Formal Admission to Teacher Education (FATE) is the written process that confirms your intent to pursue teacher certification at West Chester University in a teacher education program.

Access to designated advanced professional education courses is restricted to teacher candidates who have applied and received the "milestone" of Formal Admission to Teacher Education on their transcript. To check the milestone of Formal Admission to Teacher Education, go to MyWCU, click on unofficial transcript, and scroll to the bottom of the transcript.

Undergraduate Students

Download your appropriate Formal Admission to Teacher Education application:

English BSED Formal Admission to Teacher Education (Undergraduate)

Health/Physical Education Formal Admission to Teacher Education (Undergraduate)

Music Education Formal Admission to Teacher Education (Undergraduate)

All others: General Undergraduate Formal Admission to Teacher Education

Applications are also available in your program's departmental office, or from the Office of Candidate Services in Wayne 107, or at the Office of Teacher Certification in Recitation Hall 302.

Requirements

• Enrolled in a program leading to teacher certification or educational specialist
• Earned a minimum of 48 credits at the college level (100 level or above)
• Earned a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.8
• Earned 3 credits in college-level English composition
• Earned 3 credits in literature taught in English
• Earned 6 credits in college-level mathematics
• Achieved passing scores as established by the PA Department of Education on the SAT, ACT Plus Writing, or Core Academic Skills for Educators or Pre-service Academic Performance Assessment (PAPA) test modules.
• Received the recommendation of your major department (signature of your advisor)
• Met the Community Service Experience requirement (only early grades, middle grades, and special education/dual majors)
• Completed the Declaration of Academic Content Area Concentrations (only middle grades preparation majors)
• If applicable, met any additional program specific requirements

Learn more about Basic Skills Testing

Application Process

1. Obtain the application for Formal Admission to Teacher Education application .
2. Complete the application for Formal Admission to Teacher Education.
3. Attach the required documentation (see top of the application).
4. Obtain your advisor's signature on the application. Your advisor's signature indicates you have received your department's approval for Formal Admission to Teacher Education. (If you are a student in a secondary education or foreign language program, you must obtain the signatures of both your content area and your professional education advisors.)
5. Submit application and attachments to the the Office of Candidate Services, Wayne 107.

NOTE: Incomplete applications will not be processed or returned.
(Consult with your department advisor to determine if you are eligible for a one registration period FATE Delay Permit)

FATE Status

You can verify your FATE status by checking the bottom of your unofficial transcript under milestones in myWCU.

If at any time your cumulative GPA falls below 2.8, Formal Admission to Teacher Education will be removed from your record and you will be denied access to designated advanced professional education courses.

Notify Mrs. MacDonald, Associate Director, Candidate Services, Wayne 107, to have your FATE status reinstated once you have earned a minimum 2.8 cumulative GPA again.

Post-Baccalaureate Certification Students

Please contact your program coordinator and make an appointment. It is very important to meet with your program coordinator to determine requirements.

List of Programs and Coordinators

Application Process

1. Meet with your academic advisor (and professional education advisor, if secondary certification) to complete an Approved Program of Study (APS)/Formal Admission to Teacher Education form. FATE requires:
• Baccalaureate graduate from a regionally accredited college or university
• Minimum GPA of 2.8 on most recent 48 credits of college/university coursework*
• Admission to a WCU program leading to a Pennsylvania Department of Education certification
• Approved Program of Study on file in WCU Teacher Certification Office
• Department approval (Departments may have additional and/or more rigorous requirements for their students.)
2. If FATE was not obtained with the Approved Program of Study, please complete a Formal Admission to Teacher Education (FATE) application for Post-Baccalaureate Certification students.

NOTE: Incomplete applications will not be processed or returned.