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Professional Education Services

Professional Education Services

Welcome to Professional Education Services. Our offices provide ongoing support for candidates as they transition through various graduate and undergraduate programs aimed at becoming highly-qualified educators. From freshman orientation to recommendation for certification, the information we offer will guide you throughout your program.

Information & Services


As you explore our various areas of service, you will notice that Eastern Kentucky University’s clinical experiences are paired with courses offered through the College of Education and Applied Human Sciences. This intentional integration is aligned with professional standards and practices that have been shown to prepare exceptional educators. Other critical components of education programs that are supported by our office include admittance to professional education, student teaching, graduation, and teacher certification. We provide multiple resources, organized around each of these key areas, to guide you and answer questions you may have.

The Office of Professional Education Services is responsible for admitting students to the Teacher Education Program at EKU. Questions may be directed to teacher.admissions@eku.edu.

The clinical model at EKU is designed to meet the needs of learners in today’s schools and provide teacher candidates with the content, pedagogy, and assessment skills needed to assure they are meeting the needs of all learners. Our professional education programs provide a framework that supports our candidates’ development of content knowledge, practice and professional behaviors. This is accomplished through high quality instruction, engaging course-learning tasks and clinical learning experiences requiring candidates to think critically and creatively, communicate effectively and act fairly. Our candidates will be prepared to effect change in the culture of learning in their classrooms, in our region and beyond.

The Professional Education Services office is responsible for the organization and administration of all clinical experiences related to the teacher education program at Eastern Kentucky University.

The information found here is useful for student teachers, candidates completing clinical assignments prior to student teaching, cooperating teachers who supervise student teachers, and university supervisors of student teachers. Included here you will find documents that assist the professional semester (student teaching) process and the pre-student teaching clinical experiences.

Our staff receives and evaluates all applicants for the professional semester, determines the appropriate disposition of the application, collaborates with area schools for appropriate placements for student teachers, and provides continuous assessment of the candidates’ clinical experiences during the professional semester. Many of our policies are governed by Kentucky Regulations and the policies and procedures outlined by the Kentucky Education Professional Standards Board.

EKU’s Professional Education Program is committed to the belief that all children can learn at high levels and we are committed to providing high quality clinical experiences that demonstrate and support all of our professional education programs. Experiences in diverse and multicultural settings enrich and contribute to personal and professional growth. These positive experiences better prepare our candidates for their professional careers in any setting.

The Praxis® tests measure the knowledge and skills you need to become a teacher. Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators exams are taken for admission to the professional education program at EKU (usually during your sophomore year). You may be able to use your ACT scores instead of taking the Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators exams. OR, if you don’t make the state-required scores on the Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators exams, you may be able to use your GPA or ACT scores for admission.

Near the end of your teacher education program at EKU, you are required to take additional Praxis exams to demonstrate your knowledge of teaching. These exams vary by teacher certification but usually include the PLT (Principles of Learning and Teaching Exam) and subject assessment(s).

The Professional Education Services office offers preparation resources and assistance when the time comes to submit your certification application to EPSB. We also provide assistance to undergraduate students in applying for graduation. Our staff is committed to your success and will assist you each step of the way.