Non-Traditional Special Education (Boot Camp) Program

• After completing a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college, you must complete a 150-clock-hour Boot Camp through an OSDE approved partner school district or college/university. Each partner may have their own eligibility requirements. Contact the provider directly to get started.
• To find a Boot Camp provider, visit the Special Education page regarding the program (click here) or contact Special Education Services at (405) 521-3351 for an up-to-date list of partner districts and colleges.

1. Complete a bachelor’s degree.
2. Complete an approved Boot Camp and obtain a completion letter.
3. Complete a certification or dual background check (if not currently certified in Oklahoma). Instructions are available here.
4. Order official transcripts from all colleges/universities attended to be sent directly from the university to TeacherCertification@sde.ok.gov.
5. Apply online in OECS through the Educator Application Wizard for your provisional certificate. The Boot Camp completion letter will be uploaded during the application process.
6. Once your application has been processed and accepted, a one-year certificate and advisement letter will be issued in OECS and available in the Print History tab. You will receive an email notifying you when something is available to view.

1. Log in to your OECS account.
2. Click My Credentials along the top, then click Print History on the left.
3. Click View to the left of the letter received with your provisional certificate.
4. All requirements will be listed in your letter.

A preview of program requirements is listed on the Eligibility and Guidelines documents in the table above. In short, you must

• pass a Special Education subject area test,
• pass the Foundations of Reading (FOR) assessment,
• pass the professional education assessment (APK/PPAT/OPTE), and
• complete 18 semester hours of professional education college courses in Special Education.

Each year you must complete a minimum of 6 hours of special education coursework approved by the college on the C3 Form in order to renew. To renew for the second and third one-year certificates:

1. Order updated official transcripts to be sent directly from the university to TeacherCertification@sde.ok.gov.
2. Submit online application (no fee) and upload the completed C3 Form.

1. Have the C3 Form completed by the college education department to reflect the full 18 hours.
2. Order updated official transcripts to be sent directly from the university to TeacherCertification@sde.ok.gov.
3. Apply online in OECS through the Educator Application Wizard for your standard certificate. The completed C3 Form Form will be uploaded during the application process.

If a master's degree in special education is completed, the C3 form is not required.

• Yes, it is possible. The college education department where the coursework is taken must have an Educator Preparation Program (EPP) for special education and must approve all 18 hours required for this program using the C3 Form. A completed master's degree in special education waives the C3 Form requirement.

• Yes, it is possible. The college education department where the coursework is taken must have an Educator Preparation Program (EPP) for special education and must approve all 18 hours required for this program using the C3 Form. A completed master's degree in special education waives the C3 Form requirement.

• No. Electronic transcripts will only be accepted if sent directly from the university to the Oklahoma State Department of Education.
• After you have an OECS account, place a new official transcript order with TeacherCertification@sde.ok.gov as the direct recipient.
• Most colleges use Parchment or Student Clearinghouse to send digital transcripts.

• No. All applications for the Non-Traditional Special Education (Boot Camp) Program are online.
• Apply online in OECS through the Educator Application Wizard.

1. Create a Single Sign-On (SSO) account to access the Oklahoma Educator Credential System (OECS).
2. If you have never submitted an application to Teacher Certification before, Step 3 will ask, “Would you like to access your Oklahoma certification records?” You must select the third option and enter your full social security number to create an SSO log in AND an OECS file. If you receive a red banner stating that a record already exists, then you will select the second option to link your new SSO log in with your existing OECS file.
3. Once you are in your SSO account, click EDU-Educator under Oklahoma Educator Credentialing System.
4. Then click Educator Application Wizard.