Educator Preparation Programs

The educator preparation programs at West Chester University have developed professional dispositions and requirements essential for the profession. These dispositions are based on the 2011 Interstate Teacher Assessment and Support Consortium (InTASC) Model Core Teaching Standards. Candidates have the opportunity to demonstrate dispositions in courses (assignments, interactions with others) and out in the field with mentor teachers and students in PK-12 settings. Please review information regarding professional dispositions and the evaluation process for further details.

The educator preparation programs at West Chester University use Anthology Portfolio (hereafter “Anthology”), a web-based software, as a comprehensive data management system for assessments of student learning outcomes and tracking of field placements and clinical experiences. Anthology establishes electronic documentation for continuous improvement of the educator preparation programs and accreditation. Students use the system to complete key unit and program course assignments/assessments, field experience evaluations, applications, and portfolios.

All students enrolled in an educator preparation program accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) are required to have an Anthology account. Most undergraduate students will need to purchase an account starting in their sophomore year, while first-year students in the Early Grades and Middle Grades programs will first need to purchase it. Students will need to purchase a subscription each year they are in the program thereafter. This includes initial-level licensure programs, the M.Ed. in Literacy and Reading Specialist Certification program, the Certificate in Autism program, and the Principalship Leadership Certificate program. Students who do not have an active account are required to buy one for $18 per year via credit card, money order, or cashier’s check from the Bursar’s Office (in-person or online). Anthology is accessible for one year after the date of account activation.

While educator preparation programs utilize Anthology, Social Work utilizes Tevera. Please refer to individual department pages for information about this field placement software.

Note: Fees and other expenses are subject to change within the time span of a student's University career due to changing requirements at national, state, and local levels.

All candidates pursuing certification in Pennsylvania can expect to spend $300 on required licensure tests, $60 per year on criminal clearances, an average of $45 for TB testing, $200 on the Pennsylvania certification application, and $18 per year on an Anthology Portfolio account. If licensure testing or clearances must be repeated for any reason during the candidate’s enrollment at WCU, the candidate will incur additional expenses. It is preferred that the TB testing must be updated every two years for all early grades preparation PK-4 majors entering early childhood centers.

Note: Fees and other expenses are subject to change within the time span of a student's University career due to changing requirements at national, state and local levels.

All candidates seeking either a degree or certification in teaching must apply for Teacher Candidacy, a process required by the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE). This provision applies to those who have already received University admission to pursue majors in educator preparation (educator preparation candidates). Achieving Teacher Candidacy enables educator preparation candidates to enroll in the advanced coursework required to complete degree and certification programs.

According to the PDE guidelines for achieving Teacher Candidacy, effective August 1, 2015, educator preparation candidates who complete sixty (60) or more credits of college-level coursework, but have not yet completed the Teacher Candidacy process, may register for additional professional education courses as long as those courses are not designated as advanced-level professional education coursework. Each program has designated, for its own majors, its advanced-level professional education courses for its majors. Only those educator preparation candidates who have completed the Teacher Candidacy process are eligible to take advanced level professional education courses. 

The Office of Candidate Services processes all applications for Teacher Candidacy. Contact your program chair or advisor for guidance. 

Minimum Standard for Achieving Teacher Candidacy

The minimum standards for a WCU educator preparation candidate to advance to Teacher Candidacy include the following:

1. Major in an educator preparation program or enrolled in an elective certification program.
2. Forty-eight (48) credits of college-level study.
3. Six (6) semester-hour credits of college-level (100 level or above) mathematics, three (3) semester-hour credits of college-level (100 level or above) English composition, and three (3) semester-hour credits in literature taught in English.
4. Completion of an Ethics Module (for students applying for Teacher Candidacy after Spring 2025).

5. Minimum Standard for Obtaining Teacher Candidacy (based on Act 55 of 2022 Guidance from the PA Department of Education 7/8/2022-7/8/2025)

WCU's Office of Candidate Services has established teacher candidate cohorts with Teacher Candidacy (TC) applications received during the following time periods:

Sept. 1st - Feb. 28th (Due date to submit TC application: Feb. 28th)

Mar. 1st - Aug. 31st (Due date to submit TC application: Aug. 31st) 

Candidates who are eligible and apply for TC within the application submission periods and have a Grade Point Average (GPA) below 3.0 will formally enter their Educator Preparation Program (EPP) on a provisional basis. Candidates will be informed of the provisional criteria as part of the TC application process. At the end of the application period, any student with a GPA below 3.0 and who also falls outside the required 10% entry threshold* will have their provisional Teacher Candidacy removed. These candidates will be required to pass basic skills testing (SAT, ACT, Pearson/PAPA, ETS/Praxis Core) to move forward with Teacher Candidacy.

