Office of Educator Field Placement and Certification

This office serves students interested in obtaining teacher certification through the Rhode Island Department of Education. We provide consultation to students seeking teaching credentials in other states. The office also coordinates field placements for education programs across the college.

Each education department at PC establishes its own criteria for successfully completing their program of study. Students should be familiar with the expectations as indicated in the department’s student handbook. Handbooks are regularly updated or changed to remain up to date with state requirements for teacher certification.

The Office of Educator Field Placement and Certification provides support services to education candidates for student teaching and field placement experiences in local schools. By fostering collaborative relationships between PC and surrounding schools this office seeks to enrich the experience of our pre-service educators and faculty. Our office works in collaboration with faculty, college education department administration and local schools to coordinate partnerships that enrich and enhance our program to ensure equity, excellence, and engagement.

Educator Certification

Eligibility for Rhode Island teacher certification is dependent on two conditions:

successful completion of your undergraduate or graduate education program and qualify to obtain your degree
obtain passing scores on all required state certification testing for the certification you seek. These are offered through PRAXIS

The undergraduate and graduate education programs at Providence College are accredited by the Rhode Island Department of Education and aligned to the Rhode Island Professional Teacher Standards. Rhode Island is a member of the National Association of State Directors of Teacher Education and Certification. This interstate agreement allows Providence College graduates to transfer their Rhode Island teaching credentials to 45 states, Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico and Guam.

Transferring your Rhode Island teaching certificate to another state is possible due to the interstate agreement however individual states may have additional requirements that must be met in order to become credentialed as a teacher. Some states require students to pass state-specific teacher exams.

Students should check with the Department of Education in the state where they want to teach to familiarize themselves with the state-specific requirement for licensure or certification. Students may also consult with the Providence College Office of Educator Field Placements and Certification for assistance.

Please click the following link for a copy of the Elementary/Special Education Student Handbook.

Host a PC Student-Teacher

If you’re a school district leader interested in hosting a Providence College student-teacher at one of your schools, you can contact us directly using the contact information on this page.

Jill Souza

Assistant Dean
Harkins Hall 328B
401-865-2505
jsouza4@providence.edu

Terri Laplante

Director of Placements and Partnerships
Harkins Hall 328F
401-865-2792
tlaplante@providence.edu

Diane Comerford

Director of Assessment/ Certification Officer
Harkins Hall 328G
401-865-2409
dcomerfd@providence.edu