Admission to the Teacher Education Program

All Teacher Education majors must be admitted to the Teacher Education Program through the Professional Education Programs office.

Candidates may not enroll in designated professional education courses—marked with an asterisk in the Undergraduate Bulletin—until they are formally admitted to the teacher education program. Once the Professional Education Programs Director approves the application, candidates will receive an official email notification.

Admission does not guarantee continued enrollment; candidates must meet all retention checkpoints and demonstrate ongoing academic proficiency, moral responsibility, emotional stability, and professional growth.

After completion of all requirements, everything will be reviewed by the Professional Education Programs office. If any part is missing, the student will receive an email stating the missing requirements. If all documentation is accounted for, the student will receive an official acceptance letter via email.

Part 1 - AELS Background Check

All candidates seeking admission to an initial licensure program must complete all parts of the background check process as a condition of admission. This process can take 3-4 weeks to complete. Begin this process early to avoid delaying acceptance into the teacher education program.

Click Admission and Licensure Background Checks to download a PDF copy of detailed background check instructions.

Step 1 - Arkansas Child Maltreatment Central Registry Check

  1. Generate your Central Registry Check form.
  2. Sign your form.
  3. Upload your signed form HERE, or use the link provided in your email.
  4. Pay the processing fee.

Step 2 - Online Background Check Consent Form

  1. Reason for Background Check - Teacher (Pre-Service)
  2. Employer - IHE with EPP: Arkansas State University
  3. Complete personal information
  4. Sign and print copy to bring to your fingerprinting appointment

Step 3 - Background Check Payment

  1. Complete personal information
  2. Requesting School - ARKANSAS STATE UNIVERSITY
  3. Verification Code - 8800002
  4. Reason Fingerprinted - EDP Teacher (Pre-Service)
  5. Complete payment and print the receipt to bring to your fingerprinting appointment

Step 4 - List of Approved Live Scan Locations

The list provided is of approved fingerprinting locations by the Arkansas Department of Education. It is highly recommended you use one on the list to ensure efficient processing.

You must call the location in advance to make an appointment, and you will bring the following items with you: Online Background Check Consent Form, Background Check Payment Receipt, Government-issued ID (ex. Driver’s License)

Step 5 - Verify Your Background Check is Approved

  1. Login to your account on the AELS system.
  2. Select View current license information
  3. Check for cleared dates under the Non-Criminal Background Information (NCBC) section

Please allow four weeks for the background clearance status to be determined before contacting the Arkansas Department of Education.

Part 2 - Verification of GPA and Courses

Undergraduates

All undergraduate students must attain a minimum overall GPA of 2.70 and complete at least 30 semester hours.

All of the following courses are required with a grade C or better:

 

Master of Arts in Teaching

All MAT students must attain a minimum overall GPA of 3.00 and complete at least 3 semester hours.

Special Education MAT students must complete ELSE 5003 SPED Academy 101.

Elementary, Middle Level, Business, and Art MAT students must complete one 3-hour program-approved course.

Part 3 - Screening Interview

Students must appear for a personal interview with their Department Screening Committee.

Special Education MAT students will complete an interview in the course SPED 55003.                                                                    Elementary, Mid-Level, Art, and Business MAT students will complete an interview in the course CIED61303.

Each program will hold interviews at certain times each semester. It is very important that students keep an eye out for any correspondence from faculty and advisors about interview dates.

*Some programs may need to contact the Program Coordinator directly to schedule an interview.

For more information, please contact your respective Program Coordinator.

All students will be required to fill out a Signature Verification Page to bring to their interview.

Please see below for your respective program's Signature Verification Page (you should receive this from whoever you schedule your interview with). You will only complete the top portion and sign and date on the Applicant's Signature line. 

After the interview, the Signature Verification Page must be signed by the Department Chair and turned in to the Professional Education Programs office in room 213 in the College of Education and Behavioral Science. Please ask your Department Screening Committee if you need to turn it in directly or if they will do it on your behalf.

Program Coordinators

 

Part 4 - Required Documents for Admission

ArkansasIDEAS Ethics Certificate

All students must complete the following course on ArkansasIDEAS: Professional Licensure Standards Board (PLSB) - The Code of Ethics Training Video (2018) Course # ERC19048

  1. Create an account on ArkansasIDEAS (you must have started your background check to create an account)
    1. How to Create an Account on ArkansasIDEAS
    2. ArkansasIDEAS - User Guide
  2. Click Find Learning, and search for the course ERC19048
  3. Click Enroll me
  4. After completing the course, you will receive a certificate of completion. Save the certificate to your files to upload to the online admission application.

Educator Dispositions Self-Assessment (EDA)

All students must complete and turn in a self-assessment. 

The EDA is a self-evaluation completed by the student about themself. Teacher candidates will be made aware of the dispositions and expectations regarding them upon being admitted to the teacher education program. In addition, professional behaviors and dispositions are assessed at various points in the program.

After completing the EDA self-assessment, save a copy to your files to upload to the online admission application.

Part 5 - Technology Survey

All students must complete the Admission Technology Checkpoint Requirement.

Part 6 - Online Application for Admission

All students must submit an Online Application for Admission

To complete this application, you will be required to upload the following documents:

Completion of the Online Application for Admission does not guarantee admission. Applicants must complete all admission requirements to be formally admitted to the Teacher Education Program.