Driver Education Teacher Certification

Why choose to certify yourself in driver education?

  • Meet a growing need for driver's education instructors in high school settings.
  • Learn at the only university in the region to offer this certification.
  • Flexible scheduling allows you to complete your certification during intersessions or summer semesters.
  • Work hands-on with students at Greenwood Lab School.

Program requirements

Physical Education

Bachelor of Science in Education (Certifiable K-12)

Missouri State University is approved by the Missouri State Board of Education to offer basic and advanced professional education programs for purposes of professional certification. Admission to the University does not automatically qualify a student to participate in the professional component of the teacher education program. A high level of academic and professional competence is required for admission to and continuation in the teacher education program. Completion of the program is designed to lead to certification to teach in Missouri public schools.

Students majoring in Physical Education are encouraged to participate in athletics, recreational sports, and/or engage in personal physical fitness programs.

Students who complete the degree requirements for the Bachelor of Science in Education in Physical Education are certified to teach physical education and professionally qualified to coach.

All students pursuing Missouri certification are required to meet a series of Transition Points that will be assessed, evaluated, and monitored throughout the teacher education program with assistance and guidance from faculty. There are five distinct Transition Points students meet from entry to their education program to follow up post graduate training.

Completion of certification requirements is a four-step process. Students who receive a certification recommendation must meet the standards for certification eligibility as outlined below:

  1. Requirements for Eligibility to Enroll in KIN 200: Before a student can enroll in KIN 200 the following eligibility requirements must be met:
    1. A combined (Missouri State and transfer) GPA of 2.50 or higher.
    2. Completed COM 115 with a minimum grade of "C" or concurrent enrollment in COM 115.
    3. Completed KIN 210.
    4. Completed at least 30 semester hours.
    5. Completion of Missouri Volunteer and Employee Criminal History Service (MOVECHS) FBI Fingerprinting Background Check prior to any clinical experience placement. For more information, refer to Compliance Documents Required for Practicum, Internship or Student Teaching.
  2. Requirements for Admission to Physical Education Teacher Education (PETE) Program: Students who plan to complete teacher certification requirements must be admitted to the PETE Program. Eligibility is automatically monitored when enrolling in KIN 200. Admission to the PETE Program is required before students are allowed to begin additional courses in the Physical Education Teacher Education component. Student application for admission to the PETE Program is complete when the requirements listed below are satisfied. Note: All of these requirements must be met before students are permitted to enroll in Physical Education Professional Education courses (KIN 411, 431, 440, 468, and 575)
    1. A combined (both Missouri State and Transfer) GPA of 2.75 or higher.
    2. Earned a composite score or superscore of 20 or better on the ACT or earned passing scores on all four sub-sets of the Missouri General Education Assessment (MoGEA). Refer to the MoGEA website for details.
    3. Completed COM 115 with a minimum grade of "C".
    4. Completed KIN 200 with minimum grade of "C".
    5. ​​​​​​​Completion of Missouri Volunteer and Employee Criminal History Service (MOVECHS) FBI Fingerprinting Background Check prior to any clinical experience placement. For more information, refer to Compliance Documents Required for Practicum, Internship or Student Teaching.
    6. Completed Disposition Checklist and Student Contract.
    7. Complete at least 45 semester hours.
    8. Upon completion of the above requirements, a student’s record is reviewed and submitted to the Educator Preparation Provider Council (EPPC) for admission to Teacher Education. A student’s qualifications for continuance in the Teacher Education Program is subject to review and change by the EPPC at any time while the student is enrolled.
  3. Requirements for Continuance in the PETE Program: In order to progress through the PETE program a student must:
    1. Maintain a combined (Missouri State and transfer) GPA or 2.75 or higher.
    2. Maintain a combined (Missouri State and transfer) GPA of 3.00 or higher in the major.
    3. Complete Physical Education Professional Education courses with a minimum grade of "C".
    4. Been admitted to the degree program.
  4. Requirements for Assignment to Supervised Teaching (effective Fall 2017 and after): The criteria used to determine eligibility for Supervised Teaching are outlined below. The student must have:
    1. Been admitted to the PETE Program and completed Transition Point #1 and Transition Point #2.
    2. A combined GPA of 2.75 or higher for all college level course work completed.
    3. Current and valid TB test.
    4. Current and valid Professional Liability Insurance.
    5. Completion of Missouri Volunteer and Employee Criminal History Service (MOVECHS) FBI Fingerprinting Background Check prior to any clinical experience placement. For more information, refer to Compliance Documents Required for Practicum, Internship or Student Teaching.
    6. Completed at least 15 hours at Missouri State.
    7. Completed all courses in the major with a combined (Missouri State and Transfer) GPA of 3.00 or higher.
    8. Completed all Physical Education Professional Education courses with a minimum grade of "C".
    9. Recommendation of student's advisor.
    10. Recommendation of Department of Kinesiology.
  5. Requirements for Certification Recommendation (effective Fall 2017 and after): To be recommended for an initial Missouri teaching certification the student must have:
    1. Successfully completed Supervised Teaching.
    2. Met all Missouri teacher certification requirements which are in effect at time of certification.
    3. A combined (Missouri State and transfer) GPA of 2.75 or higher.
    4. Completed all professional education courses with a combined (Missouri State and transfer) GPA of 3.00 or higher and no grade lower than "C".
    5. A combined (Missouri State and transfer) GPA of 3.00 or higher in the certificate subject area (major).
    6. Successful completion of Missouri Educator Gateway Assessments (MEGA) as established by the Missouri Board of Education. Refer to the MEGA website for details.
    7. Completed Transition Point #3.
    8. The Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education will require in FBI background check prior to issuing a certificate.

