MDE teacher licensure requirements waived for current, prospective MSU education students
Contact: Camille Carskadon
STARKVILLE, Miss.鈥擳he Mississippi Department of Education (MDE) is temporarily waiving some requirements for students applying to enter 幺力视频鈥檚 teacher education and administration preparation programs, as well as waiving licensure exams for certification through December 31, 2021. The change is due to testing center closures across the state related to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
鈥淭he College of Education is appreciative of the actions of the Mississippi Department of Education in temporarily suspending these requirements. Certainly, we are experiencing unique challenges due to COVID-19, and these actions assist us in helping address staffing needs in Mississippi public schools,鈥 said Richard Blackbourn, dean of MSU鈥檚 College of Education.
The Mississippi Department of Education has waivers that include both traditional (undergraduate) and non-traditional (graduate) teacher education programs and approved traditional or non-traditional educator or administrator preparation programs as defined by the 幺力视频 Board of Education. The licensure exams for the following programs at MSU have been waived: Elementary Education, Secondary Education, Special Education, Music Education, Physical Education, School Administration, School Counseling, School Psychology, Master of Arts in Teaching-Secondary, and Master of Arts in Teaching-Special Education.聽
The educator preparation program admission testing requirement for teacher education, which includes the ACT/SAT requirement or the Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators examinations, have been waived. Grade Point Average (GPA) and all other criteria for MSU program admission remain in effect.
Donna Shea, director of MSU鈥檚 Office of Curriculum and Field-Based Instruction is available to answer questions. She may be reached at dshea@colled.msstate.edu or 662-325-7684.
For a complete list of MDE鈥檚 new admissions and licensure requirements, visit .
Established in 1903, MSU鈥檚 College of Education is home to six academic departments, one research unit and numerous service units. For more about the college, visit .
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