GTEP Prerequisites and Tests

The Graduate Teacher Education Program (GTEP) prepares teacher candidates to teach at the Early Childhood, Elementary, Middle Level, and High School levels of authorization as determined by the State of Oregon Teacher Standards and Practices Commission. As a professional preparation program, GTEP expects applicants to document their content knowledge by providing three sources of evidence as part of the application materials:

*Applicants who have completed all the prerequisite courses, have passing scores on all tests for their particular authorization level(s) and/or subject area endorsement(s), and submit the evidence by the December 1st application deadline are most often the strongest candidates in the applicant pool.

The Admissions Committee reviews each application and determines an applicant's qualifications based on the evidence that is in their file.

If an application is incomplete on December 1, 2012, it is the applicant's responsibility to provide transcripts and test score reports to the GTEP Office as soon as they are available. Evidence of a bachelor's degree, all completed prerequisite courses, and passing scores on all tests must be received by the GTEP Office no later than May 1, 2013 in order to be eligible to begin GTEP on June 24, 2013. If an applicant is completing an undergraduate degree and/or prerequisite courses in Spring 2013, provide an unofficial transcript that shows the enrolled courses, and a final transcript that shows the posting of a degree and/or course grades.

Required Prerequisites

Required prerequisite courses vary depending on which authorization level(s) and/or subject area endorsement(s) an applicant is applying for. There are three sources of print-based evidence that must be submitted to document prerequisite content knowledge:

• Unofficial transcript for courses taken at PSU:
• Official transcripts for preapproved course equivalents from other institutions (see the Course Equivalency Chart); and/or
• Approved waiver form with supporting materials for all other courses (see Course Equivalency Chart for directions and timeline for completing the waiver process).

Early Childhood and Elementary Authorizations (multiple subjects):

Psy 311 - Human Development Waiver information
Art 312 - Art in the Elementary School
Mus 381 - Music Fundamentals
Lib 428 - Children's Literature
Mth 211, 212, 213 - Foundations of Elementary Mathematics

Middle Level and/or High School Authorization (single subject):

Psy 311 - Human Development Waiver information
All required courses listed on Department Recommendation Form*

* Content area prerequisite courses are determined by various academic departments at Portland State University. Please use the following link to access information pertinent to specific subject area endorsement: Prerequisite courses recommended and approved for your subject area(s). At least four weeks before the December 1st application deadline, meet with the appropriate Content Area Advisor to determine the required prerequisites; those courses are listed on the Department Recommendation Form and serve as an applicant’s required prerequisites.

Highly recommended courses for all GTEP applicants:

Ed 420 - Introduction to Education
CI 432 - Computer Applications

Required Tests

All teachers in Oregon must pass specific basic skills, content knowledge, and civil rights knowledge tests before they can be licensed to teach. Applicants to GTEP must provide documentation indicating passing scores on basic skills and content knowledge as part of their GTEP application. The civil rights knowledge test will be taken during the program; it is not required for admission to the program. Some of the tests are paper-based tests and some have a computer-based option. Applicants should make arrangements for taking the tests as early as possible, but no later than eight (8) weeks prior to the December 1st deadline. For more general information about the approved licensure tests in Oregon, go to the Teachers Standards and Practices Commission (TSPC) website.

Basic Skill Tests  

All GTEP applicants must pass a basic skills test and submit a print copy of the Test Score Report as part of their GTEP application; it must be received no later than December 1, 2012. Oregon’s licensure agency, Teachers Standards and Practices Commission (TSPC) has approved the following three options for verification of basic skills:

1. NES Essential Academic Skills (EAS) Test, preferred by TSPC (Reading, Writing and Math);
2. Praxis I: PPST (Reading, Writing and Math); or
3. WEST-B (Reading, Writing and Math).

NOTE: If an applicant has already passed the CBEST, the scores are still accepted by GTEP and TSPC, however the test is no longer administered in Oregon.

Content Knowledge Tests

TSPC has approved content knowledge tests with two different testing vendors, Praxis and NES, depending on the particular content area(s) that a teacher candidate is interested in teaching.

Early Childhood, Elementary, or Middle Level* Authorization Level applicants must pass the NES Elementary Education Sub-Test I and Sub-Test II  and submit a print copy of their Test Score Report as part of the GTEP application. If an applicant has already passed the ORELA Multiple Subjects Exam, the scores are still accepted by GTEP and TSPC for purposes of licensure until September 1, 2014, however the test will no longer be administered after June, 2012. The ORELA Early Childhood Education Test is not required for either GTEP Admissions or Oregon licensure.

Middle Level* or High School Authorization Level applicants must pass either an NES (Biology, Business Education, Chemistry, English Language Arts, General Science, Health, Mathematics, Physics, Physical Education, Social Science, Spanish) or Praxis II (French, German) test and submit a print copy of their Test Score Report as part of the GTEP application*. There are no subject area test requirements in Drama, Japanese, or Russian endorsement areas for GTEP admissions or Oregon licensure.

*The specific tests required by TSPC are subject to change. Return to the TSPC, ORELA/NES, and Praxis websites regularly for updates.

Art, Music, or PE Licensure applicants must pass the appropriate ORELA/NES test in their subject area and submit a print copy of their Test Score Reports as part of their GTEP application. The ORELA Multiple Subject Exam is not required for either GTEP Admissions or Oregon licensure.

*Note to Middle Level Applicants:

• ORELA/NES offers four middle level specific tests: Middle Grades Mathematics, Middle Grades English Language Arts, Middle Grades General Science, and Middle Grades Social Science. A passing score on the ORELA/NES Middle Grades Mathematics test is required admission to GTEP in Middle Level Math and to be recommended for an Oregon Basic Math endorsement. The Middle Grades English Language Arts, General Science, and Social Science are not required for either GTEP admissions or Oregon licensure. These tests were approved by TSPC for Highly Qualified Status only; and
• Middle level applicants need to take three tests for GTEP admissions and recommendation for licensure: one basic skills test and two (2) content knowledge tests.

Civil Rights Test   

TSPC has approved the ORELA Protecting Student and Civil Rights in the Educational Environment Examination in order to be licensed to teach in Oregon. Content related to this test will be taught during the program. This test must be taken prior to recommendation for licensure, but is not required for admission to the program.

Transcripts, test score reports, and departmental recommendation forms should be mailed or hand delivered to the Program Office.

Mailing address:
Mark Wallace - GTEP
Graduate School of Education
Portland State University
PO Box 751 Portland, OR 97207-0751

Or stop by our office: 615 SW Harrison, ED 602

Phone: 503-725-4762
Email: askgtep@pdx.edu
Fax: 503-725-8475