Certifications

Office of Teacher Candidacy and Certification

Undergraduate Degree Programs Leading to Initial Teacher Certification

Persons earning teacher certification through any of the following programs will meet the requirements for "Highly Qualified Teacher" (as defined by the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001)

Pre-K - 3rd Grades
Elementary Grades 1-5
Secondary Education Grades 6-12 concentrations:

  • Business Education
  • English Education
  • Family and Consumer Sciences Education
  • Mathematics Education
  • Biology Education
  • Chemistry Education
  • Physics Education
  • Social Studies Education
  • Speech Education

All levels (K-12):

  • Health and Physical Education
  • Music Education

Alternate Certification

TeachNorthwestern

Alternate Teacher Certification Packet

TeachNorthwestern is Northwestern State University’s innovative recruitment initiative to attract outstanding individuals to become teachers in Louisiana schools that need them the most. A background in education is not needed, only strong content knowledge and a commitment to children.

TeachNorthwestern encompasses three program alternatives that lead to certification: PREP (Practitioner Teacher Program), Master’s Degree with Alternate Certification, Non-Master’s Pathway to Alternate Certification

TeachNorthwestern is searching for high quality candidates, from degreed professionals to recent college graduates, to bring their experiences, knowledge and records of achievement to public schools. No experience in education is necessary. If you desire to work with children and young adults, possess the ability to overcome challenges, have a drive to achieve results and the desire and motivation to make a difference, TeachNorthwestern may be right for you.

Add-On Certification Levels and/or Certification Areas

In September 2004, the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education adopted new requirements which allow certified teachers to add certification levels and/or areas:

Certification Add-On (Endorsement)

ADOPTED September 14, 2004

The chart below identifies requirements to be completed in order to add-on a certification level and/or a certification area within levels to an existing valid teaching certificate.

PK-3 Add-On (Endorsement)

Requirements

For individual holding a valid elementary certificate
(e.g., 1-4, 1-5, 1-6, 1-8)

1. Achieve passing score for PRAXIS Early Childhood Education Exam (#0020)

or

Accumulate 12 credit hours of combined Nursery School and Kindergarten coursework.

For individual holding a valid upper elementary or middle school certificate
(e.g., 4-8, 5-8, 6-8),
secondary school certificate
(e.g., 6-12, 7-12, 9-12),
mild/moderate certificate, or an all-level K-12 certificate (art, dance, foreign language, health, PE, H&PE, music)

1. Achieve passing score for PRAXIS Elementary Education: Content Knowledge (#0014)

2. Achieve passing score for PRAXIS Early Childhood Education Exam (#0020)

or

Accumulate 12 credit hours of combined Nursery School and Kindergarten coursework.

3. Accumulate 9 semester hours of reading coursework.

Elementary Add-On (Endorsement)

Requirements

For individual holding a valid early childhood certificate
(e.g., PK-K, PK-3)

1. Achieve passing score for PRAXIS Elementary Education: Content Knowledge (#0014)

2. Achieve passing score for PRAXIS Principles of Learning and Teaching K-6

3. Accumulate 9 semester hours of reading, 12 semester hours of mathematics, 12 semester hours of science, and 12 semester hours of social studies coursework.

For individual holding an upper elementary or middle school certificate
(e.g., 4-8, 5-8, 6-8),
secondary certificate
(e.g., 6-12, 7-12, 9-12),
mild/moderate certificate, or an all-level K-12 certificate (art, dance, foreign language, health, PE, H&PE, music)

1. Achieve passing score for PRAXIS Elementary Education: Content Knowledge (#0014)

or

Accumulate 12 semester hours of mathematics, 12 semester hours of science, 12 semester hours of English language arts, and 12 semester hours of social studies coursework.

2. Achieve passing score for PRAXIS Principles of Learning and Teaching K-6

3. Accumulate 9 semester hours of reading coursework.

Middle School Specialty Area Add-On (Endorsement)—English, Mathematics, Science, or Social Studies

Requirements

For individual holding a valid early childhood certificate
(PK-K, PK-3),
elementary certificate
(e.g., 1-4, 1-5, 1-6, 1-8),
upper elementary or middle school certificate
(e.g., 4-8, 5-8, 6-8),
secondary certificate
(e.g. ., 6-12, 7-12, 9-12,
mild/moderate certificate, or an all-level K-12 certificate (art, dance, foreign language, health, PE, H&PE, music)

1. Achieve passing score for PRAXIS Middle School: Specialty Area Exam in the content area

or

Accumulate 30 credit hours in the specialty content area

2. Achieve passing score for PRAXIS Principles of Learning and Teaching 5-9

3. Accumulate 6 semester hours of reading

Secondary Specialty Area Add-On (Endorsement) in Core Content Area as defined in NCLB [English, Foreign Language, Math, Science, Social Studies, Speech,]

Requirements

For individual holding a valid early childhood certificate
(PK-K, PK-3),
elementary certificate
(e.g., 1-4, 1-5, 1-6, 1-8),
upper elementary or middle school certificate
(e.g., 4-8, 5-8, 6-8),
or mild/moderate certificate

1. Achieve passing score for PRAXIS Secondary Specialty Area Exam in the content area

or

Accumulate 30 credit hours in the specialty content area

2. Achieve passing score for PRAXIS Principles of Learning and Teaching 7-12

For individual holding a valid secondary certificate
(e.g., 6-12, 7-12, 9-12),
or an all-level K-12 certificate (art, dance, foreign language, health, PE, H&PE, music)

