Field Endorsement (F) - two or more subjects which, considered as a single area of study, represent a wider and broader scope than that of a subject
Subject Endorsement (S) - a specific course or narrow range of courses taught and offered in a school
You may enroll in the TCP in one of the endorsements below either with or without an employment offer from a school to teach .5 to 1.0 FTE in the endorsement area:
- Art PK-12 (F)
- Biology 7-12 (S)
- BMIT (Business, Marketing, Information Technology) 6-12 (F)
- Chemistry 7-12 (S)
- English Language Arts 6-12 (F)
- Health & PE PK-12 (F)
- History 6-12 (S)
- Mathematics 6-12 (F)
- Middle Level English Language Arts 5-9 (S)
- Middle Level Mathematics 5-9 (S)
- Middle Level Science 5-9 (S)
- Middle Level Social Studies 5-9 (S)
- Music PK-12 (F)
- Physical Education PK-12 (S)
- Physical Education 7-12 (S)
- Physics 7-12 (S)
- Secondary English 6-12 (S)
- Social Studies 6-12 (F)
- World Language 7-12 (S) French
- World Language 7-12 (S) German
- World Language 7-12 (S) Spanish
You may enroll in the TCP in one of the endorsements below ONLY when you are offered employment by a school to teach .5 to 1.0 FTE in one of these endorsement areas:
- Earth and Space Science 7-12 (S)
- Science 7-12 (F)
- Vocal Music PK-12 (S)
- World Language - 7-12, K-12 (S) (All languages)
NOTE: Certification in Elementary Education or Special Education is not currently pursuable through the Transitional Certification Program.
NOTE: Please be aware that some misdemeanor and felony convictions can prevent applicants from participating in a UNK Teacher Education program and obtaining a Nebraska teaching certificate. If you have ever been convicted of a misdemeanor or felony, even if it has been set aside, please contact Jenny Jansky, Certification Officer, for more information.
Follow the steps below to determine if you qualify:
1. Complete the Request for Transcript Review form. (The completion of this form does not admit you to the program, nor does it authorize your transcripts to be sent automatically.)
2. Have official transcripts, sent by each institution from which you have received college credit, to:
University of Nebraska Kearney
Graduate Studies
1910 University Drive- CMCT 210
Kearney, NE 68849
Email: unktcp@unk.edu
After your review has been completed you will receive your Program of Study as well as your next steps via the email listed on your request form. (See Program Admission Requirements below.)
Admission to the program may be delayed if the admission instructions are not followed.
The Praxis Subject Assessment (sometimes referred to as a content test or Praxis II) for certification. View the complete information on Nebraska test requirements, including how to register.
- Praxis Subject Assessment (aka Content Test or Praxis II) – The Praxis Subject Assessment is a content test taken toward the end of an endorsement program. It is strongly recommended that you take the test prior to enrolling in TE 835/TE 836.
- Praxis Subject Assessment scores are sent to UNK using score recipient code 6467. You will not be eligible for certification without providing your passing scores. Information about the Praxis tests can be found at: www.ets.org/praxis.
UNK offers several free test preparation resources for the Praxis Subject Assessments. See these most recommended resources:
Please know that every education program contains a significant number of field experience hours (time spent observing and/or teaching in PK-12 school settings). Field Experience includes:
- A minimum of 100 clock hours (35 hours per semester) of pre-student teaching practicum. Almost without exception, individuals pursuing initial teacher certification must be available on certain days during regular school hours (8 AM – 4 PM). Many of our students are able to achieve this by taking vacation days/flex-time from their current jobs.
- A student teaching experience. Student teaching is an all-day (8 AM - 4 PM)/all-semester (16 weeks minimum) experience in a PK-12 school setting. Students with a teaching permit may meet this requirement in their classroom.
The program consists of:
- Three 6-credit hour classes, taken in sequence one per semester, for a total of 18 graduate credit hours of online study (includes 100 minimum total clock hours of practicum to be completed across the three semesters).
- One 6-credit hour semester of student teaching.
- A total of 24 graduate credit hours of professional education coursework.** To estimate your financial commitment, please see our Student Accounts website and follow the tuition link. You may also want to visit our Financial Aid website for loan and scholarship information.
Depending on previous academic work completed, there may be additional coursework required in the specific endorsement area of choice. Additional courses required will be indicated on a program of study that will be emailed to you after your transcripts have been reviewed.
**This online 24-credit-hour professional education coursework can be completed in a minimum of two academic years:
Non-Teaching (not under a permit)
&
Teaching (teaching on a permit) Students
- TE 831: Professional Knowledge and Skills I - 6 credit hours
- TE 832: Professional Knowledge and Skills II - 6 credit hours
- TE 833: Context of Education - 6 credit hours
- TE 836: Clinical Practice: Post-Baccalaureate Student Teaching - 6 credit hours
- (Fall or Spring; online with one Professional Development Day held on campus required)
Arrangements will be made for participants to complete their practicum hours in their local or nearby school systems. Program participants who are already employed by a school district will complete their practicum and student teaching in the school systems in which they are employed, in their own classrooms. Because practicum arrangements are made with participating school systems and communities across the state, UNK’s Transitional Certification Program is available to participants who physically reside in Nebraska or are within commuting distance to a Nebraska school system.
Seventy-five percent (75%) of the content coursework required for the selected teaching endorsement area(s) must be completed prior to beginning the professional education coursework sequence, and have a 2.75 minimum GPA in your content/endorsement area coursework. Once you qualify, you are eligible to enroll in the next available section of the first course in the program (Fall/Spring).
Students pursuing initial certification must be formally admitted into our Teacher Education Program. Students in the Transitional Certification Program usually qualify while enrolled in TE 831 or TE 832. Visit the Educator Certification Office website for a list of program admission requirements.
Questions? Contact unktcp@unk.edu.
Dr. Rebecca Nelson, Ph.D
Director
Phone: 308-865-8871
Email: nelsonrm@unk.edu
University of Nebraska at Kearney
College of Education Building
1615 W 24th St
Kearney, NE 68849
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