Candidates

Upon receipt of your acceptance letter, you are ready to begin the Candidate phase of the TPC Program. Your next step is to pay your acceptance fee, register, and attend orientation at which you will receive two textbooks used in coursework and your enrollment instructions for the first 50 clock hour online course. The additional tuition fee payment is due before enrollment in the third module of coursework.

Field-Based Experience

All teacher candidates must complete 30 hours of field-based experience and are encouraged to complete these hours soon after TPC Program acceptance. Field-based experience is defined as observations and interaction in the performance of professional educator activities with early childhood through grade 12 students, teachers, and faculty/staff members in a school setting that is part of classroom instruction. Classroom observation, substitute teaching, instructional aide, student mentoring, campus or classroom volunteer and paraprofessional experiences may be used to meet this requirement.

Curriculum

The curriculum has been carefully planned to address the state teacher proficiencies, state tests and best practices. Candidates should successfully complete designated coursework requirements, including online courses, within 18 months of candidate orientation and initiate an internship/clinical teaching experience within three years of attendance at candidate orientation.

Once you have completed 30 hours of field-based classroom observations and at least 100 hours of coursework, you will need to choose a route to complete your teaching assignment. Explore the two options available under Certification Routes.

Candidate Checklist

Pay Acceptance Fee and/or Tuition Fee

Attend Candidate Orientation

Review your certification area requirements and register for coursework

Complete 30 hours of field based experience

Complete the Teacher Job Network Application (online)

Research public schools, charter schools, and approved private schools for job openings