Master's Degree Comparability Review
Per state statute, the State Board of Education may grant an exception to the subject area examination for initial certification. Educators with Master’s, Doctorates, or other graduate level degrees may be eligible to submit documentation to show their advanced degrees are substantially comparable to Oklahoma Subject Area Tests (OSATs) and thus be waived the OSAT licensure requirement.
Certification areas that require an advanced degree are not eligible for a review or waiver, including Library Media Specialist, Principal, Reading Specialist, School Counselor, School Psychologist, School Psychometrist, or Superintendent.
Steps for applicant to take for an Advanced Degree Comparability Review
Prior to submitting a request to OEQA:
- Obtain a copy of a transcript from the university where the advanced degree was conferred. (Bachelor’s degree transcripts are not submitted.) The transcript can be a copy and does not have to be an official, sealed copy.
- Obtain course descriptions for all courses on the advanced degree transcript. The course descriptions must be presented in a format that includes just the descriptions of courses on the transcript. The OEQA team does not accept entire course catalogs.
- Compare the transcript and course descriptions to the OSAT Test Frameworks to confirm alignment with most of the content, including all subareas and most of the competencies, included in the test framework.
Applicants who find their advanced degree courses closely align with an OSAT test framework may send an email request to OEQA at info@oeqa.ok.gov. The request should include the specific number and OSAT test name as found on the CEOE website.
The Oklahoma State Board of Education, in consultation with the Commission for Educational Quality and Accountability, is authorized, but not required, to approve requests. The review process may take up to eight weeks.
Timeline for Advanced Degree/OSAT Comparability Reviews
2025
| Deadlines for review requests | Dates of CEQA Meetings | Dates information is sent to the State Department of Education |
|---|---|---|
| January 8, 2025 | January 22, 2025 | January 23, 2025 |
| January 29, 2025 | February 12, 2025 | February 13, 2025 |
| February 26, 2025 | March 12, 2025 | March 13, 2025 |
| March 26, 2025 | April 9, 2025 | April 10, 2025 |
| April 30, 2025 | May 14, 2025 | May 15, 2025 |
| May 28, 2025 | June 11, 2025 | June 12, 2025 |
| June 25, 2025 | July 9, 2025 | July 8, 2025 |
| July 23, 2025 | August 6, 2025 | August 7, 2025 |
| August 27, 2025 | September 10, 2025 | September 11, 2025 |
| September 24, 2025 | October 8, 2025 | October 9, 2025 |
| October 29, 2025 | November 12, 2025 | November 13, 2025 |
| November 26, 2025 | December 10, 2025 | December 11, 2025 |
Legislation
The State Board of Education, in consultation with the Commission for Educational Quality and Accountability, may grant an exception to the requirement to complete a subject area examination for initial certification in a field which does not require an advanced degree if the candidate has an advanced degree in a subject that is substantially comparable to the content assessed on a subject area examination. The degree shall be from an institution accredited by a national or regional accrediting agency which is recognized by the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Education. The Commission shall provide the Board with the necessary information to determine comparability. (70 O.S. § 6-187)
