Physical Education Teacher Education Program Accreditation, Certification, and Licensure

Accreditation
National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education Programs (NCATE)
South Dakota Department of Education

Certification and Licensure
With this major and the accompanying teacher education coursework required for teaching licensure, candidates are eligible to take the Praxis content tests, and apply for a teaching license in South Dakota. All Physical Education students are required to take the PRAXIS II Physical Education content test, as well as the PRAXIS II Principles of Learning and Teaching test. If pursuing the Health Education minor, the Praxis II Health Education test must be taken by graduation. A minimum score must be achieved on the Praxis II Physical Education content test to be eligible to enroll in Professional Semester III. A minimum score on the Praxis II PLT must be obtained for teaching licensure, and a minimum score on the Praxis II Health test to be eligible to teach health education in schools.

Prior to student teaching students must submit and continue to be compliant with federal and supplemental criminal background checks, as required by state law, detailed in South Dakota Codified Law. This law covers convictions as well as pleading guilty to misdemeanors and felony offenses, as well as a variety of other situations that may result in a teacher candidate being ineligible for licensure, or being prevented from gaining employment in South Dakota.