1. Undergraduate Entry Advising
Center for Teacher Education
This presentation is for undergraduate students beginning the teacher education program.
Undergraduate Entry Advising

2. Welcome to Teaching
Welcome to the teaching profession! —Dr. Blake Bickham, CTE Department Head
The Center for Teacher Education (CTE) is excited to work alongside you on your journey to becoming a teacher!
Today, we want to go over some of the necessary steps from being admitted to the teacher education program to becoming a licensed teacher.
Welcome to the teaching profession from Dr. Blake Bickham, the CTE Department Head, and all the rest of us here at the Center for Teacher Education.
We are excited to work alongside you on your journey to becoming a teacher!
Today, we want to go over some of the necessary steps from being admitted to the teacher education program to becoming a licensed teacher.

3. Education Student Phases
Pre-Education Major
Education Student
Student Teacher
Education majors go through 3 phases as students.
There are different applications associated with each phase.
There are field hours and other requirements associated with each phase.
Education majors go through 3 phases as students:
Pre-Education Majors, Education Students, and Student Teachers.
There are different applications associated with each phase.
There are field hours and other requirements associated with each phase.

4. Application Phases
What are the three application phases on your way to becoming a teacher?
When are you placed in a classroom?
When do you become lead teacher of a classroom?
When do you get your teaching license?
—There are application processes associated with each of these phases.
CTE Admission Application
Application Packet
App, Praxis, DW, Skills, Philosophy, Recommendations
After about 60 hrs
Grade of B needed in most courses
After EDUC 115/215
EDUC 300+ classes require CTE admission
Background Check
Free; no fingerprints required; national
Student Teaching Application
EDUC 4XX
1 yr placement = methods + internship
Application Materials
Resume; Interest Letter; Field App; & DW
D51/District Background Check
Cost ~ $45; fingerprint info from District; CBI check
Teacher Licensure Application
CDE/CBI Background Check
Fingerprinting card info on CDE website; cost ~$50
Online Application
~$90; docs are uploaded; set up account at end of student teaching
What are the three application phases on your way to becoming a teacher?
Think about at what point are you placed in a classroom?
When do you step into the lead teaching role?
What is the process for getting your license.
There are application process associated with each of these phases.
This timeline lays out each of these application phases and elements associated with each.
We will go over these phases in more detail throughout this presentation, but take a moment to review these phases and their elements.
—We will go over each of these application phases in more detail in this presentation.

5. Advising: Pre-Education
Students can gain advising assistance from a variety of resources, including DegreeWorks, Teacher Ed Program Support Staff, and Faculty Advisors
Initially, students are admitted as a Pre-Education major
Students can view progress toward the full requirements of an Ed degree using the What If feature in DegreeWorks
Once formally admitted to Teacher Ed, a student’s major is updated to a major with a Teaching emphasis by the content department
Example: History Pre-Teaching  History Secondary Teaching
Once admitted, a History Pre-Teaching major would be update by the CMU Social Science Department to History Secondary Teaching
Students can gain advising assistance from a variety of resources, including DegreeWorks, Teacher Ed Program Support Staff, and Faculty Advisors.
Initially, students are admitted as a Pre-Education major.
Students can view progress toward the full requirements of an education degree using the What If feature in DegreeWorks.
See the Registrar Office’s website for support on using DegreeWorks.
Once formally admitted to Teacher Ed,
a student’s major is updated to a major with a Teaching emphasis by the content department.
For example a Pre-History major would have their major updated to History Secondary Teaching
by the Social Sciences Department after they are formally admitted to the teaching program.

6. Advising: Program Support
Mary Kienietz: |
Assists students with initial application to the Center for Teacher Education.
Maintains student records.
Processes program verification/recommendation for state licensure.
April Cackler: |
Coordinates field placements, particularly student teaching placement.
Assists students with student teaching application and internship requirements.
Program Coordinators:
Dr. Lisa Friel – Elementary
Dr. Nancy Alex – Secondary
Mark Schmalz – K12
Dr. Ann Gillies – Early Childhood/SPED
Denise Hoctor – Distance Elementary
Throughout the program, we offer advising support.
Our administrative assistants will help you with applying to the program and progressing though it,
from field placements and student teaching, to licensure.
Faculty also provide support.
Each of our programs has a faculty coordinator.
Dr. Lisa Friel is our Elementary Program Coordinator
Dr. Nancy Alex is our Secondary Program Coordinator
Mark Schmalz heads our K12 Program Coordinator
Dr. Ann Gillies coordinates our Early Childhood & SPED Programs
and Denise Hoctor coordinates our Distance Elementary Program

