Online Proficiency Evaluation for Additional Education Certification

Conforming to standards issued by the EPSB, Cumberlands’ Proficiency Evaluation for Additional Education Certification is a non-degree teaching certificate that helps licensed teachers earn additional educational certifications to teach specific age groups, subject areas, students with learning disorders, and more. It’s specifically designed for candidates who currently hold initial certification in education in the state of Kentucky and who wish to add additional certification.

The online Proficiency Evaluation for Additional Certification program offers an encouraging and collaborative online learning experience. This higher education experience, combined with our exceptional faculty and the nature of the Proficiency Evaluation for Additional Certification program, allows the delivery of a broad and robust knowledge base in pedagogy and instruction.

Additional credentials, in the form of the Kentucky teacher certification opportunities provided in this online proficiency evaluation program, can help you do more than achieve better learning outcomes for your students — they can help you advance your career opportunities as well. If you want to advance your teaching career quickly and efficiently, a Proficiency Evaluation for Additional Education Certification online program that allows you to customize your career path is an extremely effective option.

Yes! University of the Cumberlands' School of Education is accredited through Kentucky's Educational Professional Standards Board (EPSB) and has national accreditation through the Council for Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) at the initial-licensure level and advanced-level. UC’s School of Education has earned national accreditation by demonstrating excellence in the areas of content and pedagogy, clinical experiences, selectivity, program impact, and capacity for continuous improvement.

For more information:

KDE/EPSB – State Accreditation
University of the Cumberlands' School of Education is further accredited through Kentucky's Educational Professional Standards Board (EPSB), 100 Airport Road, 3rd Floor, Frankfort, KY 40601. (502) 564-4606. Fax: (502) 564-7080.

CAEP – National Accreditation
The School of Education at University of the Cumberlands (UC) is accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) at the initial-licensure level and advanced-level.  CAEP promotes excellence in educator preparation through quality assurance and continuous improvement.  UC’s School of Education has earned national accreditation by demonstrating excellence in the areas of content and pedagogy, clinical experiences, selectivity, program impact, and capacity for continuous improvement.
 
CAEP Address: 1140 19th St NW #400, Washington, DC 20036
CAEP Phone Number: (202) 223-0077

BEFORE you submit any additional admissions requirements, please submit a graduate application.

For admission to the teacher education certification program, the following items are necessary:

• Completed Graduate Application and payment of the $30 associated fee
• A completed Bachelor's or advanced degree from an accredited institution of higher education is required to apply to all teacher certification programs, including certification for special ed teachers.  Submit official transcripts from all applicable colleges/universities attended; must be received directly from the issuing college or university. Transcripts sent in from students cannot be accepted even if they are in a sealed envelope. Official transcripts can be accepted in two ways:

Mailed to:
Graduate & Online Admissions
649 S. 10th Street Suite C
Williamsburg, KY 40769

Electronically:
(ie: National Clearinghouse, eScript, Parchment)
gradadm [at] ucumberlands.edu (gradadm[at]ucumberlands[dot]edu)

Official transcripts must show a cumulative degree GPA of 2.75 or above or a minimum 3.0 GPA in the last thirty (30) hours of credit completed (including undergraduate and graduate coursework). If your GPA does not meet this requirement, the Graduate Admissions Committee will need to review your transcripts to determine your best option. If you are applying to a teacher education certification program other than Special Education or Elementary, your transcripts will need to be reviewed by the Graduate Admissions Committee to ensure that you meet the required background hours for your program.

The Elementary (P-5) program and the Special Education: Learning and Behavior Disorders (LBD) P-12 tracks within the teacher education certification program do not require background hours.

Middle School candidates have the option of pursuing certification in one or two emphasis areas:

• For candidates pursuing 2 emphasis areas, Middle School certification requires a minimum of 24-27 background hours (English-24, math- 25, science- 26, social studies-27). Transcripts will be evaluated to determine eligibility.
• For candidates pursuing one emphasis area, Middle School certification requires a minimum of 30 background hours or a major in your desired emphasis area. Transcripts will be evaluated to determine eligibility.

Secondary, All Grades, and Business & Marketing certifications require a minimum of 30 background hours or a major in your desired emphasis area. Transcripts will be evaluated to determine eligibility.

Good question. To be admitted into the proficiency evaluation for additional education certification program at Cumberlands, you will need to submit:

• Valid Teaching License
• Submit (3) three Letters of Recommendation - One letter must be from a recent or current employer or professor. Letters must be received directly from the person making the recommendation. Please ensure they use the same name and correct spelling of your name listed on your application (no nicknames). No recommendations from relatives please. We cannot accept letters emailed from the student.
• No entrance exam is required for the teacher education certification program. 
• Documentation of language fluency for non-native speakers of English, such as a score report from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), the 8 International English Language Testing System (IELTS), or a report from Duolingo. This requirement is waived for students who have completed bachelor’s or master’s level coursework in the U.S. at an accredited institution. The minimum acceptable TOEFL or IELTS scores for admission are: 
  • Paper-based TOEFL (PBT) - 550 
  • Internet-based TOEFL (IBT) - 79 
  • IELTS - 6
  • Duolingo - 100
• Any international course work completed must have official transcript evaluations completed and submitted to the University by the evaluation firm. Evaluations MUST include GPA for admission.
  Approved Evaluation Firms are:
  • World Education Services (WES)
  • Educational Credential Evaluators (ECE)
  • International Education Research Foundation (IERF)
  • Educational Perspectives (EP)
  • SpanTran

Criminal Background Check
This background check ensures that candidates have the appropriate clearance for working with P-12 students, faculty, and staff during various field/clinical experiences. Please complete the National Background check at https://www.criminalwatchdog.com/. The cost of the National Background check is $18.95 and the results are instantaneous. Background checks must be submitted in PDF form.

For additional admissions information, please contact:

University of the Cumberlands
Graduate & Online Admissions
649 S. 10th Street Suite C
Williamsburg, KY 40769

Phone 606.539.4390
Toll-Free 855.791.7199
Email gradadm [at] ucumberlands.edu (gradadm[at]ucumberlands[dot]edu)