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Clinical Year FAQs

Q: What are the requirements for entering into the Clinical Year?

For a Bachelor of Arts in Global Education (BAGE) candidate to qualify as a Clinical Resident for the Clinical Year, candidates must meet several eligibility requirements. Failure to meet these criteria may result in a transfer to the Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies (BA-LS) program.

  • Candidates must pass 75% (3 out of 4 or 4 out of the 5) of the Praxis Elementary Subtests (Language Arts, Math, Social Studies, Science) by mid-semester of the Advanced Year - Semester 2. Please note: For Louisiana candidates, the Teaching of Reading (TOR) component of the ELA exam is considered part of the ELA content exam for Clinical Residency eligibility requirements.
  • Employment at a school with a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Reach  
    • placement in an elementary classroom or a special education elementary classroom may be considered for Louisiana candidates
    • placement in an elementary classroom for the Clinical Year (note: SPED classrooms do not meet this requirement for Arkansas candidates).
  • Successful completion of required courses as outlined in the Scope and Sequence.

Q: What is the deadline for submitting the required licensure exam scores?

The licensure exam date submission depends on your cohort’s Clinical Year entry semester.  Click here for verifying anticipated graduation use for calculating your CY entry semester. CY entry semester should be semester 7.

  • Spring CY Start deadline: October 1st (scores must be received by Reach prior to this date)
  • Fall CY start deadline: March 1st (scores must be received by Reach prior to this date)

Q: Where do I submit my scores?

  • View instructions for uploading your scores to RIO HERE. 
  • You can also add Reach as a score recipient when registering for a licensure exam on the ETS website.
    • LA code - 6430
    • AR code- 6208

Q: What licensure exam scores are considered Passing for Clinical Year Eligibility? 

  • Content exams (Social Studies, Science, Math, and ELA)
  • Click here to review licensure  exams.
  • Check with ETS for your state’s most updated information on passing scores. 

Q: What are the licensure exam requirements for entering the Clinical Year?

  • BAGE candidates are expected to take a licensure exam content exam after their cluster courses and will be asked to show proof of licensure exam registration from ETS for end-of-semester completion of courses (cluster courses - math, science, social studies, and literacy) during the semester candidates are enrolled in the course. 
  • Candidates cannot enter Clinical Residency I without passing the required licensure  content exams 

Q: Where can I learn more about the expectations of the Clinical Year?

Q: What are my options (BAGE candidate) if I do not complete the licensure exam requirements (75% of licensure exam content exams passed) for entering Clinical Year? Please note: For Louisiana candidates, the Teaching of Reading (TOR) component of the ELA exam is considered part of the ELA content exam for Clinical Residency eligibility requirements.

  • If you don’t meet the Clinical Year requirements, you can:
  1. Still graduate from Reach with a Bachelor’s in Liberal Studies. However, you’ll need to pursue licensure through an alternative certification program (LA) or pathway (AR) after graduation; OR
  2. Sit out a semester (withdraw) - while focusing on passing required exams– and return the following semester. You would need to have your 3 content exams passed and your re-enrollment form submitted by the appropriate clinical residency deadline (March 1 for a Fall start; and October 1 for a Spring start). This will delay your graduation by 1 semester. Reach out to your dedicated advisor or RTC@reach.edu for support if you have more questions. 

Q: What will happen if I don't earn at least a B in my Clinical Residency semester 1 courses?

  •  To be eligible for progression into Clinical Residency 2, candidates must meet all program requirements for Clinical Residency I, including a minimum grade of “B” (3.0 GPA) in all required coursework. A grade of “B-” does not meet this requirement. By the end of Clinical Residency II, all candidates must perform at a ‘proficient’ level on the Aspiring Teachers’ Rubric.  See Pg 40  Clinical Residency Handbook
    • If your grade average is lower than a B during the semester, it is best practice to speak with your professor(s) about how to revise or improve your work before the end of the semester. 

Q: I have make-up classes to complete. Will I be able to enter my clinical year with my cohort?

  • Candidates need to complete outstanding courses before entering their Clinical Year. 

Pg. 12 of the Clinical Residency Handbook



Q: What will my Clinical Year look like in terms of classes?

Here's a structured summary of what your student teaching year will look like: You can find more in-depth information on pages 14-15 and pages 33-35 of the Clinical Residency Handbook

  1. Special Education Courses (SPED 400, 410, 420)
  • Focus: Learning about IEPs and strategies to meet the needs of diverse learners.
  • Goal: These courses will deepen your understanding of individualized education plans (IEPs) and the variety of ways to support students with diverse needs in the classroom.
  1. Tutorial Course
  • Focus: Inquiry-based learning and instruction.
  • Goal: This course will guide you using inquiry-based methods, encouraging students to explore and engage deeply with content.
  1. Methods Courses and Clinical Residency
  • Structure:
    • First Half of the Year: Methods coursework paired with a Clinical Residency.
    • Activities: Observations, receiving feedback, logging hours, keeping coaching journals, and ongoing support from your mentor.
  • Goal: To build practical teaching skills through hands-on experiences in a classroom setting, combined with reflective practices to support growth.

Q: Do we choose our mentor? 

