Post-Baccalaureate Endorsement Teacher Education Post-Baccalaureate Endorsement

The Post-Baccalaureate Endorsement program is an approved teacher education program for individuals who have completed a bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited institution and wish to qualify for a Virginia teaching license. Students applying for admission into this approved teacher education program are considered graduate non-degree status and must meet the college's requirements for admitting students into an approved teacher education program.  Admission to Old Dominion University does not guarantee admission into degree and/or teacher preparation programs in the Darden College of Education and Professional Studies. Program sheets for the Post-Baccalaureate Endorsement programs are available in the Office of Clinical Experiences.

Admission

Students seeking admission into the post-baccalaureate endorsement program must:

1. apply for admission to Old Dominion University as graduate non-degree seeking student;
2. have achieved an overall GPA of 2.75 in the baccalaureate degree official transcript for post-baccalaureate programs offered at the undergraduate level and 2.80 for post-baccalaureate programs offered at the graduate level;
3. have earned a grade of  C or C- (as determined by the specific academic department);
4. interview with and receive recommendation for admittance from a department representative, Career and Advising Resource Center advisor, or distance learning representative;
5. submit the Post-Baccalaureate Endorsement Program Application;
6. be aware that only 12 hours of professional education courses from another institution may transfer into a post-baccalaureate endorsement program and that practicum and/or student teaching courses are not eligible for transfer;
7. complete the professional dispositions self-survey;
8. attach the completed authorization for the release of any disciplinary action on file with the Office of Student Conduct and Academic Integrity. 

Students who do not meet regular admission requirements may meet provisional admission into the post-baccalaureate endorsement program. For provisional status, a student must:

1. apply for admission to Old Dominion University as a graduate non-degree seeking student;
2. have achieved an overall GPA of 2.5-2.74 in the baccalaureate degree official transcript;
3. have earned a grade of  C or C- (as determined by the specific academic department);
4. interview with and receive recommendation for admittance from a department representative, Career and Advising Resource Center advisor, or distance learning representative;
5. submit the Post-Baccalaureate Endorsement Program Application;
6. be aware that only 12 hours of professional education courses from another institution may transfer into a post-baccalaureate endorsement program and that practicum and/or student teaching courses are not eligible for transfer;
7. complete the professional dispositions self-survey;
8. attach the completed authorization for the release of any disciplinary action on file with the Office of Student Conduct and Academic Integrity.  

Students who wish to apply to a graduate program while in the post-baccalaureate endorsement program must meet all graduate program entry requirements. Only 12 credit hours of professional education course work from a post-baccalaureate endorsement program will transfer into a graduate program.

In order to student teach, all approved teacher education program requirements must be completed, to include all content and professional education course work with the appropriate grade and GPA as outlined in the respective curriculum and passing scores on Praxis Subject Area Assessment, the Virginia Communication and Literacy Assessment (VCLA), and the Virginia Reading Assessment (if required by the program).

Additional Requirements

Continuance

To continue in the respective post-baccalaureate teacher education program, the student must:

1. For undergraduate post-baccalaureate teacher education programs, maintain a 2.75 minimum grade point average overall (or as outlined in the specific curriculum), in the major and in the content and professional education core courses;
2. For graduate post-baccalaureate teacher education programs, maintain a 3.0 minimum grade point average overall (or as outlined in the specific curriculum), in the major and in the content and professional education core courses;
3. Continue to earn at least a grade of C or C- (depending on the program) in all courses specified in the major curriculum to include content and professional education core courses for continuance in the teacher education program;
4. Have taken ACT, SAT, Praxis Core, or equivalent math test scores prescribed by the Virginia Board of Education assessment for admission to an approved teacher education program; and
5. Have achieved passing scores in the prescribed Virginia Board of Education professional assessments for licensure described in this section of the catalog, prior to the start of the teacher candidate internship orientation.

6. Have obtained certificate of completion in First Aid/AED/CPR, Dyslexia Awareness Training, Child Abuse and Neglect Recognition and Intervention Training, Regulations Governing the Use of Restraint and Seclusion in Elementary and Secondary Schools, and Cultural Competence Training. These must be on file with the Office of Clinical Experiences.

Score reports for all examinations must be on file in the Teacher Education Services & Advising Office in room 2345 of the Education Building. These score reports are to be provided by the candidate and will not be returned. For the most current information on prescribed Virginia Board of Education professional assessments for each individual passing score, visit the Teacher Education Services & Advising Office website and review the required assessments.

Prior to placement in early field experiences, practica and/or internships, students are required to have a completed Clearance Background Check search, which consists of:  National Criminal Background Check for Employee or Volunteer Providing Care to Children, the Elderly and Disabled (SP-24 Form), the Child Protective Service’s Central Registry Release of Information (032-02-1515-11-eng, 02/14), a fingerprint check using the APPLICANT FD258 (REV 3-1-10) 1110-0046 fingerprinting card, and the National Sex Offender Registry and/or the Virginia State Police: Sex Offender Registry search. Students are liable for all costs incurred.

