Office of Teacher Certification

Acceptance Into Student Teaching

Application Guidelines and Requirements

• Resumé (Submit three stapled copies to the OTC)
  • A sample (PDF) is provided as a guideline.
• Professional Statement (Submit three stapled copies to the OTC)
  • A professional statement articulates the set of attitudes, values, and beliefs you have been developing that will contribute to your potential success as a teacher. You should begin reflecting on your core values and beliefs about teaching and the impact you believe you will
    have on students.
  • When writing your professional statement, think about the following questions:
    • What skills and attitudes are characteristics of effective teaching?
    • What is the role of education in our society, and in what ways do you, as a teacher, respond to this role?
    • In what ways do you, as a teacher, recognize and respond to your own attitudes toward cultural, learning, and ability differences in your students?
    • How does collaboration affect the teaching and learning process?
    • Title your statement as follows:
      PROFESSIONAL STATEMENT OF (INSERT YOUR FULL NAME)
      CERTIFICATION AREA: ______________
  • Be sure to take the time to thoughtfully prepare your materials by carefully reviewing your statement for clarity and grammar. Review your resume and professional statement with the Writing and Reading Center and your academic advisor.
• Placement Information Sheet
  • The Placement Information Sheet is used to gather information regarding student teaching placement requests.
• Department Approval
  • All applicants must be approved by both the OTC and the major department. A list of student teacher candidates is sent from the OTC to the department, which will decide if a student has the knowledge, skills, and dispositions necessary to be a teacher.  No action is required of the student teacher candidate.
• Required Cumulative Department Grade Point Average of 2.5/2.7
• Seminar 1 – Preparing for Student Teaching
  • Attendance at the seminar is mandatory
• Seminar 2 – Student Teaching Rules and Regulations
  • Attendance at the seminar is mandatory
• Student Teaching Registration
  • “The student must have completed all other course requirements for certification by the end of the semester prior to the one in which they wish to student teach.” (see PSU Academic Catalog)
• Placement Confirmation One
• Placement Confirmation Two (applicable for Physical Education, Health, Music and Art)