*Guidance from PDE: WCU and all EPPs are required to have students who were admitted to your programs since fall 2022 with GPAs between a 2.8 and 2.99, who entered without taking basic skills or meeting other exemption measures, to take and pass the basic skills test (of those those who haven't currently achieved a 3.0). The Act 55 Basic Skills Moratorium below only applies to those who came in with a 3.0 or higher. For those who came in with a lower GPA between 2.8 and 2.99 they must meet the alternative requirements. Please remember that you can also use the following to accept those students you discussed above:

"354.31 Admissions: (7) The preparing institution may accept up to 10% of the applicants for admission to the professional educator program who do not meet overall minimum GPA requirements in paragraph (4) or alternative admission criteria under paragraph (5). The criteria for admission of applicants specified in this paragraph shall be developed and documented by the preparing institution and must include the requirements in § 49.12 (relating to eligibility)."

Act 55 of 2022, signed into law by Governor Wolf on July 8, 2022, requires the Secretary of Education to waive the requirement to satisfactorily complete the assessment of basic skills required under section 1207.3 and 22 Pa. Code § 49.18(c) (relating to assessment) for 3 years from July 8, 2022, through July 8, 2025. This applies to all students who enter preparation programs during this period as well as otherwise qualified candidates for licensure who make application during this period.

   6. Standard for Maintaining Teacher Candidacy

WCU educator preparation candidates who achieve Teacher Candidacy must maintain a minimum cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA) of 3.0 to retain Teacher Candidacy status. In most cases, a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 must be earned to qualify for Pennsylvania certification. Candidates who have Teacher Candidacy status and later fall below the required cumulative GPA are permitted to repeat advanced professional education course work which they have already taken and earned a grade below B- to improve their GPA to the required level (GPA of 3.0). Such candidates will not, however, be permitted to register for additional advanced professional education course work in their programs until they again achieve the minimum cumulative GPA required for Teacher Candidacy (GPA of 3.0). Contact your program chair or advisor for guidance.

Designated courses require early field experience to observe and work with PK-12 students in schools and other settings. Candidates must have a current TB test result, Pennsylvania State Criminal History Record, Federal Criminal History Report, and Department of Human Services Child Abuse Report before they can enter an early field experience setting. Clearances must also be submitted to, reviewed, and verified by the Office of Candidate Services before candidates may enter the field. Under no circumstances may candidates complete field experiences without the proper clearances. Please review the WCU policies on clearances as well as the courses that require clearances. University policy gives the Dean of the College of Education and Social Work the authority to revoke enrollment in early field experience courses of any candidate who fails to provide criminal clearances.

Student teaching is the culminating experience of the educator preparation program. Candidates must complete student teacher applications via the program's assessment system (Anthology) one year before the semester in which they intend to teach. 

To be eligible to complete a student teaching experience, candidates (undergraduates and post-baccalaureates) must have: 

• Completed the prerequisite course requirements, 

• Met the grade point average (3.0) or higher,
  • Pennsylvania’s Chapter 354 and therefore, the PA Department of Education, requires a 3.0 for candidacy. However, those with a 2.8 or above may be conditionally admitted. Please contact the Office of Clinical Experiences and Candidate Services for questions.

• Satisfied the requirements for Teacher Candidacy.

All candidates for certification must take all required licensure tests prior to student teaching. Please review all testing information for specific details regarding the testing requirements for your area of certification. 

See program listings and advising sheets for specifics and any additional program requirements. Candidates should contact their departments for specific requirements.

Candidates are assigned a student teaching placement in schools with which the University has a formal agreement. 

Fall Student Teaching Placement

Candidates seeking to student teach during the fall semester should submit all appropriate information no later than *February 15th of the previous academic semester. Completed applications submitted on or before this date will have priority over incomplete or late applications. We encourage candidates to submit their applications as early as possible to ensure a placement within a school district:

• Attend the Pre-Registration meeting one year in advance (previous fall semester)
• February 1st - Submit the student teaching application
• February 15th - Completed applications are submitted to school districts

Late applications or those that were returned because they were incomplete can be submitted no later than *February 23rd to be considered for student teaching in the fall semester.