Exit

Students must have:

1. For undergraduate post-baccalaureate teacher education programs, maintain a 2.75 minimum grade point average overall (or as outlined in the specific curriculum), in the major and in the content and professional education core courses;
2. For graduate post-baccalaureate teacher education programs, maintain a 3.0 minimum grade point average overall (or as outlined in the specific curriculum), in the major and in the content and professional education core courses;
3. Achieved grades of C or C- (as determined by the specific academic department) in all courses specified in the major curriculum to include content and professional education core courses; and
4. Earned a passing grade in student teaching.

For more information review the initial licensure required assessments on the Clinical Experiences Office website or visit the office in the Education Building Room 1107.

The Virginia Department of Education requires all initially licensed teachers, school counselors, administrators, and other school personnel to receive training in the area of technology. This training is received through specific courses in the approved professional education programs.

Due to changing University requirements, national accreditation standards, and Commonwealth licensure regulations, the programs in the Darden College of Education and Professional Studies are under constant revision. Any changes resulting from these factors supersede the program requirements described in this Catalog. Students should obtain current program information from their advisors and the Darden College of Education and Professional Studies' website at https://www.odu.edu/eps.

For more information on requirements in specific programs, students should refer to the individual program listings in this Catalog or contact the Office of Teacher Education Services & Advising or the appropriate academic department in the College of Arts and Letters, the College of Sciences, or the Darden College of Education and Professional Studies.

Clearance Background Check Process For All Licensure Programs

Old Dominion University requires a background clearance check of candidates interested in professional education programs.  Professional education programs have several field experiences that are required for continuance and graduation from the program. The clearance background check must be successfully completed prior to a field experience placement.  Students will be provided a field experience placement when the background check process is completed with resolution of any issues.  Candidates interested in the professional education programs are advised to complete this clearance background check process immediately upon entering a program.  This clearance process takes a minimum of eight weeks to complete.

This clearance background check process includes:

• Fingerprinting
• A social service/child protective service check
• A review of each candidate's name through the National Sex Offender Registry and/or Virginia State Police: Sex Offender Registry

Candidates are liable for all fees incurred when completing the clearance background check process. ALL clearance search results must be received and reviewed by Old Dominion University, Teacher Education Services & Advising Office to determine successful completion of the clearance process and approval for placement in a school.  The completed clearance check will be posted to the student's Leo Online secure page under Test Scores. A score of 1 means the student is cleared for placement

Early Field Experiences

The college is committed to developing candidates skilled in teaching students of all cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds and with diverse learning needs in a fair and equitable manner. Thus, candidates must complete their early field experiences in a public or private school accredited by the Virginia Department of Education. Teacher candidates may request specific schools and districts. However, these requests are informal and ARE NOT guaranteed. Candidates may not contact school district personnel in order to request or obtain placement. Candidates may not complete their field experience at a school where an immediate relative is attending or working. Candidates are required to disclose this information on the on-line placement request.

Prior to placement, students are required to have a completed Clearance Background Check search, which consists of:  the Virginia State Police Criminal History Check (State Police Form 230), the Child Protective Service Central Registry Release of Information (032-02-1515/1), a fingerprint check, and the National Sex Offender Registry and/or the Virginia State Police: Sex Offender Registry. Students are liable for all costs incurred.

A candidate may participate in a course with a field experience through one of two tracks:

Option A

A candidate may be eligible to participate in the early field experience course if s/he has been admitted into an approved teacher education program. This requires that candidates achieve the Prescribed Virginia Board of Education Assessment for Admission to an Approved Teacher Education Program. In addition, candidates must meet the GPA for their individual programs, professional education courses, and minimum grade requirements, along with any other course prerequisites.

Option B

A provisionally licensed teacher may participate in a course if s/he is currently employed with a school division, has a letter from the Virginia Department of Education listing the course as a needed requirement, and has passing Virginia Communication and Literacy Assessment (VCLA) scores. The provisionally licensed teacher will have to meet all the requirements of the course as stated in the syllabus.

Prescribed Virginia Board of Education Professional Assessments for Licensure

Old Dominion University teacher candidates seeking initial licensure through the completion of an approved teacher education program must successfully pass the Prescribed Virginia Board of Education Professional Assessments for Licensure prior to the start of the teacher candidate internship. The following assessments must be completed with a passing score:

1. Virginia Communication and Literacy Assessment (VCLA) passing composite score of 470;
2. Praxis Subject Area Assessment exam passing score approved by the Virginia Board of Education; and
3. Praxis Teaching Reading: Elementary. The passing score required for prek-3, prek-6, and k-12 special education general curriculum endorsement is 157. The required passing score for Reading Specialist is 162. 

For the most current information on the prescribed Virginia Board of Education professional assessments for each individual passing score, visit the Office of Clinical Experience website, and review the Required Assessments.