The MAT Alternative Certification Program is designed to provide the local school districts with qualified teachers and interested candidates with a flexible, supportive route to teacher certification.

The Alternative Certification Program provides candidates with an opportunity to pursue initial teacher certification while working as a full time teacher at Rank III level.

Employment is not required for initial acceptance to this program. However, candidates must be employed in a Kentucky-accredited school by the start of the school year in order to continue in the program.

This program is a two year, 30 credit hour program resulting in initial teacher certification and a Masters of Arts in Teaching degree. The Alternative Certification program certifies teachers in middle or secondary education only.

Detailed requirements for completing this degree are provided in the UofL Graduate Catalog.

Admission Requirements

Applicants must complete an application to teacher education with submission of additional requirements. Please contact the College of Education and Human Development for an application packet and to confirm the application deadline. Applicants must apply by April 15 th for summer admission. Members of the admissions screening committee for the Department of Teaching and Learning, evaluate all application packets after the admission deadline. Admission decisions are made by the professional judgment of the screening committee. Admission to these programs is competitive and preference is given to applicants who have strong academic records, experiences and abilities that show promise of a successful classroom teacher.

Students applying to the Master of Arts in Teaching program must have a bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited university with a suggested minimum GPA of 2.75. In addition, applicants to teacher education must have a "C" or better in ENGL 102, or an equivalent writing course (or a 3.5 GRE Analytical Writing Score) AND a "C" or better in COMM 111, or an equivalent speech course, or pass the College of Education's Speech Proficiency Exam. Some applicants may be required to take additional middle school [PDF], secondary [PDF], or foreign language [PDF] pre-requisite courses. Please click on the links below to determine whether you will need to take additional pre-requisite courses [PDF]. Please note that those who do not have a degree in the content are they would like to teach must have a transcript evaluation completed by a member of the Education Admissions Team.

Each applicant is required to submit passing, official scores from the PRAXIS II examination(s) in the subject he/she wishes to teach. The PRAXIS II examinations are offered six times per year and scores take six weeks to process.

• The Supplemental Teacher Education Application Packet is being updated. Please check back on August 1, 2008 [PDF]

Opportunities for Graduates

Become a Kentucky certified teacher or gain a Kentucky certificate in middle or secondary schools.

Certification

Middle Grades: English, Science, Math or Social Studies

Secondary : English, Chemistry, Physics, Biology, Earth Science, Mathematics, Social Studies, Business/Marketing

Foreign Language P-12 in Spanish or French