Four Phases of Teacher Education

Teacher education has four phases from your first 48 credit hours through Teacher Candidacy, Student Teaching, and Graduation/Certification.

Phase I – First 48 Hours at the Rock

Declare Education as a major; however, not accepted in Teacher Candidacy - must complete department Teacher Candidacy Application
Participate in FYRST experience (Education major cluster)
Take Rock Studies courses including the pre-requisites for Teacher Candidacy
See your advisor and your RockAudit for individual department requirements
Study, follow, and be prepared to be assessed----the unit disposition rubric found by clicking HERE.

Read the Teacher Education Policy Manual

Familiarize yourself with PDE standards and the Code of Conduct for Educators

Phase II – Application to Teacher Candidacy - Being Admitted into Upper Division Courses

During the semester in which the 48^thcredit is taken, students apply for admission to Teacher Candidacy (not over 60 credits):

A minimum of 3.0 GPA, or a 2.8 GPA with passing basic skills test(s) as noted below:
- Starting Fall 2023, to earn candidacy, following Chapter 354, students must satisfy one of the options listed below:
  1. 3.0 GPA and meet other department specific requirements
  2. 2.8 GPA and demonstrate basic skills as defined by pre-Act 55 of 2022 standard found on the PDE website and meet other department specific requirements
  3. Alternative Admissions Policy
Clearance Instructions and Clearance Portal Procedures
Clear Act 34 Criminal History Record NO record...NONE concerning prohibitive offenses. A meeting headed by the Dean of the College of Education is required if clearances show non-prohibitive offenses, see SRU Teacher Education Policy Manual for details.
Clear Act 114 FBI Record Check NO record...NONE concerning prohibitive offenses. A meeting headed by the Dean of the College of Education is required if clearances show non-prohibitive offenses, see SRU Teacher Education Policy Manual for details. If prompted, please enter the following service code: 1KG6RT
Clear Act 151 Child Abuse Background Check NO record...NONE concerning prohibitive offenses. A meeting headed by the Dean of the College of Education is required if clearances show non-prohibitive offenses, see SRU Teacher Education Policy Manual for details. Select School Employee NOT Governed by Public School Code for the clearance purpose.
Act 24 Arrest/Conviction Report and Certification NO record...NONE concerning prohibitive offenses. A meeting headed by the Dean of the College of Education is required if clearances show non-prohibitive offenses, see SRU Teacher Education Policy Manual for details.
Demonstrate competency in basic skills, only required for GPAs between 2.80 and 2.99
- Qualifying Scores SAT Math, Reading, Writing (See PDE Testing Requirements)
- Qualifying Scores ACT Math, Reading, Writing (See PDE Testing Requirements)
- Qualifying Scores PAPA Math, Reading, Writing (See PDE Testing Requirements)
- Qualifying Scores ETS CORE Math, Reading, Writing (See PDE Testing Requirements)

For more information, please see:

Must complete department Teacher Candidacy Application (see department)
- Health and Physical Education
- Music Education
- Curriculum, Instruction, & Educational Leadership (CIEL)
  - Elementary/Early Childhood and Special Education
    - Elementary/Early Childhood and Special Education Application Checklist- Please review prior to completing the DocuSign application.
  - SEFE Undergraduate Program
  - Secondary Graduate M.Ed. Basic Track Program
Negative TB screening
Disposition Evaluation - To be completed and submitted with teacher candidacy application
Evidence of Act 126 training
- ACT 126 Training Options (suggestions below, other options available
- Option 1
- Option 2
Diverse Observation Assignment embedded into course (varies by major, talk to advisor)
Other requirements as determined by the department - check with advisor

Phase III – Intent to Student Teach

Complete Intent to Student Teach Form one year prior to your student teaching semester.
- Intent forms for Fall student teaching are due the previous October 15, and intent forms for Spring student teaching are due the previous March 15.
Maintenance of at least a cumulative GPA of 2.8, with the understanding that a 3.0 GPA, OR 2.8 GPA AND qualifying content area test score, are required for certification.
Up-to-date Act34/Act151 Clearances, Act 24(PDE-6004) Arrest/Conviction Report and Certification Form, Act 114 FBI Record Check --- have PAE# available in case schools ask to look up FBI record directly from their office (see the Teacher Policy Manual for more details concerning clearance requirements).
Candidates who wish to student teach will be enrolled in a free D2L Certification Test prep course no later than the end of the semester prior to student teaching. Candidates need to spend at least 6 hours on this course and pass the required assessments prior to the start of the student teaching semester. Passing scores on all required certification exams will exempt a candidate from taking the Certification Test prep course. Candidates are encouraged to seek additional remediation prior to taking their certification exams if evidence (historically poor performance on standardized or computer-based tests, for example) suggests a need.
DARS report showing all requirements met
Plan to take certification exams by the end of the student teaching semester.
For more information, please see:
- Student Teaching Hanbook
- SRU Framework for Teaching

Phase IV – Application for Graduation and Pennsylvania Teacher Certification

GPA/Testing Requirements

A 3.0, or higher, cumulative grade-point average, OR a 2.8 cumulative grade-point average or higher AND a qualifying passing subject area assessment (Praxis/PECT) score as determined by PDE
See testing requirements for all programs at: https://www.pa.gov/agencies/education/programs-and-services/educators/certification/certification-testing
Pennsylvania has some of the highest cut off qualifying scores in the country.
Test(s) can be taken on-line at SRU (Indicate SRU as score recipient)

Apply for Graduation

Review your Rock Audit to ensure that all requirements are met.
Log in to MySRU, Click on the Student Self-Service Tab, Enter the Banner Self-Service channel, Click Student, then Student Records and Apply to Graduate

Apply for Certification

Candidates who wish to apply for Pennsylvania certification must register with the Pennsylvania Department of Education and apply through the Teacher Information Management System (TIMS) no earlier than the first day of the month in which they will graduate.
- Follow directions that are posted on the D2L Student Teaching site.

Find and Secure Your Job

Click here for a good start to your teaching job search

College of Education

College of Education

Contact Information

Four Phases of Teacher Education

Contact Information

What are you looking for?

College of Education

College of Education

Contact Information

Four Phases of Teacher Education

Contact Information