAPS Report in MyCWU to see if you have met that requirement. If you have an AA/DTA your transfer credit report will be evaluated based for the specific courses. The Teacher Certification Program does not accept unofficial transcripts. It is uncommon, but your DTA may not cover the specific list of courses allowed in either of these general education requirements. Click on the link below for the current Course Catalog.

    If you would like to look for courses that may transfer from other institutions, the Office of the Registrar has resources to assist you. The Teacher Certification Program will officially verify this record.

  • Basic Skills Tests for Reading, Writing and Math

    Basic Skills Requirement- Washington requires a test attempt for reading, writing and math. Teacher Certification Program at CWU then is allowed to have our own requirements above that minimum standard.

    You may mix and match any combination of SAT/ACT/WEST-B test attempts to meet that requirement or other approved equivalent tests. 

    Options to meet Basic Skills Requirement

    Option 1-Test Only required scores and dates listed

    MATH

    • SAT 515 (through 3/4/2016), 27.5 (beginning 3/5/2016)
    • ACT 22
    • WEST-B 235+

    READING

    • SAT 500 (through 3/4/2016), 27 (beginning 3/5/2016)
    • ACT 22
    • WEST-B 235+

    WRITING

    • SAT 490 (through 3/4/2016), 28 (beginning 3/5/2016), Did not exist before 2006
    • ACT 8 (through 8/31/2015), 23 (9/2015-8/2016), 8 (beginning 9/1/2016)
    • WEST-B 235+
    Option 2- Test attempts PLUS General Education courses

    You must still attempt an SAT/ACT/WEST-B reading, writing and math test before using coursework.

    • MATH Quantitative Reasoning-Pass requirement with a C or Higher
    • READING Academic Writing 1-Pass course with a C or Higher
    • WRITING Academic Writing 1-Pass course with a C or Higher

     

    You are also able to mix and match any of the above options! EX: You can meet Reading with Option 1, Math with Option 2 and Writing with Option 1.

    If you can locate your previous test results, emailing them to teachercertification@cwu.edu would be appreciated. Please include your student ID number

    You may have luck finding your score reports if you follow the links below:

    WEST-B scores

    SAT scores

    ACT scores

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Questions? Contact Us.

Teacher Certification Program

Black Hall 208-9