About the program
The Alternative Routes to Certification (ARC) is a one-year certification program designed specifically for candidates working in partner school districts (Routes 2 and 4) or who bring substantive background knowledge to teaching (Route 3). With employer support, classified staff such as para-educators or instructional assistants (Route 2), or teachers under limited certification (Route 4, conditional or emergency) may use their employment as part of their job-embedded internship if it overlaps with their teaching endorsement.
The program begins in the summer and completes in the spring, comprising four quarters. Candidates complete coursework entirely online, though there are opportunities for on-campus participation in various events such as the annual job fair. The ARC program uses entirely online coursework, though it still requires some scheduled/synchronous online course participation. The courses are not self-paced but generally follow one learning topic/module per week to maximize cohort interaction.
Candidates in the ARC program become effective teachers by:
- Demonstrating effective and equitable teaching practices.
- Centering instruction on high expectations for student achievement, including culturally responsive teaching practices.
- Recognizing and responding to individual student learning needs.
- Providing clear and intentional focus on subject matter content and curriculum.
- Fostering and managing a safe, positive, and inclusive learning environment.
- Using multiple student data elements to modify instruction and improve student learning.
- Communicating and collaborating with parents and the school community.
- Exhibiting collaborative and collegial practices focused on improving instruction and learning.
- Developing professional wellness habits in order to persist and thrive in the teaching profession.
Coursework and internship
The program includes core credits taken at the 6000-level and professional development credits taken at the 5000-level. Depending upon endorsement track, the program is between 35 and 45 credits.
- Twelve of the core credits taken at the 6000-level are reserved for a full year of student teaching internship.
- Nine of the 6000-level credits are for coursework in core areas including lesson design, professional issues, professional development, and program assessments.
- Between 14 and 24 of the 5000-level credits will comprise the rest of the program depending upon endorsement track.
Candidates and mentor teachers follow a co-teaching model, where responsibility for planning, instruction, management, and assessment is shared. You begin your internship with focused observations and progress to independent teaching. Across internship, you will complete assignments designed to maximize learning from field experiences, such as a classroom management plan, portfolio internship reflections, lesson plans, a family engagement plan, and program assessments. The internship concludes with you returning control of classroom responsibilities to your mentor teacher.
Credits completed at the 5000-level are based on a Teacher Development Plan (TDP), which is organized by program administrators according to endorsement(s) and prior experience. Partner districts may offer TDP courses, or collaborate with the , in developing and staffing courses. Course descriptions for 5000-level courses are found here. (PDF)
Students may also enroll in regular (6000-level) program courses for meeting TDP requirements. Course descriptions for 6000-level courses are found in this catalog. Students enrolled in the ARC program earn a Washington Residency Certificate after completing all program requirements and passing program assessments. This program does not lead to a degree.
Admission requirements
Applicants must submit the following items to Graduate Admissions:
- and $50 application processing fee.
- Official transcript(s) from each college and/or university attended.
- If your degree is not from a U.S. college or university, please arrange for your transcript to be evaluated by a -recognized credential service. Acceptable credential services include, but are not limited to, (WES) and (FIS).
- Personal statement (1–2 pages).
- Résumé.
- Two letters of recommendation.
- Routes 2 and 4 applicants who are employed by a district/school: 1) a current school administrator, and 2) a teacher who is familiar with your work with students.
- Route 3 applicants, not employed in schools: two letters from supervisors or academics who have knowledge of either your work with children or your endorsement content knowledge
- Preferred scores, including 240 on each sub-test: reading, writing, and mathematics.
- Applicants may use a combination of SAT, ACT, and WEST-B scores to meet the WEST-B preferred score of 240 (reading writing, mathematics). Please contact Graduate Admissions if you have questions.
- Minimum SAT scores required: Math: 515, Reading: 500, Writing: 490.
- Minimum ACT scores required: Math: 22, Reading: 22, Writing: 8.
- Passing the .
- Those endorsing in designated world languages or bilingual education must also pass oral and writing proficiency tests in their language area.
- Several NES study guides are located on the main floor Reference section of SPU’s Ames Library. If you apply and are granted probational admission status, you may use your SPU account to check out online study guides from the library.
- Verify endorsement readiness.
- Endorsements are the content and grade levels a teacher is prepared to teach. ) provides a comprehensive list of endorsements and the required content competencies and assessments.
- If your college major matches your intended endorsement, complete the Endorsement Verification form in the application.
- If your major does not match your intended endorsement, please contact our certification officer, Kristi Kanehen. Complete the Endorsement Verification form only after contacting the certification officer. On the form, indicate that you have been in contact with the certification officer and list your “Approved Plan of Study,” if one has been developed.
- Shortage area requirement.
- Students enrolled in an alternative routes to certification program must be pursuing at least one endorsement in a subject and/or geographic area as defined by PESB, including, but not limited to, special education, elementary, English language arts, Spanish, social studies, and English language learners. Students with a local shortage area (district-wide) are eligible as long as the district is able to verify there is a local shortage. The current shortage areas can be found on the .
- Moral Character and Personal Fitness Policy form (found in the online application).
Applicants with complete files submitted by the deadline are screened for interviews, held in March. Invitations to interview are sent by email.
Questions?
Admissions materials should be directed to Graduate Admissions. If you have questions about graduate education or certification programs: