Connecticut Certification Requirements
Must be completed before you enter the program (i.e. by the end of May, a week before the program begins).
Please contact Connecticut's Charter Oak State College for information on fulfilling missing course requirements through online courses, standardized testing or portfolio assessment of previous learning.
Requirements for all candidates:
- Bachelor's degree from an approved institution;
- Either a major OR thirty-nine (39) semester hours of credit in the subject to be taught;
- One post-high-school American History course spanning a minimum of 50 years, comprised of at least 3 semester hours of credit;
- At least one course from FIVE of the following six areas: English, natural sciences, mathematics, social studies, foreign language, and fine arts.
To Teach English
To Teach History/Social Studies
To Teach Math
To Teach Science
To Teach Spanish
Requirements to teach English
With a Bachelor's degree in English:
- Praxis II tests in English, administered by ETS
- Submit the English Major Certification Requirements form [.doc 35KB]
With a Bachelor's degree in anything else:
- Thirty (30) semester hours of credit in English department courses
- Nine (9) semester hours of credit in related subjects (ex: Literature, Linguistics, Journalism, Communications, Theater)
- Praxis II tests in English, administered by ETS
- Submit the English Nonmajor Certification Requirements form [.doc 60KB]
Requirements to teach History/Social Studies
With a Bachelor's degree in History:
- Eighteen (18) semester hours of credit in Social Studies courses (ex: Political Science, Economics, Sociology, Anthropology, Psychology, Geography)
- Praxis II test in Social Studies, administered by ETS
- Submit the History Major Certification Requirements form [.doc 42KB]
With a Bachelor's degree in Political Science or Sociology:
- Eighteen (18) semester hours of credit in History courses
- Praxis II test in Social Studies, administered by ETS
- Submit the Social Studies Major Certification Requirements form [.doc 42KB]
With a Bachelor's degree in anything else:
- Eighteen (18) semester hours of credit in History courses including
- One course in U.S. history
One course in Western history
One course in Nonwestern history
- One course in U.S. history
- One course in political science
- One course in economics
- One course in geography
- One course in sociology OR anthropology OR psychology
- Remaining semester hours of credit (usually 9) in history or social studies courses to bring the candidate to a total of thirty-nine (39) semester hours of credit
- Praxis II test in Social Studies, administered by ETS
- Submit the History/SS Nonmajor Certification Requirements form [.doc 56KB]
Requirements to teach Mathematics
With a Bachelor's degree in Math:
- Praxis II test in Math, administered by ETS
- Submit the Math Major Certification Requirements form [.doc 35KB]
With a Bachelor's degree in anything else:
- Thirty (30) semester hours of credit in Math department courses
- Nine (9) semester hours of credit in related subjects (ex: Computer Science, math-based Economics, Physics with calculus, Statistics, Finance)
- Praxis II test in Math, administered by ETS
- Submit the Math Nonmajor Certification Requirements form [.doc 59KB]
Requirements to teach Biology, Chemistry, or Physics
With a Bachelor's degree in the subject you wish to teach:
- Praxis II test(s) in your science subject, administered by ETS
- Submit the Science Major Certification Requirements form [.doc 35KB]
With a Bachelor's degree in anything else:
- Thirty (30) semester hours of credit in the science subject you wish to teach
- Nine (9) semester hours of credit in other science subjects
- Praxis II test(s) in your science subject, administered by ETS
- Submit the Science Nonmajor Certification Requirements form [.doc 61KB]
Requirements to teach General Science
- Thirty-nine (39) semester hours of credit in science courses including
- One course in Biology
One course in Chemistry
One course in Physics
One course in Earth Science
- One course in Biology
- Praxis II tests in General Science, administered by ETS
- Submit the General Science Certification Requirements form [.doc 59KB]
Requirements to teach Spanish
With a Bachelor's degree in Spanish:
- The Spanish Writing Proficiency Test (WPT) and the Oral Proficiency Interview (OPI), administered by the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL). See www.actfl.org and info for Connecticut teacher candidates in particular at www.languagetesting.com. Required score: Intermediate-High.
- Submit the Spanish Major Certification Requirements form [.doc 35KB]
With a Bachelor's degree in anything else, including foreign degrees taught in Spanish:
- The Spanish Writing Proficiency Test (WPT) and the Oral Proficiency Interview (OPI), administered by the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL). See www.actfl.org and info for Connecticut teacher candidates in particular at www.languagetesting.com. Required score: Intermediate-High.
- Twenty-four (24) semester hours of credit in Spanish (language courses, not courses on other subjects but taught in Spanish)
OR
A score of Advanced-Mid on the ACTFL OPI exam - Fifteen (15) semester hours of credit in related subjects (ex: courses on the history, literature or culture of a Spanish-speaking region or country, or certain other courses taught in Spanish - must be determined on a case-by-case basis)
- Submit the Spanish Nonmajor Certification Requirements form [.doc 61KB]
