University of Nebraska at Omaha
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Prospective Transfer | Admission | Financial Aid | Certification | PPST/EECIA
Where do I start? The Web site is large, what is the first link I should view?
PROSPECTIVE TRANSFER STUDENTS
How can I tell if my credits will transfer?
Can I get my transcripts evaluated before I admit to UNO?
ADMISSION
Are there admission deadlines?
Can admission be done online?
If I have a degree already, do I admit as a graduate student?
Where can I get a UNO catalog?
I admitted last year but never took classes, do I need to readmit?
Is there a special application for the College of Education?
Is there a fee for admission to the College of Education?
FINANCIAL AID
Where can I find information about scholarships?
What is the cost of tuition?
CERTIFICATION
How long does it take to get a teaching certificate if I
already have a 4-year degree already?
What is the “sequence” of the “EDUC” courses?
How do I find information about coursework requirements?
What is the difference between a field endorsement and a subject endorsement?
What are areas of high demand for teachers?
I don’t have a degree but have many years of experience…..
I don’t have certification now but I want to get certified to teach in the state of Nebraska…
What is the difference between an endorsement and certification?
What do I do if I have certification in another state?
How do I get a Substitute Teaching Certificate?
PPST/EECIA
What is PPST?
What is the test about?
Why do I need to take the test?
Where can I take the PPST?
How much does the PPST cost?
Is the PPST test computerized?
How long will it take to receive the results of the PPST?
What is the Statewide Assessment to be NCLB Qualified for UNO College of Education Students?
Where do I start? The Web site is large, what is the first link I should view?
If you are here (in the FAQ’s), then you have made a good start. There is no set sequence to viewing our web pages, however, we suggest you visit all the following links on the left. You might want to begin with the following:
FAQ’S
UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAMS
PPST INFORMATION
ADMISSION TO COE UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAMS
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To review course work acceptable to UNOmaha, please see the catalog http://www.ses.unomaha.edu/registrar/catalogs.php. Generally, prospective candidates can look at the Undergraduate Catalog and compare coursework to get an idea of comparable classes.
All transfer coursework accepted by the University may not be applicable to the College of Education requirements. An official evaluation will be completed when you have been admitted to the College. You may find transfer guides for some institutions on our website at: http://www.ses.unomaha.edu/registrar/trans_artic_guides.php Can I get my transcripts evaluated before I admit to UNO, College of Education?
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Because of limited resources and personnel, it is not possible to do official transcript evaluations for students not currently enrolled at the University. If you have questions about the programs in our College, information is available on our website at: http://coe.unomaha.edu/oss/majorprogs.php.
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Yes
For UNOmaha:
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Deadline for Fall admission is August 1.
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Deadline for Spring admission is December 1.
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Deadline for Summer is June 1.
For admission to the College of Education Teacher Preparation Programs:
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Deadlines are October 1, March 1, and June 1
Note: If the deadline falls on a weekend, applications are due the preceding business day.
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Yes. The admission website for the University of Nebraska is: http://www.ses.unomaha.edu/admissions/
For the Teacher Preparation Program, you can complete your application at: http://coe.unomaha.edu/oss/PreEdadmissions.php
If I have a degree already, do I admit as a graduate student?
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No, Initial Teacher Certification is completed at the undergraduate level.
An application can be found at: http://www.ses.unomaha.edu/admissions/ugappdate.php
If I have a degree already, can I get into the Graduate Education program?
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In order to admit to the College of Education graduate programs a valid teaching certificate is necessary. Please see the Graduate Catalog for further information. http://www.unomaha.edu/graduate/catalog/
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UNO Undergraduate and Graduate Catalogs are on our website at: http://www.unomaha.edu/graduate/catalog/
The Graduate Catalog is available online only. The Undergraduate "Hard Copy" Catalog can be ordered by contacting 402-554-6281. I admitted last year but never took classes, do I need to readmit?
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For information regarding you admission status, you should contact the Admissions Office at: 402-554-2393 or visit the Admissions website at: http://www.ses.unomaha.edu/admissions/
Is there a special application for the College of Education?
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No, you can admit to the College of Education using the general undergraduate admission application. However, to admit to the Teacher Preparation Program you must complete a separate application.
