The Initial Licensure Option is available for those students who have obtained a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university and who are seeking to obtain initial licensure at the master’s level to teach.
Graduate (Initial Licensure Candidates)
EPP admission requirements:
1. Students must establish a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 for EPP program admission.
2. Students must maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.00 per term until program completion per University Graduate policy.
3. Candidates must demonstrate an acceptable level of written and oral communication skills during an interview process. Students will complete the interview process while enrolled in TCED 730 or TCED 780.
4. Candidates must submit to and successfully pass a TBI/FBI criminal background check and sign the background release form and the VECHS Waiver Agreement and Statement.
Candidates must provide a passing score on all Praxis content area exams by completion of TCED 730/780 which is during first term enrolled.
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MSIL-Elementary must take and pass all Praxis Elementary Education Content Knowledge subtests (Reading/LA, Math, Science, and Social Studies).
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MSIL-Secondary must take and pass the Praxis exam for the content area for which they are seeking licensure.
* Praxis Test Assignment - Students will be required to register for the content exam required for their designated major and content area. The instructor will provide an assignment in Canvas requiring the candidate to upload a copy of the registration confirmation which must include the test name and test code, test date, test time, and testing location.
* 240Tutoring Assignment - Students will be enrolled in 240Tutoring and will be required to complete all test prep modules and score at least 90% on one of the three practice tests within 240Tutoring. The EPP Office will monitor the progress in 240Tutoring.
* Completion of the 240Tutoring assignment will be required to satisfactorily complete TCED 730/780.
Upon receipt of a passing Praxis score for the identified content area exam, the EPP office will issue a refund directly to the student for the cost of the content area exam. The refund is only issued one time.
NOTE: If the candidate does not pass the required Praxis content exam, the candidate will not be admitted to the EPP and will be permitted to attempt the exam a second time at the expense of the candidate.
If the candidate does not pass the Praxis content exam after two attempts, the candidate will be counseled to a different major outside of the Educator Preparation Program.