Office of Clinical Experiences

student teaching web photo

The Office of Clinical Experiences (OCE) organizes all student teaching internship placements and field experiences for teacher candidates in initial teacher certification programs. The OCE works diligently to foster professional and collaborative partnerships with K-12 schools to enhance the teaching profession. Additionally, the OCE is committed to complying with state requirements to secure field experiences, when applicable, that will lead to the appropriate graduation and or certification requirements. School of Education faculty and instructors primarily secure field experiences.

 

About Student Teaching

If you are pursuing a Class B or Alternative Class A initial teacher certification degree, please review the following information:

  • Important Dates
    Application Dates

    Internship applications are due on the last day of the week in January, one semester (not including summer) before the fall internship; two semesters before the spring internship.

    Applications for fall 2022 and spring 2023 are due by January 31, 2022.

    Note: Direct all questions regarding applications to Mary Earley (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.)

    deadline
  • Eligibility Requirements

    General eligibility requirements can be accessed here: General Student Teaching Requirements or by contacting the Office of Student Services.


Eligibility Reminders

The School of Education provides the following eligibility reminders:

  • Contact the Office of Student Services about any questions regarding eligibility requirements (205) 934-7530.

  • All students must be formally admitted to the Teacher Education Program and/or the Alternative Master's Program prior to beginning the internship.

  • All testing requirement results (e.g., Praxis tests, are due by the sepcified due date, which is generally two weeks before orientation.

  • Cleared background check is necessary prior to reporting to any school site.

  • Successful completion of all required coursework is required prior to the internship.

  • GPA requirements must be fulfilled prior to the internship.

  • Student teaching placements will not be secured if the student fails to provide evidence to the Office of Student Services following an eligibility examination.  Failure to meet all eligibility requirements will result in the student teaching placement being cancelled.

  • Completed Pearson Foundations of Reading 190

  • Internship Placements
    • Internship placements are secured weeks prior to the target internship date.  Interns are notified of their placements by August for fall interns and mid-December for spring interns.
    • Student teachers are not permitted to arrange or influence their internship placement by contacting administrators, principals, or teachers.  Placements are arranged solely through the School of Education.
    • To meet Alabama State Department of Education standards, the grade level placement for the internship should be based on prior grade level field experiences (e.g., if most field hours were completed within lower grades of a certification program, it is desirable that the internship placement be in an upper grade level).

    • Placement sites are selected based on partnership agreements, the availability of qualified teachers, availability of grade levels, and the willingness of the school administrators and staff to host student teachers.

    • Secondary student teachers will not be placed at the high school they graduated from for a minimum of 5 years after they have graduated (i.e., after a five year grace period).

    • Student teachers are not placed in schools where they have relatives employed or children attending.

    • Student teachers with any extenuating circumstances about their placement site must contact the Office of Clinical Experiences when the Student Teaching Application is turned in or as soon as possible.  The Office of Clinical Experiences must be notified before placements are secured for the semester.

  • Application Process
    Application Due Dates

    • Internship applications are due on March 1 for Fall internships.

    • Internship applications are due on October 1 for Spring internships.
    • Applications submitted after the deadline are not guaranteed placement.

    Application Information

    • The application deadline for Fall 2023 has passed. If you plan to do your student teaching internship in Fall 2023, please get in touch with Jenny Harvey at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. as soon as possible.

    • Questions about the application can be answered by contacting Mary Earley at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

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    About Field Experiences

    UAB is committed to complying with state and certification requirements. Per the Alabama State Department of Education’s Administrative Code, field experiences in Class B and Alternative Class A programs are composed of the following:

    • Before the internship, a variety of early and ongoing field-based contacts in diverse P-12 schools and other appropriate settings are provided as part of the instructional program available through observation, a study of school situations, assisting in instruction and supervised teaching that contributes to the understanding and competence of the candidate.
    • Extensive field experience in diverse settings
    • Individuals who are employed in positions appropriate to the area of their current program may complete field experiences on the job. Still, those experiences must be planned with specific purposes and assessments.
    • The majority of field experiences must occur in P-12 schools
    • At least half of the field experiences shall be in the candidate’s teaching field
    • For early childhood education and early childhood special education programs, field experiences shall include placements in at least two of the three main types of early education settings [early school grades (K-3), child care centers and homes, and Office of School Readiness programs]
    • For elementary or collaborative special education (K-6), field experiences shall include placements in lower elementary (grades K-3) and upper elementary (grades 4-6). 
    • For secondary and P-12 fields, field experiences shall include elementary and secondary grade placements. 

    Field Experience Handbook for Initial Teacher Certification Programs