School of Education

admission to teacher education

The Teacher Education Committee admits and monitors Teacher Education Program progression on the basis of established criteria.  Admission to the University as a student does not automatically satisfy eligibility requirements for admission to the Teacher Education Program.  Eligibility for admission to the Teacher Education Program is determined by regulations current at the time initial application is made for admission into the program.

To be eligible for admission to the undergraduate Teacher Education Program an individual must have:   

• no more than 9 hours of the General Education requirements remaining;
• earned a C (2.0) or better in EPC 2020 AND EPC 2040;
• earned a grade of at least a C- (C if the course was repeated) in all required educator preparation core, content pedagogy and essential standards courses completed at the time of admission, with the exception of EDN 3020, which requires a grade of "C".
• at least a 2.5 cumulative Quality Point Average (QPA) on a 4.0 scale on all prior college/university course work;
• meet the state established scores on Praxis I, SAT, or ACT.  An official copy of the scores must be sent to UNCP.  Students must meet the scores in effect at the time they apply to  and qualify for admission to the Teacher Education Program.
• satisfactorily complete an admission interview after completing all the above requirements.

• complete a Candidate for Professional Licensure Form (CPL). Forms are available  in the SOE Licensure Office or online.

Students should apply for admission to the undergraduate Teacher Education Program as soon as they are eligible, usually during the second semester of the sophomore year or first semester of the junior year.

Applications are available online or in the Licensure Office.  After the signed application has been returned to the School of Education, the School of Education Licensure Officer verifies Praxis I scores, the grade in EPC 2020 AND EPC 2040, overall GPA, General Education requirements, and courses in which grades lower than C- were earned. 

After verification and endorsements have been obtained, the names of all applicants meeting admission requirements are presented to the Teacher Education Committee for approval.  Each student who applies for admission to the undergraduate Teacher Education Program receives written notification from the Dean of the School of Education of the approval or disapproval of the application by the Teacher Education Committee.  A student is not considered admitted to the Teacher Education Program until such notification is made. Students are not allowed to enroll in certain courses until they have been formally admitted to the Teacher Education Program.

Admission Interview

All applicants to the Teacher Education Program must satisfactorily complete an admission interview.  Interviews, scheduled during designated periods each semester, are conducted by the respective program coordinator and other faculty in each program area. The admissions interview is focused on essential professional dispositions for public school teachers.  The interviewee receives a copy of the dispositions in EPC 2020 AND EPC 2040 for use in preparation for the admissions interview. The applicant is approved or disapproved, in part, for admission on the basis of the interview.  Faculty interviewers complete and sign the admission interview section of the Application for Admission to Teacher Education Program.  The student returns the completed application to the Licensure Office. 

Testing Requirements

 

Exceptions to the Praxis I Testing Requirements are detailed below:

• Students with a total SAT score of 1100 are exempt from Praxis I testing requirements.

• Students with a total SAT score of less 1100 but a score of at least 550 on the Verbal test are exempt from the Preprofessional Skills Tests in Reading and Writing.

• Students with a total SAT score of less 1100 but a score of at least 550 on the Math test are exempt from the Preprofessional Skills Tests in Mathematics.

• Students with a composite ACT score of 24 are exempt from the Praxis I testing requirements. 

• Students with a composite ACT score of less than 24, but a score of at least 24 on the English test are exempt from the Preprofessional Skills Tests in Reading and Writing.

• Students with a composite ACT score of less than 24, but a score of at least 24 on the Math test are exempt from the Preprofessional Skills Tests in Mathematics.

More information on the PRAXIS I requirement is available on the ETS website.

 

Updated: Thursday, September 15, 2011