Early Childhood or Elementary Education
- This pathway is best for recent high school graduates and adult learners, who have an associates degree or have completed two years of college.
After finishing your associate degree or two years of college coursework, you can apply for a position as a Teacher Assistant or Paraprofessional in an Oklahoma public school, in early childhood or elementary education. The school district will register you with the Oklahoma State Department of Education (OSDE).
- Ready to start your job search? Once you are certified, you can apply for teaching jobs in any district in the state. Click the Job Board tab to create an account and search positions.
Create a Single Sign-On (SSO) account to start your teacher certification process.
In order to receive your teaching certificate, you must complete a background check and fingerprinting. The cost is $58.25. Visit the background check/fingerprinting page for more information.
While working as a Teacher Assistant or Paraprofessional, focus on completing your bachelor’s degree. Below is a list of universities offering online programs to help you finish your degree.
- As part of your bachelor's degree it is recommended that you complete 12 semester hours in the area requested (early childhood or elementary education), with 3 of those hours being in reading instruction.
- You must have a cumulative GPA of at least 2.5.
State Universities
- Cameron University
- East Central University
- Langston University
- Northeastern State University
- Northwestern Oklahoma State University
- Oklahoma State University
- Rogers State University
- Southeastern Oklahoma State University
- Southwestern Oklahoma State University
- University of Central Oklahoma
- University of Oklahoma
- University of Science & Arts of Oklahoma
To complete your certification, you must take your subject area test(s) and the Assessment of Professional Knowledge (APK). Subject area tests can be taken through Praxis (ets) or Pearson (CEOE).
Complete the application and submit the $30 application fee online in OECS. You can access OECS through your Single Sign-On (SSO) account.
When you receive your provisional certificate through the Career Development Program for Paraprofessionals, you will have three years to complete additional university credit hours in your certification area and take the PPAT (Praxis Performance Area Test). For details on the three-year program click three year program click here.