For specific information please visit our website at: http://coe.unomaha.edu/oss/PreEdadmissions.php -
There is no fee for admission to the College of Education. However, there is a non-refundable UNO application fee of $45.00 which must be included when the application is submitted. For further information visit UNO's website at: http://www.ses.unomaha.edu/admissions/undergrad.php
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The Financial Aid Office has general information regarding scholarships. http://www.ses.unomaha.edu/finaid/
The College of Education has information regarding specific COE awards. You may review them on our web page at: http://www.unomaha.edu/coe/oss/scholarships.php -
Information regarding UNOmaha tuition can be obtained from the website: http://cashiering.unomaha.edu/tuition.php
How long does it take to get a teaching certificate if I have a 4-year degree already?
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It depends on the content of your previous degree and the area(s) in which you want to pursue certification. It is a major change, and as a general "rule of thumb" the time is 2-2 1/2 years. You are earning a professional license. Core education classes are needed for certification, these classes are sequential in nature. Class work must be completed sequentially to obtain knowledge and skills that are pre-requisites for the next course in the sequence and field experience.
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The professional sequence starts with EDUC 2010- Human Growth and Learning. This is the first and only Education course you will take in the sequence, after being admitted to the Teacher Preparation Program. The next courses taken the following semester are EDUC 2510-Applied Special Education, EDUC 2520-Instructional Systems (including an Intermediate Field Experience).
Your academic advisor will help you select additional course work to complete your class schedule for each semester (based on your major).
How do I find information about coursework requirements?
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Specific coursework requirements are located on our website at: http://coe.unomaha.edu/oss/majorprogs.php
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For Nebraska Teacher Certification in Secondary Education, UNO requires two subject endorsements or one field endorsement. Subject endorsements are in a specific area such as History and Math, or Physics and English. Field endorsements are broader in coverage, such as Social Science or Language Arts which cover several areas within the "field".
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What are areas of high demand for teachers?
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For general guidelines on areas of high demand, visit: http://www.bls.gov/oco or http://www.recruitingteachers.org
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I don't have a degree but have many years of experience in fields closely related to education, will my job/life experience be counted toward my requirements for Nebraska Teacher Certification?
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No. Requirements for Nebraska Teacher Certification are closely regulated by state standards. Requirements for NE Teacher Certification can be found at: http://www.nde.state.ne.us
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I don't have certification now but I want to get certified to teach in the State of Nebraska where do I start?
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Please visit our website at http://coe.unomaha.edu/oss/majorprogs.php
The FIRST step is admission to UNO. The undergraduate admission form is at: http://www.ses.unomaha.edu/admissions/ -
What if I have a prior or expired teaching certificate in the State of Nebraska?
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Information is available at: http://coe.unomaha.edu/oss/certification.php.
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What is the difference between an endorsement and certification?
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Certification refers to licensure to teach.
Endorsement is the area in which you chose to teach, i.e. elementary, secondary math, special education, etc. -
What do I do if I have certification in another state?
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Consult the State of Nebraska for requirement information at: http://www.nde.state.ne.us
What is the difference between a field endorsement and a subject endorsement?
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The State Department of Education has information about several types of substitute certification. Please visit their website at: www.ned.state.ne.us
Information regarding the types and requirements for Nebraska Substitute Certification.
PPST (Pre-Professional Skills Test) / EECIA (Elementary Education Curriculum Instruction and Assessment Test)
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PPST is an acronym for Pre-professional Skills Test.
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There are 3 batteries you need to take: Reading, Writing & Math.
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The PPST is required by the State of Nebraska for Teacher Certification. The test is also a prerequisite for EDUC classes (Education) and TED classes (Teacher Education) at UNO.
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Testing is offered at the UNO Testing Center, EAB 113. http://testing.unomaha.edu
Testing is also available at the Sylvan Learning Center, 2730 So. 140th Street, (402) 334-9449 (by Oakview Mall)
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For information regarding test costs, please contact the UNO Testing Center at 402-554-2800 or visit the Testing Center website at: http://testing.unomaha.edu or www.ets.org/praxis
Is the PPST test computerized?
Yes. You can take the test via computer, or pencil and paper. The Testing Center has specific information at: http://testing.unomaha.edu
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Although the results of the Reading and Math tests may arrive in a few weeks, allow at least six weeks for the Writing results. The results of all three tests must be received before applying to the Teacher Education Preparation Program.
