MDE teacher licensure requirements waived for current, prospective MSU education students

Contact:  Lisa SollieDue to impacts related to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the Mississippi Department of Education is temporarily waiving some requirements for students applying to enter MSU teacher education and administration preparation programs, as well as waiving lice

STARKVILLE, Miss.—The Mississippi Department of Education (MDE) is temporarily waiving some requirements for students applying to enter Mississippi State University-Meridian’s teacher education and administration preparation programs, as well as waiving licensure exams for certification through December 31, 2021. The change is due to testing center closures across the state related to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

“The College of Education is appreciative of the actions of the Mississippi Department of Education in temporarily suspending these requirements. Certainly, we are experiencing unique challenges due to COVID-19, and these actions assist us in helping address staffing needs in Mississippi public schools,” said Richard Blackbourn, dean of MSU’s College of Education.

The Mississippi Department of Education has waivers that include both traditional (undergraduate) and non-traditional (graduate) teacher education programs and approved traditional or non-traditional educator or administrator preparation programs as defined by the Mississippi State Board of Education. The licensure exams for the following programs at MSU-Meridian have been waived: Elementary Education, Special Education, School Administration, School Counseling, Master of Arts in Teaching-Secondary, and Master of Arts in Teaching-Secondary Education. 

The educator preparation program admission testing requirement for teacher education, which includes the ACT/SAT requirement or the Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators examinations, have been waived. Grade Point Average (GPA) and all other criteria for MSU program admission remain in effect.

Gresha German-Stuart, advisor for undergraduate education degree programs and Kim Pace, advisor for graduate education degree programs are available to answer questions.  You may reach Ms. German-Stuart at ggerman-stuart@meridian.msstate.edu or 601.227.4984 and Ms. Pace at kpace@meridian.msstate.edu or 601.207.1971.

For a complete list of MDE’s new admissions and licensure requirements, visit https://www.mdek12.org/COVID19.

For more information about the Division of Education at MSU-Meridian, visit http://meridian.msstate.edu/academics/education.

MSU is Mississippi’s leading university, available online at www.msstate.edu.


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