Advising Ed Students By Dawn L. Wildfang, MS Ed. Academic Advising & Learning Center Updated by College of Education 8/29/2006

What Education Majors Need to Accomplish Specific LACCs according to your teaching major and authorization Your teaching major classes The BA or BS degree requirements Standardized testing, which varies depending on the authorization a student wants to teach At least two supervised experiences with children - 30 hours strongly recommended for each – with the goal of obtaining letters of documentation The Professional Core of the College of Education

What’s What? A List of Terms Teaching Authorization: The age/grade level a student will teach after they receive their initial teaching license. Teaching Major: The name given to represent the various authorizations or their subject areas. For instance, Health teaching major or Early Childhood/Elementary Ed major. Focus Area(s): A content area of interest for Early Childhood/Elementary or Elementary/Middle Ed majors. Endorsement: To receive an endorsement, one must pass a Praxis specialty exam, which demonstrates expertise in a given subject area. Usually, this is accomplished by taking a specific set of classes.

Early Childhood/Elementary Majors Take the CBEST (California Basic Educational Skills Test) or PPST (Computerized Pre-Professional Skills Tests) as soon as possible. Take the ORELA (Oregon Education Licensure Assessments) soon after the completion of their LACCs. Registration booklets for both exams may be found in the Academic Advising and Learning Center or College of Education. Gain supervised experience with children and obtain two letters documenting their experiences within the last three years. Be aware of the GPA requirement needed for the College of Ed.

Elementary/Middle School Majors Take the CBEST (California Basic Educational Skills Test) or PPST (Computerized Pre-Professional Skills Tests) as soon as possible. Take the ORELA (Oregon Education Licensure Assessments) soon after the completion of their LACCs. Students who are a math focus at this level must take the Math Praxis for middle school teachers. Registration booklets for all exams may be found in the Academic Advising and Learning Center or College of Education. Gain supervised experience with children and obtain two letters documenting their experiences within the last three years. Be aware of the GPA requirement needed for the College of Ed.

Middle/High School Majors Take the CBEST (California Basic Educational Skills Test) or PPST (Computerized Pre-Professional Skills Tests) as soon as possible. Take the ORELA (Oregon Educator Licensure Assessments) soon after the completion of their LACCs, unless they are only seeking a high school authorization. Take your Praxis specialty exam soon after completing your teaching major. It must be passed before beginning Term Two of the Ed Program. Registration booklets for all exams may be found in the Academic Advising and Learning Center or College of Education. Gain supervised experience with children and obtain two letters documenting their experiences within the last three years. Be aware of the GPA requirement needed for the College of Ed.

How Can a Student Stand Out? Think about an ESOL Endorsement – Dr. Maria Dantas- Whitney, adviser, may be reached at or This is the only endorsement undergraduate students may obtain that is not associated with a teaching Go to Club Ed, which offers mentorship, preparation for the College of Ed, volunteer opportunities, guest speakers, networking, introduction to professional organizations, and much more. Gain plenty of experience with youth, specifically in the public schools at the age level they wish to teach.

When to Apply? Students apply to the College of Ed (COE) twice a year, and well before they are ready to begin. Please confirm the schedule. The CBEST or PPST must be passed before students can apply. The ORELA, if necessary, must be passed before students may begin the Term One of the Ed Program. Students may take up to 8 credits from their LACCs, major, or degree requirement classes into the COE.

When to Apply? If seeking an endorsement for your teaching major, you must have the Praxis specialty exam taken before beginning Term Two of the Ed Program. Applications for the Ed Program are available in ED 202, year-round. Before you are ready to apply, you must attend an orientation meeting put on by the COE. Watch for the schedule and confirm it so you don’t miss out.

Letters of Documentation Minimum of two letters Letters must be written, on official letterhead, by people who have supervised you with groups of children within the last three years. One must come from a public school teacher at the age level you wish to teach. Other acceptable experiences: coaching, camp counselor, YMCA, Boys and Girls Club, etc. One of the letters must be confidential.

Contacts The COE may provide practicum opportunities for students seeking experience with children. Contact Karen Johnson at or 503- Dr. Gwenda Rice, Teacher Education Division Chair, works with students who are interested in a secondary education post-bac degree. Contact her at or

Contacts Dr. Mary Reynolds works with students interested in a primary education post-bac degree: or Lynne Lindsay is the contact for the MAT Program: or

Looking Ahead Once a student graduates and receives their initial teaching license, they have 10 years to obtain 45 graduate level courses in order to gain their continuing teaching license. Teachers are not required to have a Master’s degree in Oregon. However, an advisee should be aware that if they earn a graduate degree, they will take a nice jump in the pay scale, no matter where they teach. For more in-depth information on licensure information, or adding an authorization, contact Sue Thompson at or

Helpful Websites WOU’s College of Education: Club Ed – Get a head start networking and preparing for your teaching career: Salem Keizer School District – Human Resources, including LEAP application: Teach Oregon – Find jobs at: Teacher Standards and Practices Commission:

Questions? Contact the Academic Advising and Learning Center at or Or Contact the College of Education at or