Master of Education Program Admissions Requirements

Certification is intended for grades K-12. Students enrolling in APUS’s M.Ed. Educational Leadership program must supply all of the following prior to registration:

• Official bachelor’s or master’s transcript showing conferral of degree
• Writing sample of at least 300 words describing interest in program
• Signed Statement of Understanding (SOU)
• Three character references
• Resume/CV
• Documentation of three years teaching experience or three years managerial experience in an instructional setting

The Statement of Understanding, character reference forms, and details regarding the writing sample are provided by your admission representative after completing the application.

Official transcripts can be sent to:

If your school uses e-Script, Script-Safe, or sends official electronic transcripts directly from the registrar, you can request that they send a transcript to: documents@apus.edu. Transcripts emailed or faxed from students will not be considered official.

SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES: Please be aware that state certification/licensure requirements are subject to change and open to interpretation. Applicants are therefore strongly encouraged to contact the coordinator of certification and licensure at: edadmissions@apus.edu or their state’s Department of Education regarding the requirements of their state. At this time, APUS makes the following recommendations for students entering our School of Education programs:

• Residents of the following states are advised not to apply to the M.Ed. Teaching concentration in Elementary Education at this time: Arkansas, Colorado, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Missouri, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, and Tennessee (If you reside in one of these states, have investigated the licensure requirements therein, and believe you may qualify for an exemption to this policy, please feel free to contact us directly at certification@apus.edu to discuss you particular situation).
• Students seeking certification/licensure in Alabama, Idaho, Iowa, or Texas must first obtain equivalent certification/licensure in the state of West Virginia

• Click here for further information regarding state-specific details

Additional Program Information:

• Required first course is EDUC509
  • Other courses may be taken in conjunction with the first course, but the students must complete the first required course during their initial class term at our university)
• Students are required to complete all core requirements for the M.Ed. Educational Leadership program prior to enrolling in the internship
• Students are required to obtain a background check prior to having access to a school site for the internship. Background check fees will vary and the student is responsible for paying any associated costs. A change in school site may require an additional background check and the student may incur an additional cost 
• Certification/licensure programs for school administrators require an internship of 150 field hours. In addition, 30 hours of observations are required during the course prior to internship 
• Students must complete the Evaluation Leadership Institute, a two-day, on-site workshop offered at various locations in West Virginia in order to be eligible for certification in West Virginia
• Students in the M.Ed. Educational Leadership program must meet the minimum passing score on the Praxis II: Educational Leadership: Administration and Supervision test prior to applying for West Virginia certification. Students who are not seeking West Virginia certification must show proof of passing scores on their state assessment(s) prior to being recommended by the coordinator of certification and licensure for state certification 

Students are responsible for all testing fees. Information on test requirements, fees, and test registration is available online at http://www.ets.org.       

Certification is intended for grades K-6 only. Students enrolling in APUS’s M.Ed. Teaching Concentration in Elementary Education program must supply all of the following prior to registration:

• Official bachelor’s or master’s transcript showing conferral of degree
• Writing sample of at least 300 words describing interest in program
• Signed Statement of Understanding (SOU)

The Statement of Understanding and details regarding the writing sample are provided by your admission representative after completing the application.

Official transcripts can be sent to:

If your school uses e-Script, Script-Safe, or sends official electronic transcripts directly from the registrar, you can request that they send a transcript to: documents@apus.edu. Transcripts emailed or faxed from students will not be considered official.

SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES: Please be aware that state certification/licensure requirements are subject to change and open to interpretation. Applicants are therefore strongly encouraged to contact the coordinator of certification and licensure at: edadmissions@apus.edu or their state’s Department of Education regarding the requirements of their state. At this time, APUS makes the following recommendations for students entering our School of Education programs:

• Residents of the following states are advised not to apply to the M.Ed. Teaching concentration in Elementary Education at this time: Arkansas, Colorado, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Missouri, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, and Tennessee (If you reside in one of these states, have investigated the licensure requirements therein, and believe you may qualify for an exemption to this policy, please feel free to contact us directly at certification@apus.edu to discuss you particular situation).
• Students seeking certification/licensure in Alabama, Idaho, Iowa, or Texas must first obtain equivalent certification/licensure in the state of West Virginia

• Click here for further information regarding state-specific details

Additional Program Information:

• Required first course is EDUC502.
  • Other courses may be taken in conjunction with the first course, but the student must complete the first required course during their initial class term at our university)
• Please be aware that students in the M.Ed. Teaching Concentration in Elementary Education program will need to purchase a classroom science lab pack for EDUC 542: Elementary School Science
• All students must complete content area requirements prior to Student Teaching  
  • Students should submit official or unofficial copies of all undergraduate transcripts to the Admissions Office. The Admissions Office and the School of Education will complete a complimentary review of your transcripts to determine any Undergraduate content area deficits in specific subject areas:
    • English (Writing and Literature)
    • History (State and American History)
    • Two Introductory Science Courses (with lab)
    • Wellness, Health, or General Physical Education
    • Art or Music
    • Math (9 credit hours at or beyond Algebra I)

Undergraduate content area requirements may be completed at American Public University (if the coursework is available), another accredited institution of higher education, or via CLEP test (if the appropriate test is available). Undergraduate content area requirements are outside of the program’s academic plan and may not be covered by financial aid. All costs associated with completion of undergraduate content area requirements are the responsibility of the student.