• Applications not completed by this date will not be considered for student teaching during the fall semester.

Spring Student Teaching Placement

Candidates seeking to student teach during the spring semester should submit all appropriate information no later than *September 15th of the previous academic semester. Completed applications submitted on or before this date will have priority over incomplete or late applications (see below). We encourage candidates to submit their applications as early as possible to ensure a placement within a school district:

• Attend the Pre-Registration meeting one year in advance (previous spring semester)
• July 1st - Submit the student teaching application
• September 15th - Completed applications are submitted to school districts

Late applications or those that were returned because they were incomplete can be submitted no later than *September 23rd to be considered for student teaching in the spring semester.

• Applications not completed by this date will not be considered for student teaching during the spring semester.

*If this date falls on the weekend, the completed application is due the following work day.

To complete our educator prep programs (graduate) program with a baccalaureate degree, that is, to be a program completer, candidates must have: 

• Completed the required coursework 

• Earned at least minimum grades in courses specified by their program 
• Complete with a GPA that meets the University requirements

Note: If interested in applying for certification since the PA state-mandated minimum grade point average of 3.0 or higher is required unless testing requirements are met to allow for a lower GPA.

Candidates apply for certification through the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) in conjunction with the University's Certification Office. The application is submitted online through the PDE's Teacher Information Management System (TIMS). For more information about Pennsylvania certification, review the Certification Information and the PDE website.

Instructional I Certificate

A candidate who completes one of the University's educator preparation programs and passes all licensure tests required by the state qualifies for an Instructional I Certification, which is issued by the PDE. This certification is valid for six years of teaching in Pennsylvania. Recommendation for the certification is made by the Dean of the College of Education and Social Work, who serves as the certifying officer of the University.

To qualify for a Pennsylvania Certificate candidates must: 

1. Complete an approved education preparation program at the Bachelors, Graduate or Post Baccalaureate level in your subject area. Your initial teacher preparation program must include a student teaching experience.
2. Meet all Certification Testing requirements established by the PA State Board of Education.
3. Meet all other requirements established by the PA Code of Professional Practice and Conduct for Educators.
   1. Affirm the candidate is known and regarded by the preparing institution as a person of Good Moral Character who possesses the personal qualities that warrant issuance of the requested certificate
4. Submit an online application for certification via PDE's TIMS - MyPDESuite - with the state-mandated minimum grade point average of 3.0 or higher (or qualify with testing requirements for a lower GPA).
5. Receive the recommendation of your preparing college/university. 
   1. The PA Department of Education considers the PDE430, the PA statewide evaluation form for student professional knowledge and practice, which is part of the WCU Professional Education Unit-wide assessment*, necessary for certification. WCU translates this content into the Assessment Management Software through the Danielson Framework evaluation, the Unit-wide assessment, and Candidate Signature Page. WCU University supervisors must complete the Danielson Framework evaluation so that candidates can review and complete the Candidate Signature Page assignment. Final ratings must be satisfactory, which means a minimum of 2 (Basic) in each category. Completion and minimum scoring requirements for both the Danielson Framework evaluation and Candidate Signature Page are required to earn an institutional recommendation for certification.
   2. *Note: Assessments are subject to change within the time span of one’s University career due to changing requirements. 

Instructional II Certificate

This certification requires three years of successful teaching in Pennsylvania under the Instructional I Certification, successful completion of an Induction Plan approved by the PDE, and the satisfactory completion of 24 credits of additional coursework completed at a baccalaureate-granting institution, after issuance of the baccalaureate degree. This certification is a valid license to teach in Pennsylvania. 

All or part of the educational requirements for this credential may be obtained through approved, in-service programs. Effective July 1, 2000 (Act 48) the state requires all certified teachers and administrators to engage in continuing professional development activities. WCU coursework is an acceptable option for the six hours of college credit (or its equivalent) required for teachers and administrators every five years.

For Higher Education Opportunity Act - Title II test results, please review the College of Education and Social Work's educator preparation programs accreditation webpage.

Questions related to these tests should be directed to West Chester University's Professional Testing Center (PTC). The PTC administers these tests throughout the calendar year according to the dates established by Educational Testing Service (ETS).