7. Advising: Faculty Content/Major Advisors CTE Program Coordinator
Students work with both a content/major advisor and a Teacher Ed program advisor at each phase of the program
Both: Course selection
CTE: Application advising
Both: Signatures for CTE application and any substitutions
Content: Recommendation forms for CTE application
Both: Approval of degree plan
Both: Letters of recommendation for scholarships or employment
Content/Major Advisors
CTE Program Coordinator
CTE Application Recommendation
CTE Application Advising
Advising Signatures-Ed courses or requirements
Advising Signatures-content courses
Course selection
Education students are fortunate to have two faculty advisors:
an advisor within Teacher Education, and one within their major content area.
Students work with both a content advisor and a Teacher Education advisor at each phase of the program.
Both assist with course selection:
education advisors speak to education courses and requirements;
content advisors speak to major requirements and courses.
CTE faculty are the advisors to seek for assistance when applying to the teaching program.
They can advise you on application requirements, polices, and timing.
Signatures from both your content and CTE advisors are required as a part of the teaching program application.
And if waivers or substitutions are needed, content advisors sign off on content courses, and education advisors sign off on education courses and requirements.
Your teaching program application recommendations can only come from content advisors and faculty outside of Teacher Ed—we want to hear from people outside of the program about you as a student.
Finally, both advisors must approve your final graduation plan.
And both are great resources for letters of recommendation for scholarship and employment purposes.

8. Phase I App: CTE Admission
Application to Teacher Education Program
Teacher Ed application required prior to taking 300-level education courses
After completing 60 credit hours
Course Pre-requisites:
EDUC 115 & 215
ENGL 111 & 112
MATH ___
PSYC 233
B or better required for many courses—see CTE Application
Typically, no Ds are permitted—see degree plan
2.8 minimum GPA required
Application Packet:
Undergraduate Program Application at
Includes:
Application, skills check, and expectations forms
Teaching philosophy statement
Letters of recommendation forms
Background Check
Free; just requires authorization
No fingerprints required
Praxis Core Writing score of 162
Mary Kienietz is the primary support resource
Elementary majors apply at end of sophomore year
Secondary majors apply at beginning of junior year
K-12 Majors:
Art: beginning of junior year
PE & Music: beginning or end of junior year
The first application process education students encounter on their way to becoming a teacher is the application to the teacher education program.
Admission to the program is required prior to taking any 300-level education courses.
Typically students apply after completing 60 credit hours, however students apply at different times depending on their licensure track.
Elementary majors apply at the end of their sophomore year.
Secondary majors apply at the beginning of their junior year.
K-12 majors have varied pacing, so Art majors apply at the beginning of their junior year and PE and Music majors typically apply at the end of their junior year.
There are various course prerequisites for admission to Teacher Ed. Many of these courses have specific grade requirements.
Overall teacher candidates are required to earn and maintain a 2.8 minimum GPA:
in content classes, education classes, and overall.
Early on, students should familiarize themselves with the requirements lined out in their degree plan as well as the CTE application.
More information about all these requirements can be found on the CTE website.
Required documents and polices can be found at the Undergraduate Program Application page.
Mary Kienietz is the primary support contact during this application process.
In the following slides, we will go into more detail about testing and background check requirements.

9. 100% Requirement: Testing
“In accordance with our goal of providing teachers who are competent in subject matter, the Colorado Mesa University Center for Teacher Education (CTE) requires content testing prior to admission to the teacher education program and prior to beginning student teaching.” —CTE Website
What are the three application phases on your way to becoming a teacher?
Entry Exam: Praxis Core Writing (5722)
Required as a part of Teacher Program application
Demonstrates a teacher candidate’s authentic, on-demand writing ability
Score of 162 required
Licensure Exam: Praxis II
Required for state licensure
Required prior to start of internship
Content specific; examples:
Elementary takes the Elementary exams
History takes a Social Studies content exam
Music takes a Music content exam
Demonstrates teacher candidate’s proficiency in content knowledge prior to lead teaching experience
More information can be found on our testing pages:
CTE Admission Testing:
Required Content/Licensure Testing:
100%
In accordance with our goal of providing teachers who are competent in subject matter,
the CTE requires content testing prior to admission to the teacher education program.
We also require testing prior to beginning student teaching.
The Praxis Core Writing exam is required as a part of the Teacher Program application.
It demonstrates a teacher candidate’s authentic, on-demand, writing ability.
A minimum score of 162 is required.
The Praxis II is a component of the state licensure process,
in other words it is required by the state of Colorado.
Taking the Praxis II is also required prior to start of internship.
These exams are content specific.
For example, elementary majors take the elementary exams, history majors take the Social Studies content exam, etc.
The teacher education website has 2 pages dedicated to testing requirement information.
The CTE Admission Testing page contains information on Praxis Core.
The Required Content/Licensure Testing page outlines the exams required by endorsement area and lists exam codes and cut score information for each exam.