Major requirements (74 hours):

Note: 11 hours may double count toward General Education requirements.

  1. Specific General Education requirements: BIO 101(3) and 111(1) or BIO 121(4); CHM 116(4).
  2. A grade of "C" or better is required in each of the following courses:
    1. ATC 222(2); KIN 200(3), 210(3)*, 240(2), 250(4), 252(4), 253(2), 260(2), 264(2), 270(1), 277(2), 335(2), 358(3), 359(3), 361(2), 362(4), 386(3), 411(3), 430(3), 431(3), 440(3), 468(4), 485(3), 575(3).
  3. Public Affairs Capstone Experience will be fulfilled by completion of KIN 493(6); KIN 496(6).
    *KIN 210 may double count toward General Education requirements.

Professional Education requirements (21 hours):

A grade of "C" or better is required in each of the following courses.

  1. EDC 345(3), LTC 474(3), PSY 360(3), KIN 493(6), KIN 496(6).
  2. The following major courses listed above will satisfy the Professional Education competencies as required for certification: KIN 200(3), 411(3), 431(3), 440(3), 468(4), 575(3).

University level requirements:

  1. General Education Program and Requirements
  2. General Baccalaureate Degree Requirements

Missouri State Teacher Certification

Driver Education

(Certifiable grades 9-12, additional endorsement only)

Students who complete the Bachelor of Science in Education degree with a major in Secondary Education or K-12 Physical Education may receive Missouri state certification in Driver Education grades 9-12 by:

  1. Completing the following courses: ​​​​​​​KIN 370(3), 371(3), 372(3), and 373(3).
  2. In order to meet Missouri State teacher certification requirements, all candidates for the Bachelor of Science in Education degree must have a combined (Missouri State and transfer) GPA of 3.00 or above in the certificate subject area which includes all courses previously listed.

Health Education

(Certifiable grades K-9, K-12, 9-12, additional endorsement only)

Students who complete the Bachelor of Science in Education degree with a major in Physical Education may receive Missouri state certification in Health Education grades K-9, K-12, or 9-12 by:

  1. Completing the following courses: BMS 307(4) or KIN 250(4), BMS 308(4) or KIN 252(4), or equivalents; CFD 163(3); DTN 130(3) or DTN 240(3); KIN 253(2), 256(2), 257(2), 358(3); PSY 101(3); SWK 330(3).
  2. 9-12 certification student must select additional hours of electives in health-related courses, in consultation with their advisor, to bring total to 30 hours.
  3. K-12 certification student must select additional hours of electives in health-related courses, in consultation with their advisor, to bring total to 32 hours.
  4. In order to meet Missouri state teacher certification requirements, student must have a combined (Missouri State and transfer) GPA of 3.00 or above in the certificate subject area which includes all courses previously listed.