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Certification for Secondary Education

This document provides an overview of the steps needed to complete the requirements for an initial secondary school teaching certificate. Secondary teacher education programs are offered and degrees conferred by the college in which the subject area program is located. For more information, see the Office of Teacher Education.

Remember to fill out the general application scholarship before March 15th.

Preadmission

Requirements prior to admission to Secondary Education:

  • ED-CIFS 201 Foundations of Education
  • EDTECH 202 Educational Technology—Classroom Applications OR Approved equivalents

Students should have completed a majority of their endorsement content classes before applying to the Teacher Education Program.  Assuming a full load of 15 credits per semester, students should have only twelve credits remaining in endorsement classes – six for the Spring semester after being admitted to the Program and six more for the Fall semester of the Professional Year.

Admission to Secondary Teacher Education

Admission to the Secondary Teacher Education program is required before you can enroll in Early Field Experience courses.  Applications are only available in August and September.

Application Process

Deadline  & Requirements

Application deadlines for admission to Secondary Teacher Education Early Field Experience are the third Friday in September for spring semester.

  • A completed application form
  • Cumulative GPA of at least 3.0
  • Major GPA of at least 3.0
  • GPA of at least 3.0 in all education courses
  • A minimum grade of C- in all required courses

Application Information

An interview will be required prior to admittance.  For more information regarding the interview process, see Teacher Education Interview Information.

Early Field Experience

The following courses constitute Early Field Experience and must be taken concurrently:

  • ED-CIFS 301 Teaching Experience I
  • ED-CIFS 302 Learning and Instruction
  • ED-SPED 350 Teaching Students with Exceptional Needs

Admission to the Professional Year

Internship and Student Teaching constitute your Professional Year. They are usually taken during your last two semesters. In order to take Internship and Student Teaching courses you must be admitted to the Professional Year.   Applications are only available in January and February.

Application Process

Deadline & Requirements

Application deadlines for the Professional Year (Internship and Student Teaching) is First Friday in February to begin Professional Year in the fall semester.

  • Senior standing
  • Successful completion of Early Field Experience courses, or currently enrolled
  • Cumulative GPA of at least 3.0
  • GPA of at least 3.0 in all education courses
  • GPA of at least 3.0 in your major and minor
  • A grade of C- or better in all required courses
  • Passing scores on all PRAXIS II exams for subjects in which students seek endorsement must be received by the Office of Teacher Education before beginning Student Teaching.
  • Most districts require student teachers to undergo a criminal background check.

Application Information

Professional Year Internship

The following Internship courses must be taken concurrently:

  • ED-CIFS 401 Professional Year – Teaching Experience II
  • ED-LCTY 444 Content Literacy for Secondary Education
  • ED-CIFS 405/534 Social Studies Methods

Professional Year Student Teaching

ED-CIFS 484 (Junior High teaching experience III) or 485 (Senior High teaching experience III) Professional Year – Teaching Experience III.

Certification

Students from Boise State University are recommended to the State Department of Education after meeting the following requirements:

  • Demonstrate good moral character
  • Complete required course work in an academic department in the program designed for secondary education
  • Complete secondary teacher education requirements
  • Obtain the recommendation of the Dean of the College of Education

Idaho State Department of Education Certification Manual

For information on subject certification requirements see: http://adminrules.idaho.gov/rules/2012/08/0202.pdf  For PRAXIS test and service fees, please see PRAXIS Test and Service Fees.