  • No. You work with your school system and principal to select an appropriately certified mentor teacher- as long as they meet the requirements for your state to be a mentor. Your mentor has to work at your clinical site, and you are completing your residency in their classroom. 
  • In Louisiana, Mentor Teachers must hold valid Mentor Teacher certification or have a state-granted waiver in lieu of the certification. 
  • In Arkansas, Mentor Teachers must meet the following requirements:
    1. Hold a standard teaching license
    2. Have a minimum 3 years of teaching experience
    3. Have evidence of an annual rating of effective or higher
    4. Be able to show documentation of completing a DESE Recognized Coaching Training
    5. Be able to show documentation of completing DESE Aspiring Teacher Rubric Training (ATR): ArkansasIDEAS Course #ERC25006
    6. Recommended by their building level administration to host a Reach University clinical resident.
  • In addition to the above requirements, a Master Professional Educator or Lead Professional Educator designation on their teaching license is required for:
    1. experienced mentor teacher assigned to an Aspiring Teacher Permit teacher; 
    2. journeyman assigned to an Arkansas Teacher Registered Apprentice;
    3. experienced mentor teacher seeking merit pay who is assigned to a one-year supervised resident.
  • *Note: By 2026-2027, experienced mentor teachers working with year-long residents must have a Master Professional Educator or Lead Professional Educator designation on their teaching license.

Q: Can I have more than one clinical mentor?

  • You can absolutely have multiple individuals providing support during your Clinical Residency, but please note that only one person can serve as your official clinical residency mentor. The mentor will be the primary person responsible for guiding and evaluating your progress throughout the residency. If changes are made to your mentor for any reason, please email the new mentor name and contact information to RTC@reach.edu.

Q: How many hours a day/ week am I required to spend in a regular education classroom for each semester?

  • LA & AR candidates - 18 hours  per week the first semester of the Clinical Year; 24 hours  per week the second half of the Clinical Residency.
  • Beginning in Fall of 2026, for Louisiana CR1, candidates are expected to participate in at least 24 hours per week engaging in clinical activities; and for Louisiana CR2, 28 hours per week engaging in clinical activities.

**For candidates who may need to make arrangements to spend a portion of the day in a different site (for example, if currently in a Pre-K  classroom or serving as a paraprofessional in a High School remediation lab), the candidate and school system must ensure that an adequate placement in an elementary setting is achieved for a substantial portion of the Clinical Residency

Q: What will my Clinical Year look like if I cannot be in a regular education classroom?

    • Arkansas candidates:  securing a placement in the required general education elementary (K-6) setting is mandatory to be accepted into the clinical residency. 
    • Without this placement, you will not be able to move forward in the clinical residency process.
  • Louisiana candidates: You have the option of pursuing Elementary 1-5 only or dual certification (Mild to Moderate and Elementary 1-5). 
  • If you choose the Elementary 1-5 option, securing placement in a general education elementary 1-5 setting is mandatory to be accepted into clinical residency. 
    1. If you choose the dual certification option, clinical residency hours need to be split between a general education setting and a special education setting. 
  • Both Reach University and your district/parish collaborate as partners during your Clinical Residency. However, your school employer is responsible for finalizing your Clinical Residency placement. It’s important to stay in communication with both Reach and your district to ensure all necessary steps are completed for your placement.

Q: Will a resource classroom setting be allowed?

  • You are enrolled in our Bachelor of Arts in General Education (BAGE) program with a recommendation for Elementary licensure. 
  • Louisiana candidates: have the option of choosing Elementary 1-5 only or Mild to Moderate and Elementary 1-5 dual certification. It is required that you complete your clinical hours in a general education elementary grades 1-5 (LA) classroom setting if choosing the Elementary only option. This aligns with your certification in Elementary (General) Education, which is focused on preparing you for a broad classroom environment. If choosing  the dual certification option, candidates need to have teaching experiences in both regular education and special education settings. Getting hours in both settings would allow some of the hours to be in a resource classroom setting. If choosing the Special Education (SPED) dual certification, passing the additional Special Education Praxis pedagogy exam is required. 
  • Arkansas candidates: It is required that you complete your clinical hours in a general education elementary grades K-6 (AR) classroom setting. This aligns with your certification in Elementary (General) Education, which is focused on preparing you for a broad classroom environment. After meeting both program and state requirements and applying for and receiving a K-6 standard license, candidates have the option to add an additional endorsement by passing the required state assessment for Special Education Resource, Elementary Education: Endorsement Code (530).

Q: Can my clinical hours be completed in a SPED/middle school/high school/pre-K classroom?

  • You are enrolled in our Bachelor of Arts in General Education (BAGE) program with a recommendation for Elementary licensure; it is required that you complete your clinical hours in a general education elementary grades 1-5 (LA) K-6 (AR) classroom setting. 
  • See additional information in the previous question above. 

Q:Will I need to leave my job for the clinical year, if I work at a high school/middle school/pre-K classroom? 

  • This is a job-embedded apprenticeship degree. As a part of your job, you must complete your clinical hours in a general education classroom with grades K-6 for AR and 1-5 for LA.
  • If you cannot secure a position in an Elementary general education classroom by the start of the Clinical Year, please contact the RTC@reach.edu to discuss your options. 

Q: Can I apply for a teacher position while completing my teaching residency?

  • This depends on your state, your school and the opportunity presented. Before accepting a full-time position, you should speak with your school administration, RTC@reach.edu and your clinical year director. Please note: Louisiana candidates are not allowed to serve as teacher of record during clinical residency. 

Q: I am graduating this semester from Clinical Year. What requirements must I complete to apply for licensure in my state?

Q: Why am I not receiving a letter grade for my assignments? 

  • Some assignments in the program are graded based on completion points. This means you will receive points for attending required meetings, submitting forms by the specified deadlines, and completing other necessary tasks. These assignments are meant to track your engagement and timely completion of program requirements.

Q: I have an accommodation. Will my cohort’s licensure exam score submission deadline be accommodated? 

  • All candidates must pass the required percentage of licensure exam assessments before entering the Clinical Residency. If you need additional support, please contact your advisor, professor, and school or local co-op for additional tutoring resources.