Certification-Only Alternate Certification Program

• The Certification-Only Program offers flexibility in delivery (e.g., face to face and/or online)
• Offered by approved providers, both private entities and higher education institutions.
• Classroom readiness training obtained through university or private provider program.
• Certification available in Early Childhood Education Grades PK-3, Elementary Education Grades 1-5, Middle School Education Grades 4-8, Secondary Education Grades 6-12, All-Level Grades K-12 (art, dance, foreign languages, health and physical education, and music) and Special Education: Early Interventionist Birth to Five Years, Hearing Impaired K-12, Visually Impaired/Blind K-12, and Significant Disabilities 1-12.
• Candidates are issued a Practitioner License 2 (PL2) upon completion of approved classroom readiness training and employment in an approved school. A Professional Level License is issued after successful completion of all program requirements.
• The PL2 is valid for one school year and may be renewed annually up to three years. The candidate must remain enrolled in the Certification-Only Program and fulfill a minimum of nine (9) semester hours of coursework or equivalent contact hours per year (to the extent that required semester hours remain in the program to be completed), teaching assignments, and prescribed activities identified by the program provider.
• Total Hours in the Program—27 to 33 credit hours (or equivalent 405-495 contact hours)

Admission Requirements

• Hold a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited college or university 
• Earned undergraduate degree with 2.5 GPA on 4.0 scale (as per LA R.S. 17:7.1 A.3) –or- if admitted into program on or after December 21, 2019 with an undergraduate GPA of less than 2.50 the candidate must have successfully completed an interview with the program’s admissions officer (as per LA R.S. 17:7.1 A.3) 
• Have passing scores on Praxis core academics skills for educators (Praxis I); candidates possessing one of the following will be exempt from Praxis I: a graduate degree will be exempt from the Praxis I requirement when enrolling in a LA state-approved teacher preparation program,  an ACT composite score of 22, or an SAT combined verbal/critical reading and math score of 1100 or higher (New SAT) or 1030 or higher (pre-March 2016 SAT)
• Pass Praxis content-specific subject assessment(s).