In 1995, the Oklahoma Commission for Teacher Preparation (OCTP) was given the responsibility for developing a competency-based testing program for teacher candidates. The assessment was designed to examine competency in the following areas: general education, subject area, and professional teaching knowledge. Candidates for teacher licensure/certification are required to successfully complete the Oklahoma General Education Test (OGET), the Oklahoma Subject Area Test (OSAT) and the Oklahoma Professional Teaching Examination (OPTE). Candidates seeking administrator certification are required to pass a competency-based examination with multiple performance assessments.

Oklahoma certification examinations are based on the subject matter competencies adopted by the State Board of Education, the standards of national learned societies, and the Standards of the Interstate New Teacher Assessment and Support Consortium (INTASC).
 

• The Oklahoma General Education Test (OGET)
  is designed to examine and assess competency in areas associated with general studies and education in liberal arts and sciences. The OGET is distinctive from many other examinations of this type in that critical thinking skills, as well as basic skills are assessed.
  
• The Oklahoma Subject Area Tests (OSAT)
  are designed to assess subject-matter knowledge and skills. These examinations include 41 general subject tests,
  5 vocational tests, and 4 administrator tests.
  
• The Oklahoma Professional Teaching Exam (OPTE)
  is designed to assess professional knowledge and skills needed by entry-level educators. Candidates are assessed with respect to learners and the learning environment, instruction and assessment, and professional involvement.

OCTP has contracted with Evaluation Systems Group of Pearson (ES) and Alpine Testing Solutions to assist in the development, validation, and administration of the assessments included in the Certification Examinations for Oklahoma Educators (CEOE) program.

Throughout the development and validation process of the three components of the CEOE program, over 5000 Oklahoma educators contributed their knowledge and expertise. Committees included classroom teachers from each grade level, higher education faculty from teacher education programs, higher education faculty from arts & sciences, and vocational education faculty.

As part of maintaining the assessment program, routine review and redevelopment assures that the tests will be kept up-to-date and accurate. The review and redevelopment process allows the assessment system to continually measure teacher knowledge and skill levels using the most current and widely accepted standards.
 

For more information, contact Ms. Renee Launey-Rodolf, State Director of Assessment, by e-mail rlrodolf@octp.org or by phone, 405-525-2612.