Teacher Certification
A post-baccalaureate student who returns to school to seek initial
teacher certification may use either graduate or undergraduate courses
to meet requirements. It is often to a student's advantage to take
500 level courses while seeking initial certification because those
courses may help advance the student on a school district pay scale
and may often be used toward a graduate degree. A student taking
any 500 level courses toward certification must apply for Graduate
Program Status through the Office of Graduate Studies and Research
(McM 205). Official transcripts from all other institutions other
than Montana State University-Billings must also be submitted.
Conversely, acceptable courses in the plan for certification may
also be used simultaneously or subsequently on a master's degree
plan-of-study so long as they contribute coherently to the degree
option chosen and fit within master's degree guidelines.
Those entering the graduate degree program and planning to teach,
but not yet certified, or with lapsed certification, must complete
the initial certification requirements as either part of the master's
degree plan-of-study or concurrent with it. The same advisor will
work with the student on a plan for certification as well as on
the master's degree plan-of-study.
Students who have not yet taken the National Teaching Examination
(NTE), which is required for admission to the teacher education
program at Montana State University-Billings, must make plans to
take the test in advance of applying for the teacher education program.
All certification plans should be filed with the Teacher Certification
Officer, whose office is in Room 201, Education Building (657-2393).
Students with questions about teacher certification, as well as
admission requirements for the teacher education program, should
visit with the Certification Officer, who can be helpful concerning
certification requirements of other states as well as those of Montana.
Information about Montana certificates and renewals may be found
in the bulletin published by the Superintendent of Public Instruction
entitled Certification of Teachers and School Administrators in
Montana. This bulletin may be obtained from the Certification Officer.
When course work satisfying the plan for certification is completed,
a copy of the plan, approved by the advisor, Certification Officer
and Dean of Education and Human Services, will be sent, along with
an official transcript, to the Office of Public Instruction in Helena.
 See also: Interdisciplinary
Studies Option - Teacher Certification
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