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Alternative Pathways to Certification
The Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education provides multiple pathways toward educator certification. Here at UCM, we will help you work toward those goals.
If you already have an undergraduate degree, the Alternative Pathways to Certification program can help you complete the requirements for your educator certification in the State of Missouri. To be eligible for admission to the Alternative Pathways to Certification program, you will need to meet the admissions criteria listed in the Requirements for Admission section below.
The Alternative Pathways to Certification program provides hands on learning through practicum experiences in the classroom. Classes will meet in a variety of formats depending on your intended teaching content area, including some in Warrensburg at the UCM main campus, some at the Lee's Summit campus, and some online courses.
This program may not be fully online depending on the area of certification
Undergraduate and Non-Degree Seeking Options
If you do not want to work toward a degree, and have already been hired by a school district, you will need to be certified under the requirements for a the Temporary Authorization Certificate (TAC) or Career Temporary Authorization Certificate (CTAC) . For more information on these types of certification, please visit DESE's Temporary Authorization Information site. The TAC/CTAC is a one-year, renewable certificate for educators who have already been hired by a school district. These courses can be taken at either the Graduate or Undergraduate level.
Requirements for Admission to Alternative Pathways to Certification
Program Admission Requirements
Applicants seeking admission to the Alternative Pathways to Teacher Certification (Alt Cert) program must hold a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university. In addition, applicants must also have a 3.00 GPA in the declared teaching area content coursework or obtain a passing score on the designated PRAXIS exam in lieu of completing the required content area coursework as approved by DESE.
To apply, submit the following:
- The online Alternative Teacher Certification application located in the Certificate Seeking section of the online Graduate Admissions application and corresponding application fee;
- Two letters of recommendation from college/university educators and/or supervisors qualified to address your potential for success as a K-12 educator and/or colleagues who are qualified to address your professional skills;
- A typed essay responding to the following question, “Why are you interested in a teaching career?”
- Submit to and clear a background check (felonies are disqualifying events) completed through the Missouri Highway Patrol/FBI within the past calendar year. Instructions can be found here.
Applicants also interested in earning a Master of Arts in Teaching should visit that website for program information and admissions requirements.
Applicants interested in teaching Agriculture Education, Business Teacher Education, Engineering & Technology Teacher Education, or Family and Consumer Science should consider the Master of Science in Career & Technology Education and visit that website for program information and admissions requirements.
Applicants interested in teaching Special Education should consider the Master of Science in Education in Special Education K-12 and visit that website for program information and admission requirements.
Applicants interested in teaching Early Childhood Education should consider the Master of Science in Education in Early Childhood Education and visit that website for program information and admission requirements.
UCM is the longest continuously CAEP accredited public institution in Missouri
Contact
Sarah Cavanah
Lovinger 2208
Tel: 660-543-4884
