Admission to the Educator Preparation Program (EPP)

Last Updated: February 27, 2026

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Students seeking a program leading to teacher certification must apply for admission to the Educator Preparation Program (EPP) as part of the course requirements for EDUC 3302 or during the first education course. The application must be filed with the School of Education.

Important: Requirements may vary by certification level and program. The requirements below apply to all candidates unless otherwise noted. Where undergraduate and graduate requirements differ, those distinctions are identified.

Related Requirements & Governing Authority

Right to Request a Preliminary Criminal History Evaluation (PHCE) (recommended before applying if you have concerns about prior criminal history)
Field-Based Experience Requirements

At-a-Glance Admission Requirements

The table below summarizes admission requirements for candidates seeking admission to the Teacher Education Program. Requirements apply to all candidates unless otherwise noted.

Admission to Teacher Education — Summary of Requirements
Requirement Area	Undergraduate Certification	Graduate Certification
Application Timing	Apply as part of EDUC 3302, or During the first education course	Apply during the first education course Or as directed by program advising
GPA	Minimum overall GPA of 2.7 for the last 60 semester hours attempted	GPA requirements may vary by program; candidates must meet published graduate GPA standards
Basic Skills / State Requirements	Satisfactory completion of all basic skill requirements as specified in state administrative code
English & Math Core	Grade of C or better in each required English and Math core course	Grade requirements may vary by graduate plan; candidates must meet program standards
Oral Communication	Evidence of oral communication proficiency
Content Hours	Minimum content hours required in the certification area (see detailed requirements below)
Health / Fitness for Teaching	Evidence of freedom from incapacitating physical or emotional conditions affecting teaching performance
Committee Recommendation	Recommendation by the Teacher Education Committee
Professional Conduct	Must comply with University standards and the Educator’s Code of Ethics; violations may result in dismissal

Note: Detailed program-specific requirements, including content-area coursework, are listed below.

Detailed Admission & Retention Requirements

Filing a completed application for admission to teacher education. Applications are available from the education coordinator on each campus. Students denied admission must reapply once deficiencies have been resolved.
A minimum overall grade point average (GPA) of 2.7 for the last sixty (60) semester hours of academic work attempted.
Satisfactory completion of all basic skill requirements as specified in state administrative code.
English and Math core requirements require a grade of C or better in each course.
Evidence of oral communication proficiency.
Completion of at least 12 semester credit hours in the subject-specific content area for the certification sought, as outlined below:
- BSIS Elementary Core Subjects, BSIS Middle School Core Subjects, and BSIS Elementary Core Subjects/All-Level SPED: Completion of 12 hours from three (3) of the following four (4) content areas: English, Math, History, Science.
- BSIS Middle School and BA Middle School: 6 hours from the content-area teaching field and 6 hours from English, Math, History, or Science, with 12 hours total encompassing three (3) of the four (4) content areas.
- BA, BM, BS, BBA: 12 hours in the content-area teaching field.
Evidence of freedom from any incapacitating physical or emotional defects.
Recommendation by the Teacher Education Advisory Committee (composed of faculty members from the various schools offering teacher certification). The committee reviews the student’s application and determines admission to the Teacher Education Program.
Any conduct not in harmony with University standards (see the University Student Handbook) may constitute grounds for dismissal from the Teacher Education Program. The State Board for Educator Certification (SBEC) is responsible for disciplining educators, applicants for certification, and examinees taking certification exams for conduct indicating unsuitability to teach, as well as unethical conduct. WBU and SBEC will enforce the Educator’s Code of Ethics.
The Teacher Education Advisory Committee assumes the role of determining whether the behavior is detrimental to performance as a teacher and delineating pertinent details of the alleged misconduct or incident. The committee shall review documentation and other pertinent information and determine appropriate action pertaining to retention, conditional retention, or dismissal from the program.

Need to File a Complaint?

If you need to submit a concern or complaint related to the Educator Preparation Program, please review the EPP Complaint Process.

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Ready to Apply?

Begin your application and take the next step toward becoming a certified educator through 51品茶约炮鈥檚 School of Education.

TEA Requirement: In compliance with , all school district employees, substitutes, and contractors with direct student contact must complete a fingerprint-based national criminal background check.

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