Admission Point # 1
Admission into the WLU Teacher Education Program Teacher candidates must be admitted to the Teacher Education Program prior to enrolling in the EDUC 301, Educational Psychology. All upper level classes that follow EDUC 301 in the Professional Education sequence require admission to the Teacher Education Program prior to enrollment in those classes.
Criteria for Formal Admission into the Teacher Education Program
- Compete and submit the Online Application Form.
- Successful completion of 45 or more semester credits of 100 level or above university coursework.
- Overall GPA of 3.0 or higher (for candidates who were enrolled at WLU prior to theFall 2014 semester and who declared a teacher education major, the GPArequirement for admission into the Teacher Education Program was 2.5 orhigher.)Grade of “C” or better for the following courses:○ENG 101 and ENG 102 OR ENG 103○EDUC 100○EDUC 207○EDUC 290○SPED 241○COM 101
- Successful Completion of WVDE Required Praxis I Tests: CASE Reading, Writing and Mathematics tests or submission of ACT or SAT scores meeting exemption status (based on WV Board of Education Policy 5202, which can be found on the West Virginia Department of Education Licensure Testing Directory). Important Note: Scores/tests may be revised at any time by the WV Department of Education. To qualify for admission to the Teacher Education Program or to obtain a WV teaching certification, candidates must complete the designated state required tests and meet or exceed the WVDE passing scores in place on the date of testing.
- Successful passage of disposition screenings and reviews.
- Completed a background check within the last 12 months.
- Completed a Legal Disclosure and provided a narrative for all “yes” responses.
- Successful completion of Field I and Field II (EDUC 207)
Praxis I and II Test Information and Requirements
All Teacher Education Program candidates, unless exempt from the Praxis I as stated in West Virginia Board of Education Policy 5202, must pass the Praxis I (CASE) tests to be eligible for admission into the Teacher Education Program. At the time of printing of this manual, the WVDE has approved an exemption from the Praxis I test requirement for candidates who meet the following criteria:
- Any Teacher Candidate who has attained a score of 25 or higher on the American College Testing (ACT) program prior to November 1989 or an enhanced ACT score of 26 or higher beginning November 1989
OR
- Any Teacher Candidate who has attained a score of 1035 or higher on the Scholastic Achievement Test (SAT) prior to April 1995, or a re-centered SAT score of 1125 or higher beginning April 1995, or an SAT combined Critical Reading and Math score of 1170 or higher beginning March 2005.
The Praxis II content area tests must be passed prior to entrance to the Residency Semester 2. For Teacher Candidates in the Residency 1 semester, all Praxis II tests must be passed and received by the Teacher Education Program by November 1st and in the Spring by May 1st. It is HIGHLY recommended that Praxis II is passed before entering Residency Semester 1.
Praxis I and II registration is completed online at: https://www.ets.org/praxis/register/?WT.ac=praxishome_praxisregister_180911.
Information about testing dates and test preparation are also available on the ETS website at : http://www.ets.org/praxis.
Praxis tests are currently being administered at testing centers and with using home proctoring with ProctorU. This is subject to change. Review the ETS testing guidelines prior to registering.
Although the Praxis II test objectives generally reflect the SPA standards and the West Virginia Professional Teaching Standards, the Teacher Education Unit periodically reviews the program to ensure that test content is addressed throughout the Teacher Education Program. More information about the contents of the Praxis II tests is available on the Educational Testing Service website at: http://www.ets.org/praxis.
In the event that a candidate does not pass any portion of Praxis I (CASE) or Praxis II Content test, the candidate should immediately set up a meeting with his/her advisor BEFORE making any further attempts at retaking a test. After a third unsuccessful attempt at passing any portion of Praxis I or II, a formal remediation plan will be put into place. It is the candidate’s responsibility to follow through with the remediation plan after it has been put into place.
Please Note: When tests or scores listed in the WVDE directory are changed, the validity period for the previously listed tests and/or score shall be one year from the effective date of the new test and/or score or as specified by the WVDE. Exception: tests and/or scores shall remain valid for twelve months after completion of an approved program for licensure where the applicant was continuously enrolled even if the test and/or score has changed. For more information, see WVDE Policy 5100.
**Although WLU honors the West Virginia State Department of Education policy that waives the Praxis I for candidates who have met the required ACT or SAT test scores, candidates who will
seek teaching certification in other states may need to pass the Praxis I scores established by those states.
***Praxis I is being updated beginning September 2019.
- The Reading and Writing components will remain the same, but the Math is being updated.
- Students that have successfully completed Praxis I, are not required to complete the new Core assessments as long as you are continuously enrolled through certification. If you take time off before certification, unfortunately you will have to complete the new Praxis Core-Reading, Writing and Math.
- Students that still need to complete Praxis I should be sure to register for the new assessments.
More information regarding the updates to the Math assessment are provided in the links below:
Praxis Core Mathematics Preview
Criminal Records Clearance Requirement
For admission into the Teacher Education Program and all school-based or similar field experiences, candidates must complete a criminal background check online via CastleBranch.com. (The background check is valid for 12 months and will likely need to be renewed during the course of a candidate’s program).
If the criminal background check reveals anything that would disqualify an individual from West Virginia teaching certification, then that individual will be denied admission into the WLU Teacher Education Program. If the Certified Background Check criminal record review indicates that criminal charges are pending that could disqualify an individual from WV teaching certification, then the candidate’s admission to the Teacher Education Program will be delayed until those charges are resolved.
All WLU teacher education candidates need to be aware that WLU will not place any WLU candidate into a school or other facility where children are present if that candidate’s criminal record indicates any criminal charges or convictions which would disqualify that candidate from teaching certification.
Positive Disposition Assessments
Positive disposition ratings or evidence of remediation are required for program admission.
Application for Admission Process
Teacher candidates must complete the online application form found on the Admission link on the Professional Education website.
- Admission Verification Process: After receiving the application, the Admission/Retention Coordinator verifies that all requirements have been met and the Teacher Education Program Director will review the candidate’s Teacher Education folder, including any negative disposition forms to ensure they do not contain documented issues or concerns that could impact the individual’s admission. The Director of Teacher Education will bring those cases that may involve program denial or program discontinuation to the Admission/Retention Coordinator and the Teacher Education Unit for resolution.
- Notification of Admission: After it is verified by the Admission/Retention Coordinator that all criteria for admission have been met, then he or she notifies the candidate by email that he or she has been formally admitted into the Teacher Education Program. If the candidate is not admitted, then the Admission/Retention Coordinator notifies the candidate by email of the reasons for the denial of admission.
- Deadline for Admission: All requirements must be met by the add/drop date of the term during which the candidate intends to register for a course that requires admission to the program. The add/drop date for Summer sessions is Wednesday of the first week by 4:00 pm.
Alternative Admission Requirements for Returning Candidates who Cannot Meet the 3.0 G.P.A. Requirement
- Must have at least two consecutive semesters of absence from a four year college or university prior to enrolling at West Liberty University
- Must have achieved at least a 3.0 overall G.P.A. after enrolling/re-enrolling at West Liberty University
- Must receive a positive disposition from the Practicum I experience
- Must provide at least two letters of recommendation from content area faculty
- Must successfully fulfill all other Teacher Education admission requirements
- Must earn a 3.0 by the end of Residency to obtain certification
Non-Degree Seeking Candidates
For those individuals with an existing BA or BS degree, the Certification Officer will first complete a transcript analysis of any additional content courses needed. A listing of all needed pedagogical program courses will be provided to the individual.
The individual will complete the pedagogical program sequence beginning with EDUC 100. Program admission requirements remain the same.