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Clinical Services and Certification
Here to assist you
The University of Central Missouri has one of the highest program-specific accreditation designations in the state of Missouri. The teacher education programs are accredited through the Higher Learning Commission (HLC), the Council for Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP), and the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE).
Clinical Services and Certification staff are ready to assist you with all aspects of teacher certification and student teaching at UCM, including admission to the Teacher Education Program, field experience placements, student teaching placements, and processing applications for certification.
Introductory Visit Observation Form - Student Teaching
MEES Rubric for the Teacher Candidate during the Clinical Experience
MEES Formative Assessment Form
MEES Summative Assessment Form
Educator Dispositions Assessment
Field Experience Assessment Form (For use by the liaisons for FLDX 2150, FLDX 3000, FLDX 4970 and PE 4975)
Important Fall 2026 Student Teaching Dates:
Thu, Aug 6, 2026, 8:00 am - 3:00 pm - Student Teacher Orientation Professional Development (student teachers only)
Fri, Aug 7, 2026, 9:00 am - 12:00 pm - University Supervisor and Student Teacher Orientation Meeting (U-sups and student teachers)
Fri, Aug 21, 2026 - Introductory Visit completed and submitted
Fri, Sept 11, 2026 - Formative 1 completed and submitted
Fri, Oct 2, 2026 - Formative 2 completed and submitted
Mon, Oct 12, 2026, 8:00 am - 3:00 pm -Student Teacher Boot Camp Mid-Term Meeting with Darbie Valenti-Huff, former MO Teacher of the Year (student teachers only)
Tue, Oct 13, 2026, 8:00 am - 3:00 pm - Student Teacher Boot Camp Mid-Term Meeting (student teachers only)
Wed, Oct 14, 2026 - Begin 2nd Placement
Fri, Oct 30, 2026 - Formative 3 completed and submitted
Fri, Nov 13, 2026 - Formative 4 completed and submitted
Mon, Dec 7, 2026 - MEES Summative and Dispositions completed and submitted
Thu, Dec 10, 2026 - Last day of student teaching
Fri, Dec 11, 2026, 8:30 am - 12:30 pm - University Supervisor Brunch Meeting (U-sups only)
Don't forget that we have the CoE Faculty & Adjunct Guide as an additional resource for many of your questions!
Register to Create an Educator Profile https://apps.dese.mo.gov/weblogin/login.aspx
Instructions for applying for a substitute teaching certificate:
https://dese.mo.gov/educator-quality/certification/teachers
There are also step by step instructions available here: Substitute Teaching Certificate Instructions
Instructions for applying for an initial professional teaching certificate, an initial administrator certificate, an initial services certificate of license to teach:
https://dese.mo.gov/educator-quality/certification/teachers
Information and instructions for applying for a temporary authorization certificate (TAC) or a career temporary authorization certificate (CTAC):
https://dese.mo.gov/educator-quality/certification/temporary-authorization-information
Initial Certification Areas
- Art, Grades K-12
- Early Childhood, Birth-Grade 3
- Elementary, Grades 1-6
- Library Science, Grades K-12
- Middle Level, Grades 5-9
- Business
- Engineering and Technology
- English Language Arts (ELA)
- Mathematics
- Science
- Social Science
- Speech and Theater
- Music, Grades K-12
- Instrumental
- Vocal
- Physical Education, Grades K-12
- Secondary, Grades 9-12
- Agriculture
- Biology
- Business
- Chemistry
- Earth Science
- Engineering and Technology
- English
- Family Consumer Science
- Mathematics
- Modern Languages
- Physics
- Social Science
- Speech Communications and Theater
- Special Education, Birth-Grade 12
- Early Childhood
- Mild Moderate Cross Categorical
- Severe Developmental Disabilities
- Counseling
- Educational Leadership
- Elementary Mathematics Specialist
- English Language Learners (ELL)
- Special Reading
UCM has the longest history as a nationally accredited public institution in Missouri
