Requirements for educator preparation program candidates
Gate 1:
Admission to Educator Preparation Program
Completed in EDU 200 Introduction to Teaching course.
- Application and personal data sheet
- Why I Wish to Teach essay
- Declaration of major and licensure
- Evidence of mastery of basic skills in reading, writing and mathematics (one of the
following for each skill area)
- ACT scores
-Mathematics – at least 20
-Reading – at least 22
-English – at least 18 - OR MAT 100 College Algebra – grade of C or higher – for mathematics evidence
- OR ENG 115 Fundamentals in Reading and Writing - grade of C or higher - for reading and writing evidence
- ACT scores
- Pre-Service Teacher Permit
- Clear BCI or FBI report
- Successful completion (at least a C-) of EDU 200 Introduction to Teaching and EDU 205 Early Field Experience
- Successful completion of all required courses (at least a C-)
- Cumulative grade point average of 2.7 or higher
- Recommendations from early field cooperating teacher and Bluffton faculty members
- Recommendations from campus departments (academics, student life)
- Interview with members of Educator Preparation Program (only if needed)
Fees: TaskStream ($100 course fee), background check ($60), 3 year pre-service
teacher permit ($75)
Gate 2:
Admission to student teaching
- Senior status
- Application
- All educator preparation program courses completed with at least a C-
- Grade point average of 2.7 or higher overall and in the major
- Substitute teaching license
- Passing scores on all required Ohio Assessments for Educators (OAE) exams
- Interview with members of Educator Preparation Program (only if needed)
Fees: edTPA fee ($300 course fee), background check ($60), 1 year substitute
teaching license ($25), OAE exam fees ($105 per test – at least 2 required
for licensure)
Gate 3:
Program completion
- Successful completion of student teaching
- Grade point average of 2.7 or higher overall and in the major/concentrations
- edTPA score of 35 or higher
- All required courses completed with at least a C-
- A bachelor’s degree issued from Bluffton University
Fees: Ohio Department of Education license fee ($160 and $20 for each additional teaching area)
- 2023-24 Educator Preparation Program handbook
Including more information about Checkpoints 1, 2, 3 and 4