What is the Statewide Assessment to be NCLB Qualified for UNO College of Education Students?
Beginning with the 2006-07 academic year, graduates from all teacher preparation institutions in Nebraska with endorsements in elementary education and/or elementary special education will need to successfully pass the Elementary Education: Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment (EECIA) test to be considered a “highly qualified” teacher as defined by the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) legislation. The EECIA is a test in the Praxis II series offered by the Educational Testing Service (ETS).
The University of Nebraska at Omaha College of Education welcomes the opportunity for our students to demonstrate their content knowledge, teaching skills, and professional dispositions to the education community. The EECIA test is one method that can be used to demonstrate your content knowledge.
The EECIA is also the mechanism that allows the Nebraska Department of Education (NDE) to communicate your standing as a NCLB qualified professional to the United States Department of Education, to other states in which you may pursue certification, and to school districts who will be considering you for employment.
You may have questions about the test. The following information is provided to help you plan and register for the test. In addition, please refer to the Frequently Asked Questions in the Documents section of your Blackboard site for student teacher applicants or for student teaching.
Does Nebraska have a statewide test for teachers?
Yes. Beginning in the fall of 2006, Nebraska adopted the use of the Elementary Education: Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment (EECIA) as its test for teacher candidates in elementary education, early childhood education, and elementary special education.
Who needs to take this test?
First time applicants applying for certification to teach elementary education, early childhood education, and/or elementary special education must take the test to be recognized as NCLB qualified in the State of Nebraska.
Exactly what test am I going to be taking?
You will be taking the Elementary Education: Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment (EECIA) test which is one of the Subject Assessments of the Praxis II. For registration purposes, you’ll enter 0011 as the test number/code.
Why do I need to take the test?
Current federal legislation, most often referred to as No Child Left Behind (NCLB), requires school districts to report to parents and to the federal government any classroom teacher who has not met the NCLB qualified criteria as determined by the department of education in that state.
NCLB establishes a goal for school districts and states to have 100% NCLB qualified staff. School districts and states who can report progress toward this goal will not be subject to federal or state sanctions.
What does being NCLB qualified mean to me?
We anticipate that during your upcoming interviews, potential employers will ask you if you are highly qualified or NCLB qualified. Taking this exam and scoring a 159 or higher will allow you to answer “Yes” to school districts in Nebraska.
Will my score impact graduation at UNO?
No. However, in order for UNO to recommend you for certification you must submit a score to UNO. You will be eligible to graduate from UNO regardless of your score.
Will my score impact Nebraska certification?
No. However, you must score at least 159 to be considered NCLB qualified. You will be eligible for Nebraska certification regardless of your score.
Why haven’t I heard about this before?
The Nebraska Department of Education (NDE) spent 2005-2006 working with the United States Department of Education (USDE) to determine the best way for Nebraska teacher candidates to demonstrate content knowledge. In late April 2006, NDE and USDE determined the EECIA would be used as the method for all future candidates to demonstrate content knowledge. UNO communicates the requirement to students via the UNO Catalog, advising appointments, and through the student teaching application process.
What is the format of the test?
The EECIA will be a paper and pencil test with 110 multiple-choice questions. Many of the
questions will require that you apply theoretical and pedagogical knowledge to specific examples in the content areas of reading/language arts, mathematics, science, social studies, art, and physical education.
What content areas will be covered on the test?
According to ETS, “test questions cover the breadth of material a new teacher needs to know and assess knowledge of both principles and processes. Some questions assess basic understanding of curriculum planning, instructional design, assessment of student learning. Many questions pose particular problems that teachers might routinely face in the classroom, and many are based on authentic examples of student work. Although some questions concern general issues, most questions are set in the context of the subject matters most commonly taught in the elementary school: reading/language arts, mathematics, science, social studies, fine arts, physical education.”
According to ETS, the breakdown of questions on the EECIA is as follows:
· Reading and Language Arts 38 questions (approximately 35% of the test)
· Mathematics 22 questions (approximately 22% of the test)
· Science 11 questions (approximately 10% of the test)
· Social Studies 11 questions (approximately 10% of the test)
· Arts and Physical Education 11 questions (approximately 10% of the test)
· General Information 17 questions (approximately 15% of the test)
When is the test offered?
Testing dates are set by ETS and have registration deadlines. Refer to the ETS website (www.ets.org) for upcoming test dates and registration deadlines for the EECIA.
