Gateway 1: Admission to Teacher Licensure
Gateway 1: Admission to Teacher Licensure marks a significant milestone in your professional preparation as a future teacher. Once the SOE Student Success Office notifies you, use the following checklist to help you complete this process. Sections below the checklist provide additional information about each requirement.
- Pass the Initial Background Check Clearance
- Complete EDEC A292 and EDEC A295 with a grade of C or better
- Receive a grade of B or better on the EDEC A206 Lesson Plan Analysis
- Receive a grade of B or better on the EDEC A242 CRT Family Engagement
- Minimum 2.75 GPA
- Pass a Basic Competency Exam
- Submit the Gateway 1 Application by December 15
Initial Background Check Clearance
The UAA School of Education requires compliance with background clearance policies and procedures for students participating in university-sponsored clinical fieldwork. Refer to the Initial Background Check website for more information.
Required Coursework, Assignments, & GPA
The BAEC program requires coursework in Interdisciplinary Curriculum and an Early Childhood Practicum to provide a foundational perspective in early childhood education and prepare you for your future career. All coursework must be completed with a grade of C or better. Students complete a Lesson Plan Analysis in EDEC A206 and School Community Study in EDEC A292. These assignments align with other key assessments completed during program preparation, demonstrating growth in professional development. To advance to teacher candidacy, students must pass both assignments with a grade of B or better. In addition to passing specific assignments and courses with a minimum grade, all students applying to teacher candidacy must have a minimum 2.75 GPA and pass the DEED Basic Competency Exam requirement.
Basic Competency Exam
Future Alaska teachers must meet the DEED Basic Competency Examination requirement, and multiple options are available. The SOE Student Success Office recommends the SAT, CBEST®, or Praxis® CASE. Visit the DEED website for more information about other options.
If you have taken the SAT and received scores of 530 (Math Section), 27 (Reading Test), and 28 (Writing and Language Test) or higher, then you have fulfilled the requirement and should report these scores on your Gateway 1 Application. If you have not taken the SAT or your scores do not meet the minimum requirements, you have options:
- (Re)take the SAT
- Take the California Basic Educational Skills Test™ (CBEST®)
- Take the Praxis® CASE
The following sections explore each test, how to register, how to report your scores, and how to prepare.
Option #1: SAT
The SAT is a standardized exam many colleges and universities use to make admissions decisions. However, it can also be used to demonstrate basic competencies, which is how the State of Alaska uses it in teacher licensure. The SAT is a multiple-choice, pencil-and-paper test created and administered by the College Board. A digital computer-based test will be available in 2024.
There are two sections to the SAT, and the entire test takes three hours to complete:
- Math
- Evidence-Based Reading and Writing
The Math Section of the SAT contains two components: one with a calculator and one without. There are 45 multiple-choice questions and 13 grid-in questions (free response that requires you to calculate and enter a response). You will have 80 minutes to complete the section.
The Evidence-Based Reading and Writing section is divided into the Reading Test and Writing and Language Test. The individual test scores will be reported alongside the total section score. You will have a time limit of 65 minutes to respond to 52 multiple-choice questions on the Reading Test. The questions will ask you to read passages and respond for comprehension and clarity. You will have 35 minutes to respond to 44 multiple-choice questions on the Writing and Language Test. Like the Reading Test, you will read passages and suggest corrections or improvements for the underlined contents.
SAT Registration
The SAT is offered seven times throughout the year, and registration for each exam closes approximately four weeks before the test date. As the test is paper-based, you must go to an approved testing center to take the test. Use the SAT Test Center Search tool to select a test date and enter a location to find the nearest center to you. Note that the UAA TEST Center at the north entrance of the UAA/APU Consortium Library is an approved testing center. When you are ready, register online on the College Board website. The SAT registration fee is $60. However, you should check to see if you are eligible for a fee waiver.
SAT Score Reporting
The SAT score reporting feature only reports scores to the Registrar/Admissions offices of colleges and universities. You must use the CollegeBoard Student Score Reports portal to access and download a copy of the report to submit to the SOE and AK DEED (see Step 2).
Option #2: CBEST®
The CBEST is designed to test basic reading, mathematics, and writing skills found to be important for the job of an educator; the test is not designed to measure the ability to teach those skills. While the test was originally developed for the State of California, it is administered through Pearson testing centers or available as a proctored online experience.
The CBEST® contains three sections: Reading (50 multiple-choice questions), Mathematics (50 multiple-choice questions), and Writing (two essay questions). Calculators are not permitted for the Mathematics section. You will have two hours to complete the Mathematics section and 90 minutes to complete the Reading and Writing sections. Pearson also allows 15 minutes to complete a nondisclosure agreement (you cannot share anything about the test with others) and a tutorial on using the testing system.
A total score of 123 for all three sections is required to pass the exam.
CBEST® Registration
Determine ahead of time if you want to take the CBEST® by computer-based testing at an authorized Pearson center or through online proctoring. Note that there are centers available throughout Alaska, including the UAA TEST Center, which is located at the north entrance of the UAA/APU Consortium Library.
If you're considering taking the test at a testing center, you should note that appointments are offered year-round on a first-come, first-serve basis. You may also take breaks during your test, but this time is counted in each section's time limit. If considering taking the test by online proctoring, appointments are available during a one-week testing window each month, and breaks are not allowed.
You will need to register for each section separately at a fee of $30 each. When you are ready, register online on the Pearson website.
CBEST® Score Reporting
If taking the test in person, you will receive a preliminary results report for the Reading and Mathematics sections after your appointment. You will receive a receipt of completion for the Writing Section, and your complete score report will be sent to you within two weeks of testing.
If taking the test by online proctoring, score reports will be sent to you two to four weeks following testing.
Make a copy of the final report to submit to the SOE and AK DEED.
Option #3: Praxis® CASE
The Praxis® CASE test contains three sections (Reading, Writing, and Mathematics). The tests may be taken individually or together (Combined Test) and can be re-taken. The ETS website will help you prepare and register for the exam; additional resources are outlined below. Note the current exam numbers and names when searching for resources or registering for a test:
- 5752 Core Academic Skills for Educators: Combined Test
- 5713 Core Academic Skills for Educators: Reading (AK Qualifying Test Score: 156)
- 5723 Core Academic Skills for Educators: Writing (AK Qualifying Test Score: 162)
- 5733 Core Academic Skills for Educators: Mathematics (AK Qualifying Test Score: 150)
Praxis® Registration
Determine ahead of time if you should take all three Praxis® CASE tests on the same date, in which case you should register for the 5752 Core Academic Skills for Educators: Combined Test or take each individual test on different days.
You can register to take the test in Anchorage or online at home. Plan for the environment that will be most comfortable for you.
Praxis® Score Reporting
When registering for the Praxis® CASE tests, use codes 4896 (U Alaska Anchorage) and 7027 (Alaska Dept Edu & Early Dev) to report your scores to us.
Your final score report will be available approximately two to four weeks after your test. ETS will contact you via email before this date when a digital informal report is available in your online account. If you take the Combined Test, note that the writing score takes a week or two longer than the Reading and Math scores.
Preparing for an Exam
You have multiple resources available to help you prepare for these tests. As a UAA student, you have access to free Praxis® practice tests. Visit the LearningExpress Library and search for “praxis” or “sat” or “cbest.” Once you find the resource you want, either sign in or create a free account to access the practice test. Select Univ Of Alaska - Anchorage from the institution dropdown list when creating a free account.
Other resources that may be helpful include searching study.com for each test or purchasing a test preparation guide from Mometrix.
If taking the CBEST®, visit the California Educator Credentialing Assessments website for study guides, including test content, practice test questions, score scales for written assignments, testing tutorials, annotated bibliographies, and test results explanations.
If taking the Praxis® CASE, visit the Khan Academy® Official Praxis Core Prep website. This completely free resource is an official preparation tool offered in collaboration with ETS, makers of the Praxis® tests. It will help you identify your strengths and weaknesses, creating a customized practice plan to prepare for the test.
Additionally, ETS provides free Study Companions for the content exams. These downloadable guides can help you create a study plan:
Gateway 1 Application
Submit the Gateway 1 Application by December 15 to verify your completion of academic requirements, share professional learning goals/experience working with students, and report your Basic Competency Exam results.