Career Development Program Path for Paraprofessionals to Attain Teacher Certification

The Career Development Program is the path for teaching paraprofessionals (teaching assistants) to acquire a teaching certificate.

You must meet the following requirements before applying for certification through the Career Development Program:

• Hold a bachelor’s degree in any area of study from an accredited college/university and a minimum 2.5 cumulative GPA.
• Have at least one year of experience in an accredited school in the area for which a teaching certificate is being pursued.  The school should document the specific experience earned on the D1 District Verification Form - Career Development Program.
• Pass at least one Oklahoma Subject Area Test (OSAT) in Early Childhood Education, Elementary Education, OR Special Education. The test you pass must be in the area of your experience.

• *NOTICE: Applicants may apply for their provisional upon passing the OSAT.  You will have up to 3 years to complete the PPAT and move to a standard certificate.

  • (Two certificate areas are required to be the Special Education teacher of record)

Once the above requirements have been met, please complete the following:

• Create a Single Sign-On account to access the Oklahoma Educator Credential System (OECS).
• Once all the following items have been obtained/completed, apply and pay online in OECS.
  • Recent certification or dual fingerprinting (background check) needed, unless you are already certified in Oklahoma. For the most up to date information refer to Fingerprints/Background Checks Information. 
  • D1 District Verification Form - Career Development Program
  • Official transcripts of all college work. Transcript must denote degree earned and the date degree was conferred

As a result to the above, you will be issued a non-renewable teaching credential valid for up to three years.

Within three years, complete 12 semester hours of professional education coursework from an accredited institution of higher education which has an accredited program related to the certificate area sought. The 12 semester hours must include a minimum of 3 semester hours in reading instruction from a higher education program accredited by the Office of Educational Quality and Accountability. Please consult with the Oklahoma college of your choice regarding acceptable courses to fulfill this requirement. The college recommendation/college credit verification should come from the chair or director of the accredited teacher preparation program in which you completed the coursework requirements. Verification should be submitted on the C1 College Verification Form - Career Development Program.

Within three years, successfully complete at least one full school year of teaching service in a public or private school accredited by the State Board of Education or a private school accrediting organization approved by the Board and receive a favorable recommendation from that school documented on the D1 District Verification Form - Career Development Program. The school recommendation should come from the school principal, human resources, or district superintendent.

Complete the PPAT (if the OPTE was not taken and passed)

You must also provide a favorable recommendation AND verification that you have completed your 12 semester hours from an Oklahoma college.

Once all the following items have been obtained/completed, apply and pay online in OECS:

• D1 District Verification Form - Career Development Program
• C1 College Verification Form - Career Development Program
• Official transcripts reflecting the professional education coursework completed

As a result to the above, you will be issued a standard certificate.