University of Southern Maine



Initial Teacher Certification Instructions and FAQ’s

2016 Teacher Education Program/Pathway Candidates

Office of Educator Preparation, USM



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When you complete your USM state approved and nationally accredited teacher preparation program, the next step will be to apply for and obtain initial teacher certification. You are ready to take this important step when all of your teacher education program/pathway requirements are complete including:

✔ Passing Praxis l /Core & Praxis II scores

✔ Prerequisite coursework is satisfied

Make sure that Michael Katz, Michael.katz@maine.edu, USM’s Graduate Education Advisor, has documentation that you have completed any academic requirements that were outstanding at the time of your application into your teacher education program/pathway. Please make sure an official transcript is mailed to Graduate Admissions from the school where any missing credits were taken.

✔ Grades are finalized on MaineStreet

✔ Standards Review is completed + documented in Tk20

In order to signal program completion, please follow these steps:

Complete the Recommendation for Certification Application in Tk20 a checklist that signals that you have fulfilled all program requirements and are ready to be recommended for certification.

Directions:

(Log into) Tk20 at

(Click) Applications on the sidebar

(Click green button) Create New Application

(Select) Recommendation for Certification Application All Terms from drop-down menu

Complete and (Click) Submit

   

Linda Evans, Certification Coordinator, will review and verify all information and post the date of your recommendation for certification in Tk20.

The Certification Coordinator will then forward your name/ certification area(s) to the Maine Department of Education (MDOE) and recommend you for certification in your content area(s). At the same time, the USM Registrar’s Office will also receive this notification and post a comment to your transcript noting program completion. Please note that this may take approximately 3 weeks. Please check MaineStreet to ensure that the comment has been added to your unofficial transcript. Once this is confirmed, you will be ready to take the next important step. Complete an Application for Initial Certification from the MDOE and mail /bring it along with all supporting materials to:

(Mail) (In-person visit)

Maine Department of Education Maine Department of Education

Division of Certification 111 Sewall Street

State House Station #23 Burton Cross Building, 5th floor

Augusta, ME 04333

Processing in-person applications: Monday, Wednesday, Friday (9am - 3:30pm).

If your application is complete, the appropriate fee will be collected and the materials will be date stamped the day you visit. Your file will be evaluated and processed in date order received, and after any other applicant’s files received on a prior date. Processing time may take a minimum of 10 weeks.

Phone inquiries: Monday through Friday (9am – 3:30pm) 207-624-6603

Email inquiries: cert.doe@

Note: it is important to wait until you have completed all program requirements and you request a final official transcript before applying for initial teacher certification. If you file your application without this final official transcript, the MDOE will not know that you are a program graduate and will analyze your materials as if you were initiating the alternative certification process. This could cause a delay in processing your application. Please be aware that USM’s recommendation for certification helps expedite certain steps in evaluating your application. Since the MDOE certification processing time is a lengthy one, most schools will accept a transcript comment and proof the applicant’s materials are in the evaluation process.

Make sure to include all supporting materials with your MDOE application:

• Check for the $100 (or more if you are applying for more than one certification) application fee made payable to Treasurer, State of Maine

• Passing Praxis I/Core exam score report. Please include these with your application, even if you have designated MDOE as a score recipient.

• Passing Praxis II exam score report. Please include these with your application, even if you have designated MDOE as a sore recipient.

• All undergraduate and graduate transcripts noting degree(s) awarded and recommendation for certification by USM.

o Note: The State will only accept official transcripts

• Explanation of any “yes” responses, and date that you were fingerprinted

For more information please contact:

Linda Evans, Certification Coordinator

Office of Educator Preparation, USM

8C Bailey Hall, Gorham, Maine 04038

207-780-5564

linda.evans@maine.edu

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Frequently Asked Questions

(Please contact Linda Evans with specific questions related to initial teacher certification that might be added to this list).

υHow long are Praxis scores valid?

Praxis scores are valid for a period of 9 years, 11 months.

υHow long are Fingerprints valid?

