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Teacher Certification

The Teacher Education Program at South Dakota State University prepares teacher candidates to meet the . Additionally, candidates who complete this nationally accredited teacher certification program are eligible for certification in other states on a provisional basis. They may need to take a couple of additional courses or tests in order to be fully certified in other states, but most states will offer a temporary certificate to ensure employability while the candidates complete the specific requirements for a particular state. For links to teacher certification requirements in all states, visit Interstate Agreements. At this time Ƶ cannot confirm this program or its courses meet the requirements for professional licensure in states outside of South Dakota. Assistance will be provided to candidates in contacting the licensing authority in the student’s state and understanding the requirements for licensure prior to enrollment in the South Dakota State University program. Please contact Lynda Venhuizen, University Certifying Officer, at 605-688-4449.

How To Qualify For Teacher Certification

For each “endorsement” (or certification field), the state of South Dakota has different requirements for initial certification. Please see visit for more details about these requirements.

Additionally, all applicants must:

  • Complete the state’s approved suicide awareness and prevention training detailed on the .
  • Complete a course in with a grade of C or better.
  • Pass required

Application Process

To apply for an initial South Dakota Teaching Certificate, candidates must:

  • Complete the
  • Provide the state Department of Education (request e-transcript) with an official transcript from South Dakota State University, with the degree conferred on the transcript and the South Dakota Indian studies course. To order a transcript from Ƶ, visit Records and Registration's Transcript.
  • Provide the state with a certificate of completion of the suicide awareness and prevention training module.
  • Make all payments, as required by the application process.
  • Assure that the Ƶ Certifying Officer has copies of all Praxis exam scores.

Student Teaching Field Experience


Have you already completed an undergraduate degree and want to be a teacher? South Dakota provides an accessible opportunity for you through the online teacher certification program, and Ƶ can help to facilitate the process of completing the requirements.

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  1. Complete a baccalaureate degree in a major for which the .
    1. Minimum overall GPA: 2.5
    2. Minimum GPA in content major: 2.6
  2. Provide an official transcript, with degree posted, to the online teacher certification coordinator, Lynda Venhuizen.
  3. Pass the required for the content area in which you wish to be certified and have test results sent to Ƶ.
  4. Apply for admission at Ƶ as a non-degree seeking student.
  1. Complete all required coursework with grades of C or better prior to student teaching.
  2. Complete one semester of a pre-student teaching field experience and one semester of student teaching.
  3. Pass the criminal background check as required by the school district prior to student teaching.
  4. Pass two Praxis exams:
    1. Content exam for the endorsement area.
    2. Principles of Learning and Teaching, Grade 7-12 (PLT) OR the Praxis Performance-Based Assessment for Teachers (PPAT).
  5. Apply for teacher certification and meet all requirements accordingly.

Teacher Certification Questions or Concerns