1. Achieve passing score for PRAXIS Secondary Specialty Area Exam in the content area

or

Accumulate 30 credit hours in the specialty content area

Secondary Specialty Area Add-On (Endorsement) Non-NCLB [Agriculture, Business, Computer Science, Family & Consumer Sciences, Journalism, Marketing, and Technology Education]

Requirements

For individual holding a valid early childhood certificate
(PK-K, PK-3),
elementary certificate
(e.g., 1-4, 1-5, 1-6, 1-8),
upper elementary or middle school certificate
(e.g., 4-8, 5-8, 6-8),
or mild/moderate certificate

1. Achieve passing PRAXIS score for Secondary Specialty Area Exam in the content area

or

Accumulate 21 credit hours in the specialty content area

2. Achieve passing score for PRAXIS Principles of Learning and Teaching 7-12

For individual holding a valid secondary certificate
(e.g., 6-12, 7-12, 9-12),
or an all-level K-12 certificate (art, dance, foreign language, health, PE, H&PE, music)

1. Achieve passing score for PRAXIS Secondary Specialty Area Exam in the content area

or

Accumulate 21 credit hours in the specialty content area

Mild/Moderate Special Education Add-On (Endorsement)

Requirements

For individual holding a valid early childhood certificate
(PK-K, PK-3),
elementary certificate
(e.g., 1-4, 1-5, 1-6, 1-8)
upper elementary or middle school certificate
(e.g., 4-8, 5-8, 6-8),
secondary certificate
(e.g., 6-12, 7-12, 9-12)
or an all-level K-12 certificate (art, dance, foreign language, health, PE, H&PE, music)

1. Complete 15 semester hours of special education coursework, as follows:

Methods/Materials for Mild/Moderate Exceptional Children (3 hrs.); Assessment and Evaluation of Exceptional Learners (3 hrs.); Behavioral Management of Mild/Moderate Exceptional Children (3 hrs.); Vocational and Transition Services for Students with Disabilities (3 hrs.); and Practicum in Assessment and Evaluation of M/M Exceptional Learners (3 hrs.).

2. Earn a passing score on the mild/moderate Special Education PRAXIS content specialty exam(s) required in Louisiana.

An All-Level (K-12) Area Add-On (Endorsement) in Art, Dance, Foreign Language, Health & Physical Education, Music

Requirements

For individual holding a valid early childhood certificate
(PK-3),
elementary certificate
(e.g., 1-4, 1-5, 1-6, 1-8),
upper elementary or middle school certificate
(e.g., 4-8, 5-8, 6-8),
secondary certificate
(e.g., 6-12, 7-12, 9-12),
mild/moderate special education certificate,or an all-level K-12 certificate (art, dance, foreign language, health, PE, H&PE, music)

 

Reading Specialist Add-On

For individual with a master's degree from a regionally accredited college and holding a valid Type B, A, or Level 2, or 3 Louisiana certificate

1. Achieve passing score for PRAXIS specialty area exam in area of endorsement

or

Accumulate 30 semester hours in the specialty area

NOTE: An individual already certified in one Music Education area (Instrumental Music OR Vocal Music) may add the second music area with coursework, as follows:

  • To add Instrumental Music, 12 semester hours to include brass, percussion, string, and woodwind instruments;
  • To add Vocal Music, 12 semester hours to include piano and voice.

Requirements

1. Satisfactorily complete twelve semester hours that include

Foundations of Reading – 3 semester hours (RDG 5010 or 5210)

Diagnosis and correction of reading to include a Practicum – 6 semester hours (RDG 5710 and RDG 6510)

Reading in the Content Area – 3 semester hours (RDG 5250)

NOTE:  

  1. Reading Specialist certification will be valid for teaching and/or supervision of reading in grades 1-12.
  2. Reading Specialist certification requirements are subject to change based on State Department requirements.
   

(Notes:
For purposes of add-on endorsements, reference to a Praxis exam means the current applicable exam in policy with the current established passing scores.

Add-on (endorsement) certifications not identified in this proposed policy will continue to follow requirements currently in place in Bulletin 746.)

Add-On Certification Areas

The University offers additional certification in other content areas. The College of Education, or appropriate department, should be contacted for information.

  • Computer Literacy
  • Computer Science
  • School Library Service
  • Special Education Mild/Moderate

Persons certified in Physical Education may add:

  • Adaptive Physical Education

Teachers of Exceptional Children certifications:

  • Academically Gifted
  • Early Interventionist
  • Educational Diagnostician
  • Mild/Moderate
  • Severe/Profound

Administrators, Supervisors, and Special Service Personnel

  • Child Search Coordinator
  • Child Nutrition Program Supervisor
  • Educational Technology Leadership
  • Educational Technology Facilitation
  • Provisional School Principal
  • Guidance Counselor
    • Counselor K-12
    • Ancillary Counselor, K-12
  • Parish or School Superintendent
  • Parish or City School Supervisor of Instruction
  • Parish or City School Supervisor/Director of Special Education
  • Reading Specialist
  • Special School Principal
  • Supervisor of Student Teaching
  • Supervisor of Parish or City Materials and/or Media Centers