TeachLSUS Program (Alternative Teacher Certification)

TeachLSUS is an alternate teacher certification program for those who have earned, at minimum, a bachelor’s degree in any field outside of Education. We are dedicated to preparing knowledgeable, skilled, and professional educators. The program is fast-paced and challenging. Candidates who apply and are accepted should be prepared to designate sufficient study time as well as allot time for clinical experience hours as required. As a teacher candidate with the TeachLSUS Certification Only Program, candidates are eligible to work as full-time salaried school teachers upon acceptance into the program while earning a Louisiana teaching certificate.

Areas of Certification

Elementary Education 1-5 (36 credit hours) and Secondary Education 6-12 (33 credit hours): Biology, Chemistry, English, Mathematics, Physics, and Social Studies

Criteria for Admission

1. A bachelor’s degree in any field outside of Education from an institution accredited by one of the six accrediting bodies listed here: Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges (ACCJC) Western Association of Schools and Colleges, Higher Learning Commission (HLC), New England Commission on Higher Education (NECHE), Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU), Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC), or WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC).
2. A 2.2 cumulative undergraduate GPA at the time of graduation.
3. Passing Praxis II content area scores for the area of certification being pursued. Required for all.
4. Completion of an undergraduate application for admission to the Office of Admissions and Records. The TeachLSUS application is available for download at https://apply.lsus.edu.
5. Official transcripts from each university must be sent directly to the Office of Admissions and Records.
6. Deadlines and additional information are available for viewing on the TeachLSUS website at www.lsus.edu/teachlsus.

Testing Requirements upon Application

PRAXIS II:  TeachLSUS participants must also pass the appropriate content-specific Praxis II exam in the area in which they will pursue certification. The area in which you wish to teach determines the Praxis II exam you take. Please keep in mind that the highest number of available positions with our partner school districts are in Secondary Mathematics and Secondary Science. TeachLSUS offers certification in Elementary and Secondary Education.

*Candidates seeking Elementary Education Certification (Grades 1-5) must pass Elementary Education: Multiple Subjects, Test Code 7001.

*Candidates seeking Secondary Education Certification (Grades 6-12) must pass the secondary subject area exam(s) for the subject(s) which they hope to teach. See specific exam codes below.

*NOTE: You must register for the Praxis II exam online at www.ets.org/praxis.

Testing Information upon Completion of Program

The Principles of Learning and Teaching (PLT) exam is designed to be completed at or near the end of program completion. The coursework within the program will help students take and pass the PLT exam as it relates to the certification grade level. Elementary Education students will take the PLT K-6 and Secondary Education students will take the PLT 7-12.

REQUIRED COURSEWORK

Candidates may not begin coursework until full acceptance into the program has been granted.