Section Links

Three Steps to Complete EMU’s Teacher Education Program

You can declare an education major as soon as you begin college, but by your sophomore year you must apply for admission to the formal teacher education program by November 30 of the sophomore year or junior year for transfer students. See Step 1 below for requirements.

Your junior year you apply for admission to student teaching. See Step 2 below for requirements.

See the Exit Requirements for the final steps for students ready to complete the program. All the requirements for getting a teaching license in Virginia are embedded within the education program.

After you get a Virginia teaching license you can use this to obtain a license in another state. There may be other requirements in other states so working with your advisor is very important.

  • Step 1: Admission to teacher education

    For admission to the teacher education program at EMU you must make formal application for admission by November 30 of the sophomore year or junior year for transfer students. These applications are acted upon by the Teacher Education Admissions Committee based on consideration of the following criteria:

    • complete ED 101 Exploring Teaching, or its equivalent with a C or better.
    • submit a Teacher Education application by November 30.
    • read and acknowledge an understanding of the Virginia Licensure Regulations for School Personnel.
    • demonstrate dispositions of personal and professional responsibility, caring about relationships in learning communities, scholarship and inquiry, and reflective practice as evidenced by academic, teacher education, and character recommendations.
    • maintain a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.5. (2.7 is needed for student teaching).
    • achieve a C or better in all education courses (courses with an ED/EDS prefix) to be admitted to Student Teaching.
    • complete a teacher education interview in February.
  • Step 2: Admission to student teaching

    In order to student teach, you must complete an application by November 30 of your junior year or the academic year prior to your student teaching placement. These applications are acted upon by the Teacher Education Admissions Committee based on consideration of the following criteria:

    • be admitted to teacher education and remain in good standing according to the Teacher Education admissions criteria.
    • achieve and maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.7.
    • achieve a C or better in all education courses (with an ED/EDS prefix).
    • complete an application for admission to student teaching by November 30.
    • demonstrate dispositions of personal and professional responsibility, caring about relationships in learning communities, scholarship and inquiry, and reflective practice as evidenced by academic, teacher education, and character recommendations.
    • meet with the Coordinator of Field Experience or the Undergraduate Teacher Education Director for a student teaching placement interview in February.
    • have a negative Tuberculosis screening.
    • take the Praxis Subject Assessment(s) required for Virginia Licensure and/or your EMU program by Dec. 1 for spring student teachers and May 1 for fall student teachers. See Virginia Test Score Requirements | Register for Praxis
      • Health and Physical Education candidates student teaching in the spring may take the Praxis Subject Assessment in January of their student teaching semester and must submit proof of registration prior to student teaching.
      • For those seeking certification in more than one program area, one Praxis Subject Assessment examination is required as indicated above, and additional Praxis Subject Assessements must be taken and passed prior to program completion.
    • achieve a score of 2 or higher on designated criteria in the lesson plan rubric from designated program courses. Students are given the opportunity within two designated courses to master the criteria at least once.
    • achieve a score of “Developing Towards Expectations” or higher on each of seven essential criterion in the Profile of Clinical Performance practicum evaluation from designated program courses. Students are given the opportunity within two designated courses to master the criteria at least once.
    • complete certification or training in emergency first aid, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) including hands-on practice, and the use of automated external defibrillators (AED). The certification or training program shall be based on the current national evidence-based emergency cardiovascular care guidelines for cardiopulmonary resuscitation and the use of an automated external defibrillator, such as a program developed by the American Heart Association or the American Red Cross.
    • Write and submit an introductory letter and a resume by March 31 prior to the student teaching semester. These will be given to each supervising teacher and placed in your student file.
    • complete the background check requirement of the school division(s) in which you will student teach by the date required (dates will vary depending on the school division).

    Students must be admitted to teacher education by July 1, prior to the academic year they wish to student teach.

  • Step 3: Exit requirements

    In addition to meeting the requirements for your academic major, each student who completes the Teacher Education Program must satisfy the following exit requirements: