Alternative Certification
PROGRAM APPLICATION PROCESS | DISTANCE DELIVERY | CONTACT
The alternative certification process is administered by the Department of Education. The alternative certification program is limited to content areas issued at the approved education program level. Elementary education programs will not be available in the alternative certification process beginning on July 1, 2003, and thereafter.
A candidate must complete both the appropriate content area and pedagogy Praxis II exams with passing scores in order to be considered for full state certification.
The candidate must send an original document indicating his/her licensure exam scores to:
Once the candidate has successfully completed all the Alternative Route to Certification Program, including the coursework, the Praxis II examinations, and has received a positive recommendation from his/her on-the-job mentor, the candidate must file an alternative certification application for a five year certificate with the State Department of Education in order to obtain his/her official teaching certificate.
Issuance of the certificate depends on the review of the candidate's completed Alternative Route to Certification Program plan by the Office of Accreditation & Teacher Quality and the positive recommendation by Secretary of Education or his/her designee.
PROGRAM APPLICATION PROCESS
DISTANCE DELIVERY A candidate must complete both the appropriate content area and pedagogy Praxis II exams with passing scores in order to be considered for full state certification.
The candidate must send an original document indicating his/her licensure exam scores to:
Department of Education, Alternative Certification
800 Governor's Drive, Pierre, SD 57501.
800 Governor's Drive, Pierre, SD 57501.
Once the candidate has successfully completed all the Alternative Route to Certification Program, including the coursework, the Praxis II examinations, and has received a positive recommendation from his/her on-the-job mentor, the candidate must file an alternative certification application for a five year certificate with the State Department of Education in order to obtain his/her official teaching certificate.
Issuance of the certificate depends on the review of the candidate's completed Alternative Route to Certification Program plan by the Office of Accreditation & Teacher Quality and the positive recommendation by Secretary of Education or his/her designee.
PROGRAM APPLICATION PROCESS
1) Prior to applying for the Alternative Route to Certification Program, a candidate must have an offer of employment with a state accredited school.
2) To apply for the Alternative Route to Certification Program, a candidate must forward the following to the South Dakota Department of Education, Accreditation & Teacher Quality, 800 Governors Drive, Pierre, SD 57501:
3) After receiving the items outlined above, the Department of Education determines the candidate's eligibility for the Alternative Certification Program.
2) To apply for the Alternative Route to Certification Program, a candidate must forward the following to the South Dakota Department of Education, Accreditation & Teacher Quality, 800 Governors Drive, Pierre, SD 57501:
- An official official transcript of all his/her non-teaching undergraduate and/or graduate degrees and a cover letter;
- A copy of his/her employment contract;
- A completed application for the Alternative Route to Certification Program, including the completed Conduct Review Statement form; and
- $20 for the two-year instructor certification fee.
- A copy of his/her employment contract;
- A completed application for the Alternative Route to Certification Program, including the completed Conduct Review Statement form; and
- $20 for the two-year instructor certification fee.
3) After receiving the items outlined above, the Department of Education determines the candidate's eligibility for the Alternative Certification Program.
The South Dakota teacher preparation programs at the public universities have collaborated to prepare an online secondary certification program. Coursework is taken through online delivery with field experiences planned in your local community. Admission to teacher education, advising, registration, scholarship application, financial aid, and field supervision is completed with the campus of your choice.
Contact any one of the following individuals now for application to the program:
- Black Hills State University, Micheline Nelson
- Dakota State University, Dr. Crystal Pauli
- Northern State University, Dr. Tom Hawley
- South Dakota State University, Dr. Lon Moeller
- University of South Dakota, Dr. Linda Reetz
- Dakota State University, Dr. Crystal Pauli
- Northern State University, Dr. Tom Hawley
- South Dakota State University, Dr. Lon Moeller
- University of South Dakota, Dr. Linda Reetz
CONTACT
For any questions relating to certification, email us at: certification@state.sd.us
