ALTERNATIVE CERTIFICATION Introduction

Southeast's Alternative Certification Program assists prospective teachers who have a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university in the subject area to be taught or a closely related field, obtain certification to teach in a school district in the state of Missouri. Southeast's Alternative Certification Program can assist in acquiring either the two year Provisional Certificate or the one-year Temporary Certificate, both of which do lead to the new teacher obtaining Missouri's entry level professional teaching certificate, the Initial Professional Certificate.

The temporary authorization certificate will not include elementary (1-6); early childhood (B-3); early childhood special education (B-3); blind and partially sighted (K-12); and/or deaf and hearing impaired (K-12) areas.  Applicants for the areas of driver's education, English for Speakers of other languages, gifted, and special reading must already hold a certificate of license to teach or must seek a certificate of license to teach in a stand-alone area.

Basic Requirements:

• A 4 year degree from a regionally accredited college or university with a 2.5 gpa overall and in content area
• The degree in or close to the subject area to be taught
• A valid offer of a teaching contract from a Missouri public or private school

Southeast's Alternative Certification Program Requirements

• Admission to the alternative certification program
• Admission to Southeast Missouri State University as a non-degree-seeking student
• Application form submitted to Certification Office, 301 Scully (MS-Word format, PDF format)
• Check for $25 made payable to Southeast Missouri State University
• Copy of all college transcripts (photocopies are fine for application stage)

Provisional Certificate

• A 2 year teaching certificate, can be renewed
• Requires an Academic Contract to be issued by Southeast
• Can be used by public or private schools, but only in Missouri
• Leads to the Initial Professional Certificate (IPC)
• Praxis II test in your content area
• Missouri's Department of Elementary and Secondary Education web site - Provisional Certification

Temporary Authorization Certificate

• A 1 year teaching certificate; must be renewed every year
• Requires a plan of Academic Study
• Can be used by public or private schools, but only in Missouri
• Leads to the more permanent Initial Professional Certificate (IPC)
• Two Praxis II tests, your content area and Teaching and Learning at appropriate grade level
• Missouri's Department of Elementary and Secondary Education web site - Temporary Certification

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