The Teacher Certification Program (TCP) offers an alternative path to certification for individuals seeking a career in secondary school teaching. The program leads to certification in one of the following areas: Biology, Chemistry, English, Mathematics, Physics, and Social Studies/History.
Students must have completed a bachelor’s degree or the equivalent (30 credit hours) in their content area. Students without a bachelor’s degree may earn their certification while completing a bachelor’s program at Providence College.
TCP requirements include the successful completion of 18 credit hours of professional education courses, including field experiences; a 12-week (9 credit hours) student teaching practicum; passing scores on the certification exams; construction of a student growth plan reflective of the Rhode Island Professional Teacher Standards; and a final recommendation for certification.
By the end of the program, students will be knowledgeable about the Rhode Island Professional Teachers Standards and will be competent in integrating these standards within their teaching practice. Students will be eligible for certification upon successful completion of student teaching and all other state-mandated requirements (e.g. exams).
Admission Requirements:
- A bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university. (Qualified students may apply for special permission to enter TCP as they simultaneously complete their undergraduate programs.)
- A major or a minimum of 30 undergraduate credits in one of the content areas listed above.
- A minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0.
- Two letters of recommendation attesting to the applicant’s potential for a career in teaching.
- Personal interview with the TCP coordinator.
(Students with a grade point average below 3.0 but above 2.75 may be admissible with the submission of acceptable scores on one of the following exams: PRAXIS Core, ACT, SAT, or GRE. For acceptable test scores, consult the program coordinator.)
Students who have not earned their bachelor’s degree may enroll in an SCE bachelor degree program and earn secondary teaching certification while completing their undergraduate degree.
To apply to a bachelor’s degree program and the TCP at the same time, students must:
- Have completed 30 undergraduate credits at a regionally accredited college or university;
- Submit official results for the PRAXIS Core, ACT or SAT. For acceptable test scores, consult the program coordinator;
- Follow all other TCP application instructions above..
Students who concurrently enroll in a bachelor’s program must complete all content courses required for certification before enrolling in TCP classes, with the exception of EDU 201, Educational Psychology, and EDU 207, Principles of Secondary Education.
For more information, please contact the program coordinator, Katherine Hibbard, at 401.865.2487 or view the TCP website.
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