Fingerprints are valid for a period of 5 years. A 5-year approval card is issued (when you have had your fingerprints taken, paid the $55.00 fee and mailed your application and $15.00 to the MDOE).

If fingerprints were taken and a card was not issued (approval or Ed Tech) then the prints (per the FBI) are only good for a period of two years. In this instance, you will need a re-check with the $24 fee. Please check beforehand if you are unsure.

(go to this site and review the application instructions).

υDo I need to take the Principles of Teaching & Learning (PLT) to become certified?

Since you have completed a state approved (NEASC) and nationally accredited (CAEP) educator preparation program, you do not need to take the PLT. If the MDOE requests this after their evaluation, it is because the MDOE has not been notified of the completion of the approved program and the comment did not appear on the official transcript that was mailed.

υCan a secondary intern get certified in one area and teach in another subject by taking the Praxis II in that content area?

A 7-12 intern who would like to teach in another/different content area would need to meet the full requirements of that endorsement, including the methods course, Praxis II and 24 credits.

υHow do I become Highly Qualified (HQ)? Is it different for K-8 and 7-12 certified teachers?

For K-8, the requirements include: BA, fully certified in Elementary Education and demonstrated content competency through having 24 credits in the subject/discipline you will be teaching, or passing the relevant Praxis II middle school test in the subject/discipline you will be teaching if in a departmentalized/single-subject middle school classroom. These HQT requirements will remain in effect for the 2016-2017 school year as we transition from NCLB to ESSA for the 2017-2018 school year.

For 7-12, HQ and certification are related but not the same thing. The individual would need to take the methods course in that particular content, take the relevant Praxis II, and have 24 credits in the content area. These HQT requirements will remain in effect for the 2016-2017 school year as we transition from NCLB to ESSA for the 2017-2018 school year.

υHow long does it take my Recommendation for Certification to be processed through the Office of Educator Preparation, the Registrar and the MDOE?

Once you have completed your recommendation for certification application, the Certification Coordinator will recommend students to the Registrar and the MDOE on a weekly basis (usually Friday). This is an especially busy time of year for the Registrar’s Office, so please allow 3-weeks for processing time. Once the comment has been added to your transcript, you can bring/ send all relevant materials, including a copy of your official USM transcript to the MDOE. If you send your materials, the processing time may be a minimum of 10-weeks.

υHow will I know if the comment has been added to my USM transcript?

You can verify this by checking your unofficial transcript on MaineStreet once you know that all of your final grades have been posted for the semester.

υWhen I order official transcripts, should I have them sent directly to the MDOE or to me?

Send/bring all application materials together in one package to the MDOE, including your official college transcripts.

υWhat is the process for bringing application materials to the MDOE Certification Office?

Application materials will be reviewed on the days/times listed below. Application packets will be reviewed for completeness. If the application is complete, the appropriate fee will be collected and the materials will be date stamped the day it is brought in. A file will be made in your name and will be put in the processing drawer. Your file will be evaluated and processed in date order received, and after any other applicant’s files received on a prior date. This processing time may take a minimum of 10-weeks.

υHow do I check the status of my application with the MDOE?

Visit the MEDMS Report Portal on the MDOE website to check the status of your application at:

υWhat are the hours/location of the MDOE Certification Office?

In-person visits: Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 9am – 3:30 pm for processing in-person applications. By phone: Monday through Friday from 9am-3:30pm.

MDOE is located at 111 Sewall Street, Augusta in the Burton Cross Building on the 5th floor. You may contact the office with questions 207-624-6603, email: cert.doe@

υHow do I apply for Out-of-State Teacher Certification?

Maine does not have reciprocity or an interstate compact with any state. Consult the State Department of Education website from which you seek a teaching certificate to learn more about any additional certification requirements or specific application procedures. Please check with the state you wish to get certified, you will need to meet their requirements.

Once you have completed the application, you will need to send the appropriate form that will require Certification Coordinator’s verification/signature. Please call Linda Evans at 207-780-5564 if you have any questions related to out-of-state certification.

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