10. Requirement: Background Checks
We all want to keep kids safe! Think of it as OSHA for K-12!!!
CTE Application Check
Free to students
National check
No fingerprints required
Student authorization needed
Student Teaching Check
May be required by district
Districts’ HR offices have their own directions/policies on the background checks
Required to student teach in D51
Fingerprint and CBI check required – costs ~$44.75
*Music students do this in their first year
We all want to keep kids safe. The state, school districts, and the university all have policies in place to make sure candidates are properly vetted before being placed with kids.
When you apply to the program,
we preform a national check with no fingerprints required,
and at no cost to students.
Only a release is required.
A background check may also be performed prior to student teaching.
Many districts have their own polices and procedures for checks.
There are often fees and fingerprinting associated with district checks.
As our music students start working in schools early on, they often complete a district background check in their freshman year.
The final background check comes as students transition to the professional world as a licensed teacher.
Each state has it’s own licensure requirements and background check policies.
Remember, these checks are to facilitate you getting real experience in the classroom.
Teacher Licensure Check
CDE Requirement
Licensure application requirement
Requires fingerprints & CBI processing fee

11. Requirement: Field Hours
Field hours are required at each phase for an education student
800 total hours required
20 prior to starting the program
180 while in the teaching program
600 for student teaching (internship)
Pre-Education Major
20 hours total are required for EDUC 115 & 215
Focus: unstructured—broad experiences with education and groups of kids
Examples: attending a school board meeting, coaching, tutoring, or volunteering with CTE clubs to work with kids with disabilities and/or STEM literacy.
CTE Reference Option: this may serve as a resource for the required CTE application recommendation from someone who has observed you with children
Placement: arranged by student
Background Check: none formally required
Education Student
180 hours completed as a requirement for education classes
Focus: observing in a level/content appropriate classroom
Placement: arranged by Ed Professors and/or CTE staff
Background Check: completed by CTE
Student Teacher-Internship
600 hours completed as a requirement for EDUC 499
Focus: practical application and demonstration of teaching concepts
Placement: arranged by CTE faculty and staff
Background Check: completed at discretion of placement district
The state of Colorado is a leader in teacher preparation by requiring candidates to complete 800 hours in the field.
CMU requires field hours at each phase for an education student: as a pre-education major, an education student, and a student teacher.
The 20 hours required of students prior to being admitted to the teacher education program are
to give students broad, unstructured experiences with education and with groups of kids
These Pre-Education hours are associated with the Education 115 & 215 courses that student take prior to CTE admission.
Examples of these “introductory” experiences might include,
attending a school board meeting,
coaching or tutoring,
or volunteering with our CTE clubs that work with kids with disabilities and/or to promote STEM literacy.
This placement may provide students with a reference who has observed them with children.
As these placements are arranged by the students, no background check is formally required.
Once admitted to the program, there are field hours associated with specific education classes.
The focus of this observation experience is that you get content appropriate classroom time in the level that you planned to be licensed.
Placements are arranged by education professors and CTE staff;
students are NOT to arrange their own placements for these observation hours.
All education students are expected to pass a background check before being placed for observation hours.
The student teaching internship phase consists of 600 hours.
These hours are completed as a component of their EDUC 499 classes.
The focus of this experience is the practical application and demonstration of teaching concepts.
It is arranged through the department and in coordination with the cooperating school district.
As such, an independent background check may need to be completed at the discretion of the participating school district.