• All core and major requirements must be completed prior to entrance into student teaching
• Students are required to obtain a background check prior to having access to a school site for student teaching. Background check fees will vary and the student is responsible for paying any associated costs
• Certification/licensure programs for teachers require FULL time culminating clinical experience. This means most students will not be able to work during the 16 week culminating student teaching
• All students in teacher certification/licensure programs must have access to an accredited, public K-12 school site throughout their entire program
  • While coursework is completely online, there are assignments and observations required for certification which must be completed by physical presence in a classroom. Students are required to complete 125 hours of field experience prior to admission to student teaching. The responsibility to schedule the field experience hours rests with the student.)
• Students in the M.Ed. Teaching Concentration in Elementary Education must meet the minimum passing score on the Praxis II: Elementary Education: Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment test prior to applying for West Virginia certification.  Students must also pass the Principles of Learning and Teaching (PLT) K-6. Students who are not seeking West Virginia certification must show proof of passing scores on their state assessment(s) prior to being recommended by the Coordinator of Certification and Licensure for state certification 

Students are responsible for all testing fees. Information on test requirements, fees, and test registration is available online at http://www.ets.org. 

Certification is intended for grades K-12. Students enrolling in APUS’s M.Ed. School Counseling program must supply all of the following prior to registration:

• Official bachelor’s or master’s transcript showing conferral of degree
• Writing sample of at least 300 words describing interest in program
• Signed Statement of Understanding (SOU)
• Three character references

The Statement of Understanding, character reference forms, and details regarding the writing sample are provided by your admission representative after completing the application.

Official transcripts can be sent to:

If your school uses e-Script, Script-Safe, or sends official electronic transcripts directly from the registrar, you can request that they send a transcript to: documents@apus.edu. Transcripts emailed or faxed from students will not be considered official.

SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES: Please be aware that state certification/licensure requirements are subject to change and open to interpretation. Applicants are therefore strongly encouraged to contact the coordinator of certification and licensure at: edadmissions@apus.edu or their state’s Department of Education regarding the requirements of their state. At this time, APUS makes the following recommendations for students entering our School of Education programs:

• Residents of the following states are advised not to apply to the M.Ed. Teaching concentration in Elementary Education at this time: Arkansas, Colorado, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Missouri, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, and Tennessee (If you reside in one of these states, have investigated the licensure requirements therein, and believe you may qualify for an exemption to this policy, please feel free to contact us directly at certification@apus.edu to discuss you particular situation).
• Students seeking certification/licensure in Alabama, Idaho, Iowa, or Texas must first obtain equivalent certification/licensure in the state of West Virginia

• Click here for further information regarding state-specific details

Additional Program Information:

• Required first course is EDUC505
  • Other courses may be taken in conjunction with the first course, but the students must complete the first required course during their initial class term at our university)
• Students are required to complete all core requirements for the M.Ed. School Counseling program prior to enrolling in the practicum and internship
• Students are required to obtain a background check prior to having access to a school site for practicum and internship. Background check fees will vary and the student is responsible for paying any associated costs. A change in school site may require an additional background check and the student may incur an additional cost 
• Certification/licensure programs for school counselors require a practicum of 100 field hours and an internship of 600 field hours. The internship is considered a FULL time culminating clinical experience. This means most students will not be able to work during the 16 week internship
• Students in the M.Ed. School Counseling program must meet the minimum passing score on the Praxis II: Professional School Counselor test prior to applying for West Virginia certification. Students who are not seeking West Virginia certification must show proof of passing scores on their state assessment(s) prior to being recommended by the Coordinator of Certification and Licensure for state certification 

Students are responsible for all testing fees. Information on test requirements, fee, and test registration is available online at http://www.ets.org. 

Certification is intended for secondary education only. Students enrolling in APUS’s Post Baccalaureate Teacher Preparation Certification program must supply all of the following prior to registration:

• Official bachelor’s transcript showing conferral of degree with a minimum 2.5 GPA
• Signed Statement of Understanding (SOU)

The Statement of Understanding is provided by your admission representative after completing the application.

Official transcripts can be sent to:

If your school uses e-Script, Script-Safe, or sends official electronic transcripts directly from the registrar, you can request that they send a transcript to: documents@apus.edu. Transcripts emailed or faxed from students will not be considered official.

SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES: Please be aware that state certification/licensure requirements are subject to change and open to interpretation. Applicants are therefore strongly encouraged to contact the coordinator of certification and licensure at: edadmissions@apus.edu or their state’s Department of Education regarding the requirements of their state. At this time, APUS makes the following recommendations for students entering our School of Education programs:

• Residents of the following states are advised not to apply to the M.Ed. Teaching concentration in Elementary Education at this time: Arkansas, Colorado, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Missouri, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, and Tennessee (If you reside in one of these states, have investigated the licensure requirements therein, and believe you may qualify for an exemption to this policy, please feel free to contact us directly at certification@apus.edu to discuss you particular situation).
• Students seeking certification/licensure in Alabama, Idaho, Iowa, or Texas must first obtain equivalent certification/licensure in the state of West Virginia

• Click here for further information regarding state-specific details

Additional Program Information:

• Required first course is EDUC502
  • Other courses may be taken in conjunction with the first course, but the student must complete the first required course during their initial class term at our university
• All students must complete content area requirements prior to student teaching
  • Students should submit official or unofficial copies of all undergraduate transcripts to the Admissions Office. The Admissions Office and the School of Education will complete a complimentary review of your transcripts to determine any Undergraduate content area deficits in specific subject areas
    • Content area requirements range from 30-48 credit hours depending on the discipline
    • A variety of certification specializations are available; your admissions representative will advise you of possible content areas
    • Undergraduate content area requirements may be completed at American Public University (if the coursework is available), another accredited institution of higher education, or via CLEP test (if the appropriate test is available). Undergraduate content area requirements are outside of the program’s academic plan and may not be covered by financial aid. All costs associated with completion of undergraduate content area requirements are the responsibility of the student.
• All core and major requirements must be completed prior to entrance into student teaching
• Students are required to obtain a background check prior to having access to a school site for student teaching. Background check fees will vary and the student is responsible for paying any associated costs
• Certification/licensure programs for teachers require FULL time culminating clinical experience. This means most students will not be able to work during the 16 week culminating clinical supervision
• All students in teacher certification/licensure programs must have access to an accredited, public K-12 school site throughout their entire program.  
  • While coursework is completely online, there are assignments and observations required for certification which must be completed by physical presence in a classroom. Students are required to complete 125 hours of field experience prior to admission to student teaching. The responsibility to schedule the field experience hours rests with the student)
• All APUS Students in the Post-Baccalaureate Teacher Preparation Certification program are required to successfully complete the PRAXIS I (PPST) unless they are exempt from this requirement

The School of Education requires Post-Baccalaureate Students to take the PRAXIS I (PPST) within the first 9 semester hours of their program. All Students who are required to take the PRAXIS I must meet the minimum passing scores for West Virginia. Students who have not submitted minimum passing scores prior to student teaching will not be permitted to register for the student teaching course.

Students must pass the appropriate Praxis II subject assessment required for West Virginia certification prior to applying for certification in West Virginia. Students must also pass the appropriate Principles of Learning and Teaching (PLT) 7-12. Students who are not seeking West Virginia certification must show proof of passing scores on their state assessment(s) prior to being recommended by the coordinator of certification and licensure for certification. 

Students are responsible for all testing fees. Information on test requirements, fees, and test registration is available online at http://www.ets.org.

Applicants to the M.Ed. Teaching: English Language Learners program must provide a signed Statement of Understanding prior to registration and provide an official transcript within 15 weeks of registering for the first course showing a conferred bachelor’s or master’s degree. The Statement of Understanding is provided by your admission representative after completing the application. Students are required to take EDUC503 as the first course in their degree program. The student must complete the first required course during their initial class term at our university, but other courses may be taken in conjunction with EDUC503.

Official transcripts can be sent to:

If your school uses e-Script, Script-Safe, or sends official electronic transcripts directly from the registrar, you can request that they send a transcript to: documents@apus.edu. Transcripts emailed or faxed from students will not be considered official.

Applicants to the M.Ed. Teaching: Instructional Leadership program must provide a signed Statement of Understanding prior to registration and provide an official transcript within 15 weeks of registering for the first course showing a conferred bachelor’s or master’s degree. The Statement of Understanding is provided by your admission representative after completing the application. Students are required to take EDUC503 as the first course in their degree program. The student must complete the first required course during their initial class term at our university, but other courses may be taken in conjunction with EDUC503.

Official transcripts can be sent to:

If your school uses e-Script, Script-Safe, or sends official electronic transcripts directly from the registrar, you can request that they send a transcript to: documents@apus.edu. Transcripts emailed or faxed from students will not be considered official.

Applicants to the K-12 Online Teaching Endorsement program must provide a signed Statement of Understanding prior to registration and provide an official transcript within 15 weeks of registering for the first course showing a conferred bachelor’s or master’s degree.  The Statement of Understanding is provided by your admission representative after completing the application.    

Note: Students pursuing the K-12 Online Teaching Endorsement program may not use Federal Student Aid to finance their program at this time.

Official transcripts can be sent to: 

If your school uses e-Script, Script-Safe, or sends official electronic transcripts directly from the registrar, you can request that they send a transcript to: documents@apus.edu. Transcripts emailed or faxed from students will not be considered official.