BAS-TE Frequently Asked Questions

BAS degrees are designed to build on Associate degrees that provide workplace skills. BAS degrees build on a practical career training degree and provide a path to the baccalaureate level without requiring the student to earn another two-year degree. LCC's program will prepare teacher candidates with content and subject knowledge required in PreK-8th grade classrooms, while integrating an in-depth residency experience. Completion of the program will result in the award of the Bachelor of Applied Science in Teacher Education.

In Washington, educators must obtain a Washington certificate in order to serve in the public schools. The residency certificate enables the holder to teach in endorsed subject areas. Certificates are issued by the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI). Washington issues the Residency Teacher Certificate to most first-time and out-of-state applicants for a regular teaching certificate.

An endorsement is the specific subject matter or content area listed on your teaching certificate in Washington State. All certificates must have at least one endorsement, and some endorsement areas cannot stand alone. For questions or details on adding an endorsement, please see the OSPI website. In the LCC Teacher Education program, you may earn endorsements in Elementary Education (K-8), Early Childhood Education (P-3), and English Language Learners (ELL).

An ELL (English Language Learner) endorsement is an additional certification that prepares educators to support multilingual learners, a growing student population in U.S. schools. It gives teachers a strong foundation in language development, culturally responsive teaching, and strategies that help students access academic content while developing their English proficiency. 

The endorsement promotes an inclusive, asset-based approach by valuing students’ cultural and linguistic backgrounds. Teachers learn to leverage students’ home languages and employ practices such as cross-language connections and translanguaging to support language growth and learning.

Educators also gain tools to assess multilingual learners more accurately by distinguishing between language development and academic ability. This ensures instruction is targeted, meaningful, and responsive to each student’s needs.

The BAS-TE degree will prepare graduates to work across the spectrum of early childhood education from birth through eighth grade in a variety of early education and general education programs such as early intervention, Head Start, the Early Childhood Education and Assistance Program (ECEAP), and primary schools. Classroom teachers with an elementary education endorsement may be assigned to teach any subject in grades K-8.

Yes. Teachers who graduate from the Teacher Education program are approved by the state to teach K-8. They may also need to meet district requirements to teach middle school grades. These requirements vary from district to district.

Candidates enrolled in the full-time cohort complete residency certification requirements in two years. This is a total of 6 academic quarters. (approximately 15 credits per quarter).

Candidates enrolled in the part-time cohort complete degree and residency certification requirements in 2 ½ years, including 2 summer quarters. This is a total of 8 academic quarters (approximately 10-15 credits per quarter).

Each cohort has 2 start dates:
Part-time: Courses begin in July, with 9 - 15 credits anticipated each quarter (summer through spring - 8 sequential quarters).

Full-time: Courses begin in September, with 14-16 credits anticipated each quarter during fall, winter, and spring.  

There are two applications for the LCC Teacher Education Program:

1) Apply as a new or returning student if it has been longer than 2 years since your most recent attendance. After you submit your application, you will see a confirmation number link. Click on that link before you close your application to get your CTC Link Student ID number.

2) Apply to the Teacher Education program by the deadline indicated. Earlier is better, even if you still have remaining courses to complete. This allows us to support you as you continue to prepare. 

3) Complete the steps on the LCC Enrollment page in order to activate and access your student accounts.

4) Student applicants will be screened through a process with clearly-defined minimum qualifications and prerequisites. Students will be expected to have cumulative 2.5 GPA.

5) Acceptance/denial letters will be sent on or before June 1, with a request for confirmation of acceptance.

6) If you are hoping to receive Financial Aid, please visit our Financial Aid web pages and apply. There is no fee to apply and both Federal and State aid could be available to those who qualify. 

No, but you must provide scores from the ACT or SAT with your name and dates included, OR take the WEST-B (Washington Educator Skills Test–Basic) assessment prior to full acceptance into BAS-TE. 

Washington has two testing requirements: basic skills, WEST-B and Approved Alternatives, (no passing score required) and content knowledge area testing NES. Visit our Testing Requirements page for detailed information.

Up to 30 candidates will be admitted to each cohort. LCC's Teacher Education Program admits students using a weighted evaluation process based on the following criteria: associate degree type, relevant work experience, GPA, and essay answers. If there is space available following the deadline to apply, we enroll on a first-come, first-served basis providing all enrollment requirements are met.

We will work with all students who are interested in the BAS-TE program. You may need to retake some courses to improve your GPA, obtain more volunteer hours, or complete prerequisite courses. We will meet with interested students individually to develop a plan.

No, previous and current LCC students do NOT need to submit official LCC transcripts.

If you attended prior to 2015, and do not have access to your courses/transcripts through CTC Link, you will need to request that your archived transcripts be made accessible. 

High school transcripts are not required for the BAS-TE application.

The WEST-B test is the Washington Educator Skills Test-Basic which covers reading writing and mathematics. There is no required passing score for the WEST-B.

See our Testing Requirements web page.

Applicants who can provide documentation of one of the following are exempt from taking the WEST–B:

• A National Board Teaching Certificate
• Washington passing scores on all three tests (Reading, Mathematics, and Writing) of the Praxis I
• A passing score on the California Basic Educational Skills Test™ (CBEST®)
• A passing score on the NES Essential Academic Skills Test
• SAT
• ACT

You may include a copy of your scores with your BAS-TE application or have scores sent directly to LCC's Teacher Education Program. 

Your test scores are reported to you and to any institution that you indicated as a score recipient when you registered. Your scores are also reported directly to the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction, Office of Certification, and are automatically added to your certification application file. Your score report is for your records only; do not submit it with your application for certification or with the LCC or BAS-TE applications.

It can take up to six to eight weeks to receive scores for the writing portion of the WEST-B. We advise taking the WEST-B as soon as possible. 

Currently there is no expiration of the validity period for WEST-B test results.

You should not delay your application if you are waiting for your WEST-B results. Please submit all required application forms and indicate “waiting for your results” on the application.

Yes, undergraduate students in the Teacher Education Program are assigned to academic advisors in the BAS-TE program.

LCC requires a total of 561 hours of student teaching during the candidate's senior year (the second year of the program). In the fall quarter, candidates are required to complete 165 hours of student teaching. Winter quarter, candidates complete 330 hours of autonomous student teaching. Spring quarter candidates complete 66 hours of student teaching.

Student teaching begins in the fall of the second year of the program  (the candidate's senior year) and continues through the end of spring quarter.

Student teaching is historically unpaid.  It is sometimes possible to work while student teaching, provided your work schedule does not conflict with your required student teaching commitment.

LCC has partnerships with the following school districts: Castle Rock, La Center, Longview, Kalama, Kelso, Klickitat, Ridgefield, Toutle Lake, Wahkiakum, Warrenton, OR, Winlock, and Woodland.

All Placements are assigned through a collaboration with school district human resources, building principals, mentor teachers, and BAS-TE Faculty.