Oklahoma Teacher Certification
How to Become a Teacher in Oklahoma
There are multiple options available for prospective teachers seeking Oklahoma teacher certification. Traditionally, eligible candidates will have completed a teacher preparation program from an approved institute of higher education and pass the required tests administered by the Oklahoma Commission for Teacher Preparation. Alternatively, those candidates who hold a bachelor’s degree or higher in an approved subject area may be eligible for certification provided they work to complete the remaining certification requirements during their first years of teaching in Oklahoma public schools. Furthermore, all applicants for teaching certification in Oklahoma will be required to submit their fingerprints and undergo a background check by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
- I want to be a teacher in Oklahoma, but don’t have a degree: Earn an Education Degree
- I want to be a teacher and have a degree, but not in education: Learn about Oklahoma’s Alternative Certification Process and Programs
- I have a teaching degree and am interested in more education: Learn about Master’s Degree Education Programs or Doctorate Education Programs and Information.
Spotlight School
Popular Programs:
- MS in Education (for Existing Teachers Grades K-12)
- MA in Teaching (for Aspiring Teachers Grades 5-12)
Oklahoma Teacher Education Requirements
In order to obtain an Oklahoma teaching license via the traditional route to certification, candidates must have completed a teacher education program at an accredited university approved by the Oklahoma Commission for Teacher Preparation (OCTP). Prospective teachers who have not met this requirement but wish to become certified via the alternative route to teacher certification may still be eligible provided they hold at least a bachelor’s degree in their content area.
Profiles of Well Known Schools
University of Oklahoma: Norman, Oklahoma is home to the Jeannie Rainbolt College of Education. The JRCOE is home to three departments including instructional leadership & curriculum development, educational leadership and policy studies, and educational psychology. Each department offers a number of degrees at the bachelors and graduate levels. Students are able to choose from nearly 100 different majors and areas of concentration that lead to successful and fruitful careers in teaching, administration, counseling, and more. The faculty hold degrees in the areas in which they teach along with years of experience. Each program has specific admissions requirements so it is the responsibility of the student to be familiar with criteria and admissions deadlines.
In January 2012, the US Bureau of Labor Statistics reported Oklahoma’s unemployment rate at 6.4%, significantly below the national average of 8.5%. The Occupational Supply & Demand System projects 2,791 annual job openings in education and library related fields in Oklahoma through 2018. In fall 2008 and 2007, the National Center for Education Statistics listed 46,571 public school and 3,900 private school teachers employed in Oklahoma. The average beginning teaching salary in Oklahoma is $31,661 and the average overall teaching salary is $44,343, the 3rd lowest average among US states according to the National Education Association. The low average wages reported by the NEA are reflective of a relatively low cost of living state wide and should be considered within that context. The NEA also notes a moderate teacher shortage statewide, especially in special education and high school math and science. For information on state budget allocation and education policy in Oklahoma, visit the Oklahoma Education Association, a localized branch of the NEA. For more details regarding state certification, please contact local education and teaching schools for free information.
Oklahoma Teacher Testing Requirements
Candidates for Oklahoma teaching certification must take and pass three assessments administered by the Oklahoma Commission for Teacher Preparation (OCTP): the Oklahoma General Education Test (OGET), the Oklahoma Subject Area Test (OSAT), and the Oklahoma Professional Teaching Examination (OPTE). These tests are designed to assess the candidates’ propensity for higher order thinking skills, basic knowledge in areas such as the sciences and liberal arts, expert subject-area knowledge, and competency in the areas of effective teaching and learning principles.
Oklahoma Teacher Salary and Jobs
| Type | Number Employed | Average Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Preschool Teachers | 4,820 | $26,480 |
| Kindergarten Teachers | 2,100 | $40,580 |
| Elementary School Teachers | 16,640 | $41,980 |
| Middle School Teachers | 7,910 | $42,160 |
| Secondary School Teachers | 12,260 | $43,320 |
Data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics as of May 2011.