When must I take the test?
We recommend that you take the exam just prior to or during the semester you student teach. Which test date you choose within that timeframe is a personal decision.
The advantages to taking the test early are: 1) you will learn results sooner and can communicate your passing status to potential employers or 2) you will have time to retake the test if you did not score as well as you had hoped.
The advantage to taking the test later is that you will have had the opportunity to learn and refresh your content knowledge while student teaching.
How and when do I register to take the test?
Registration information is available on the ETS website (www.ets.org). The EECIA is offered on several dates each year. Please note the registration deadlines for each test date. When you have chosen a test date that works for you, register online through the ETS website.
Make certain you register for the correct test. The EECIA is a Praxis II exam. The test number/code is 0011.
When you register, request that UNO be sent a copy of your scores by designating UNO as the “Designated Score Recipient.” UNO’s institution code is RA 6420.
What is the cost of the test?
The cost of the test is set by ETS. The ETS website (www.ets.org) will outline the current cost to take the exam.
What can I do to prepare for the test?
You’ll want to be well rested, to dress comfortably, and to arrive early on the day of the exam. You can review other general test preparation suggestions on the ETS website (www.ets.org). On, the website, the Test Preparation tab includes free study documents and information about preparation products for sale.
The College of Education has purchased EECIA study guides. These guides are available in the Resource Room on the fifth floor of Kayser Hall. The UNO Library also has study guides available at the reserve desk.
What score do I need to “pass” this test?
In Nebraska, the score you need to be considered NCLB qualified is 159. Other states may require a different score or a different test. If you are seeking certification in another state, contact the department of education in that state for specific requirements for certification.
Do I need to take the test if I plan to seek certification in another state?
Perhaps. Each state sets its own criteria to determine if teacher candidates meet NCLB qualified requirements. If you are seeking certification in another state, contact the department of education in that state for specific requirements for certification.
How long will it take to receive my scores?
ETS estimates that your scores will arrive to you in the mail approximately four weeks after you have taken the exam. On the ETS website (www.ets.org), you will find information about candidate score reports in the Scores tab. Please take the time to explore this portion of the website.
Who will receive information regarding my score on the EECIA?
You will receive a letter from ETS which documents passage and serves as your EECIA verification. NDE strongly recommends that you retain this letter. We suggest that you keep this letter with your other important documents. Score verifications are available through ETS. Information about score verification can be found on the ETS website (www.ets.org).
When you register, request that UNO be sent a copy of your scores by designating UNO as the “Designated Score Recipient.” UNO’s institution code is RA 6420.
If you take the test in Nebraska, NDE will automatically be sent a copy of your scores from ETS. If you take the test in another state, it will be necessary for you to designate NDE as a score recipient.
Once I pass the test, how can I communicate this to potential employers?
Certainly you can mention this during an interview or in a cover letter that you send with your other application materials. You may also want to note this on your resume. Examples of how to communicate this information on your resume are found below.
Certification: Nebraska Initial Teacher Certificate
Elementary Education Endorsement – NCLB qualifiedCertification: Nebraska Initial Teacher Certification
NCLB qualified in Elementary Special Education
What happens if I do not pass?
You can retest. Refer to the ETS website (www.ets.org) to register for an upcoming testing date and the costs to retest.
I’m a secondary education major (high school or middle school). Do I need to take the test?
No. Secondary education majors meet the NCLB qualified criteria by taking courses in specific content areas. As part of your UNO program, you have taken the courses required to be considered NCLB qualified in Nebraska.
Other states may require a test in addition to your course work. If you are seeking certification in another state, contact the department of education in that state for specific requirements for certification.
I’m a K-12 music/art/physical education major. Do I need to take the test?
No. Those seeking K-12 endorsements are not subject to the NCLB qualified requirements.
Other states may require a test. If you are seeking certification in another state, contact the department of education in that state for specific requirements for certification.
Are there alternative test dates?
If you cannot test on the scheduled dates due to religious convictions or military obligations, refer to the registration information on the ETS website (www.ets.org).
Are there alternative test sites?
Yes. Refer to the ETS website (www.ets.org) for additional test sites.
What if I need special accommodations?
If you have a disability which requires testing accommodations, refer to the registration information on the ETS website (www.ets.org).