12. Phase II App: Student Teaching
Student Teaching Field Placement Application
Required to complete field hours for methods courses
Year-long placement
However K12 majors often rotate during methods
Application Materials
Field Application
Resume and Letter of Interest
DegreeWorks Report/Course Planning Sheet
Prior to starting internship:
CPR/FA Certification required
Licensure/Content Testing is required
District Background Check
Districts may require an independent background check
Each district’s HR office has it’s own directions/policies on the background checks
*Music students do this in their first year
April Cackler is the primary support resource for this application process
Don’t miss out on the Student Teaching Application Workshop or the CPR/FA training! Check your CMU !
The second application for an education student is a part of the student teaching placement process.
As the student teaching placement is also used to complete field hours for the methods courses,
it is a yearlong placement.
To facilitate this placement, various materials are requested of our teacher candidates.
In particular, the resume and letter of interest help us match candidates to prospective mentors.
Each semester, the CTE offers workshops
that go over the student teaching experience
and guide students in how to create a resume and interest letter
that is tailored for student teaching.
Additionally, candidates must be CPR and First Aid Certified prior to starting the internship phase.
The CTE also provides a training for CPR and First Aid.
Finally, prior to stepping into the lead teaching role,
the CTE requires students to take their licensure exam.
However, it is highly recommended that students complete the licensure testing much earlier on,
often doing so the summer before their senior year.
And remember, per the policies of the district you are placed in,
you may asked to complete a background check specifically for that district.
April Cackler is the primary support resource for this phase.
She keeps student apprised of workshop opportunities, and of internship, district, and state requirements.
Make sure to check your CMU often so you do not miss out!

13. Phase III App: Teacher Licensure
Teaching Licensure Application
Completed at the end of intern semester or after graduation
Application is done through a CDE online account
Required documents are uploaded, including:
Passing Licensure Exam – Praxis II
College Transcript, showing degree conferred
Program Completion Verification
Application Fee: paid online, currently $90
(The account must be accessed every few weeks to remain active)
The CDE application checklist provides further information
Fingerprints/Background Check Required
Fingerprint procedures can be found at
Prints should not be submitted too early—prints submitted for licensure are now only good with CDE for one year  
Mary and April both assist students with this final phase
The final application phase as an education student is applying for state licensure.
This comes at the end of the intern semester or after graduation
The Colorado Department of Education requires teacher candidates
to create an online licensure account.
Documents are then uploaded to that account.
Luckily, one of those documents, your final CMU transcript is free!
The required licensure fee is also paid online through your CDE licensure account.
And, as mentioned earlier, a background check using fingerprints is required.
More about CDE’s licensure application requirements can be found on the CDE website.
Remember, we provide you with support at each phase of the program.
Throughout, you will receive communications and trainings with more details.

14. Teacher Ed Application
Certification Costs
There are costs associated with each application phase in becoming a teacher.
Many professions have fees associated with becoming licensed or certified within a state: real-estate, investment banking, health professions, etc.
In teaching you encounter those costs more upfront; however, you are tracked for a specific profession for which these assessments help prepare you.
Teacher Ed Application
Student Teaching
Teacher Licensure
The following are components of your CTE Application
$90: Praxis (5722) Core Writing
Free background check
$44.75: District background check
$40.00: CPR & 1st Aid Certification –Child & Adult
$300: edTPA (book fee) National Performance Assessment Portfolio System (K12 students consult ed advisor)
(*Licensure exam completed prior to internship)
$120 - $170: *Licensure Exam--see Praxis fee website**
$90: CDE Application Fee
$47.75: CBI Background Check
CMU transcript is free **
In summary,
there are requirements and costs associated with each phase on your way to becoming a teacher.
Many professions have fees associated with becoming licensed or certified within a state:
to name a few, engineers take licensing exams,
as do investment bankers, and health professionals like nurses.
In teaching, you encounter licensure-related costs more upfront;
however, you are tracked for a specific profession for which these assessments help prepare you.
Below we have broken down the costs associated with each application phase.
As a part of the teacher education application,
students must take the Praxis Core Writing exam.
Again, the background check at this phase has no fee.
As a part of student teaching,
students may need to complete a background check for their placment district,
they must be CPR & First Aid certified or take the training,
and they must purchase access to the edTPA Portfolio System
that serves as the book fee for student teaching.
When applying for licensure,
students must pay an application fee,
complete a CBI background check with fingerprints,
and submit passing scores for their Praxis II exam to the Colorado Department of Education—along with other documents.
See the ETS.org website for more information on Praxis exam fees.

15. Questions?? Feel free to contact us with questions at:
Mary Kienietz: |
April Cackler: |
Dominquez Hall 109 or 101
Questions??
Throughout each phase of the program, we are here for you!
Our faculty and staff are happy to answer questions you may have.
Also, the CTE website is full of helpful information, so make sure to check it out.

16. Thank You! What you do counts! What you do counts!
Thank you so much for your time.
Thank You!