School Programs for Becoming a Teacher in Oklahoma
Request free information from the following schools to learn more about your options for choosing a teacher degree program. We recommend you: Request information from one or more of these schools
Popular Programs:
- Early Childhood Education (Certification Only)
- Master of Education in Early Childhood Education
- MA in Teaching: Advanced Studies in Secondary Education- National Board Preparation
- Superintendent Letter of Eligibility (SLE)
- And more...
Popular Programs:
- M.A. in Education/Early Childhood Ed.
- M.A. in Education/Secondary Teacher Education
- B.S. in Education / Elementary Education
- A.A. in Elementary Education
- And more...
Popular Programs:
- B.S. in Early Childhood Education (Birth - 5 Years)
- M.Ed. in Curriculum & Instruction: Curriculum & Instruction: Early Childhood Education
- Special Education (Early Childhood/Elementary)
- Educational Administration: (EDD)
- And more...
Popular Programs:
- M.A. Teaching (K-8)
- Post-Baccalaureate Teacher Preparation Program (K-8)
- B.A. Interdisciplinary Studies (K-8)
- M.A. Teaching - Mathematics (5-9 or 5-12)
- And more...
Schools with Teaching Degree Programs in Oklahoma
East Central University
1100 E. 14
Ada, OK 74820-6899
(580) 332-8000
www.ecok.edu/offices/admissions/default.asp
Eastern Oklahoma State College
1301 W Main St
Wilburton, OK 74578-4999
(918) 465-2361
www.eosc.edu
Langston University
102 Page Hall
Langston, OK 73050
(405) 466-3428
Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College
200 I St NE
Miami, OK 74354
(918) 542-8441
www.neo.edu/Admissions/tabid/57/Default.aspx
Northeastern State University
600 N Grand
Tahlequah, OK 74464-2399
(918) 456-5511
www.nsuok.edu/admissions/
Northwestern Oklahoma State University
709 Oklahoma Blvd
Alva, OK 73717-2799
(580) 327-1700
www.nwosu.edu/registry-office
Oklahoma Baptist University
500 W University
Shawnee, OK 74804
(405) 275-2850
www.okbu.edu/admissions/stepbystep.html
Oklahoma Christian University
2501 E Memorial Rd
Edmond, OK 73013-1100
(405) 425-5000
www2.oc.edu/admissions/
Oklahoma City University
2501 N Blackwelder
Oklahoma City, OK 73106-1402
(405) 208-5000
www.okcu.edu/admissions/
Oklahoma Panhandle State University
323 Eagle Ave
Goodwell, OK 73939-0430
(580) 349-2611
www.opsu.edu/Admissions
Oklahoma State University Institute of Technology-Okmulgee
1801 E 4th St
Okmulgee, OK 74447-3901
(918) 293-4678
Oklahoma State University-Main Campus
107 Whitehurst
Stillwater, OK 74078-1015
(405) 744-5000
Oklahoma Wesleyan University
2201 Silver Lake Rd
Bartlesville, OK 74006-6299
(918) 333-6151
www.okwu.edu/Brix?pageID=14070
Oral Roberts University
7777 S Lewis Ave.
Tulsa, OK 74171
(918) 495-6161
www.oru.edu/secondary/admissions.php
Saint Gregorys University
1900 W MacArthur
Shawnee, OK 74804
(405) 878-5100
Southeastern Oklahoma State University
Fifth and University
Durant, OK 74701-0609
(580) 745-2000
www.se.edu/future-students
Southern Nazarene University
6729 NW 39th Expy
Bethany, OK 73008
(405) 789-6400
Southwestern Oklahoma State University
100 Campus Dr
Weatherford, OK 73096-3098
(580) 772-6611
www.swosu.edu/admissions
Tulsa Community College
6111 E Skelly Dr
Tulsa, OK 74135-6198
(918) 595-7000
University of Central Oklahoma
100 N University Dr
Edmond, OK 73034
(405) 974-2000
www.uco.edu/registrar/
University of Oklahoma Norman Campus
660 Parrington Oval
Norman, OK 73019-3072
(405) 325-0311
www.ou.edu
University of Tulsa
800 South Tucker Drive
Tulsa, OK 74104-3189
(918) 631-2000
www.utulsa.edu/admission/
Page edited by Charles Sipe.
