Teacher Certification Pathway
Declaration Directions for Students
Declaring your Teacher Certification Pathway
As students you must officially declare your teacher certification pathway prior to enrolling in
SED 420. You are not formally accepted into the Undergraduate Teacher Certification Pathway until
you have submitted a declaration application in Tk20 and the declaration application has been
approved.
What do I need to do to declare my teacher education pathway?
1. Register for and take the Praxis CORE tests. See the Praxis CORE Handout for score
information, where to register, costs, and help. You can find the Praxis CORE handout here:
http://usm.maine.edu/sites/default/files/teacher-education/Core-Praxis--II-Tests.pdf
2. Write a short essay (about 300 words) answering the following questions:
o What has influenced you to want to become a teacher?
o What do you feel you can bring to the classroom as a teacher?
 Make sure that your essay is written with few to no grammatical errors, reads smoothly,
provides the reader with clear examples of your experiences with children or students,
and explain why becoming a teacher is important to you.
 Write the essay using a word processing program, such as Microsoft Word.
 Be sure to save the essay and have it available when you log into the Tk20 site to
complete your declaration application.
3. Ask two individuals to complete recommendation forms. The forms are available in the
Tk20 Declaration application.
 One recommendation must be from a professor or instructor with whom you have
taken at least one class.
 The second recommendation must be from someone in a supervisory position who has
first-hand knowledge of your experience with and dispositions toward working with or
teaching school-aged children/adolescents.
Need help with the Tk20 application process?
Contact Colleen Pleau at 780-5772, cpleau@usm.maine.edu, or visit 8 Bailey Hall, USM Gorham
4. Complete the Maine Department of Education Criminal History Records Check (CHRC) The
step-by-step instructions for completing this are posted on the Maine DOE website:
http://wwwmaine.gov/doe/cert/fingerprinting/approval-instructions.html
 Have a scanned copy of your finger printing card ready for uploading to your declaration
application.
 This documentation is necessary for field placements in the education cluster courses
and internship. It is not used as criteria for entry or continued progress in teacher
certification pathways.
5. Make sure that you have a GPA of at least 3.0 in USM coursework to date.
 It is recommended that you have completed approximately 30 credits
6. Submit your Teacher Certification Declaration Application in Tk20.
 You will submit your declaration application in Tk20 by going to the following URL:
https://usmmaine.tk20.com/
 To submit your application you will need to create a free Tk20 Admissions Account.
 Once your declaration application is reviewed and approved you will be required to
purchase a Tk20 account.
How do I submit my Teacher Certification Declaration Application in Tk20?
You will submit your declaration application in Tk20 by going to the following URL:
https://usmmaine.tk20.com/
First, you will need to create a free Tk20 Admissions Account. Follow these steps:
1. Click on the Admissions sub-tab located on the right side of your login page, then select the
link, Click here to create your account.
2. Complete the required fields (*) Name, Email, Address, Password, Security Question.
Need help with the Tk20 application process?
Contact Colleen Pleau at 780-5772, cpleau@usm.maine.edu, or visit 8 Bailey Hall, USM Gorham
3. Complete the captcha (fill in the word) as directed; then select Create My Account.
4. Once you have created your account, your username will automatically populate in the
field:
 Enter your password > select Login
Second, once you have an Admissions Account, you will create your Teacher Education Declaration
Application in Tk20. To do so you will:
1. Login using your admission account username and password, then select Create New
Application
2. Select the name/type of the application you wish to complete from the drop down menu,
then select Continue
a. You should select Undergraduate Teacher Certification Declaration Application
from the dropdown menu.
You will see general information and if applicable any checklist items that are required.
Select Next to continue to the next page.
3. Fill out the application as directed. Any fields with an asterisk (*) must be filled in before the
system will let you submit. Select Next when ready to proceed to the next page.
Once you have created an admission account and set up a declaration account you are ready to
upload your materials.
Need help with the Tk20 application process?
Contact Colleen Pleau at 780-5772, cpleau@usm.maine.edu, or visit 8 Bailey Hall, USM Gorham
How do I upload materials to my declaration application?
University of Southern Maine Application for Teacher Certification Concentration Declaration
Directions:
1. Indicate the Certification level and Content you are pursuing.
2. Choose your Major with Teacher Certification Concentration from the list by clicking on the
box in front of each choice.
3. Click on the Select file button to attach the scanned copy of your Criminal History Records
Check (CHRC) finger printing card.
4. Click on the Select File button to attach your 300-word essay.
5. Download the recommendation forms and upload scanned, completed forms in your Tk20
declaration application.
6. Complete the Preparedness Survey in the Application, this form is simply used for program
evaluation purposes and responses are not used as criteria for declaration into a teacher
certification pathway.
7. Complete the Technology Competency Survey in the Application, this form is simply used
for program evaluation purposes and responses are not used as criteria for declaration into
a teacher certification pathway.
Need help with the Tk20 application process?
Contact Colleen Pleau at 780-5772, cpleau@usm.maine.edu, or visit 8 Bailey Hall, USM Gorham
8. Click Application if you are ready to send your application for review. *(You also have the
option of clicking “Save changes and exit” at any time to save your application if you need
to come back to it at a later date in order to add more information. Additionally, you can
click “Cancel” if you wish to delete your application and start over). Once you click “Submit,”
your basic application is complete!
What happens after my declaration application is submitted?
Once you have submitted your declaration application it will be reviewed. If approved you will need
to subscribe to Tk20 (have a paying subscription).
Subscribing to Tk20
All undergraduate students in teacher certification pathways at USM from summer 2013 or later
are required to subscribe to the Tk20 online data management system. The subscription allows
students to use the system for assessment, advisement, field-experience and career portfolio
management. The subscription fee of $103 covers some of the expenses related to the
administration and assessment of the program. For loan purposes, it will be eligible
for consideration as part of costs. The subscription is a one-time payment and must be made by
each student during the first semester of program or pathway matriculation (check with individual
programs and pathways for specific subscription timelines). Subscription instructions are posted on
the Office of Educator Preparation web site: http://usm.maine.edu/educatorpreparation
Please note Professional Education Council Policy: In order for USM’s Education Preparation Unit
program completers to be recommended by the institution to the state for certification or licensure,
the candidate must provide evidence of meeting all certification requirements including proficiency
on the standards relevant to his/her state approved professional program and this evidence must
be compiled and assessed with in the context of the Unit’s data management system (i.e., Tk20).
How do subscribe to Tk20 after my declaration application has been approved?
1. To purchase your Tk20 account, you will need to access the USM Tk20 login page:
usmmaine.tk20.com
Need help with the Tk20 application process?
Contact Colleen Pleau at 780-5772, cpleau@usm.maine.edu, or visit 8 Bailey Hall, USM Gorham
2. From here, you will be able to click a link to purchase your student account for $103.00 by
credit card.
3. Once purchased, you will receive an email stating that your account has been activated. It
can take up to 2-3 days to activate your Tk20 account.
** Tk20 Navigation Tips
Note: You have the option of clicking “Save” at any time to save
your application if you need to come back to it at a later date in
order to add more information. The application is fairly long—so
do not forget to click “Save” before closing or leaving the session.
•
Back – will take you to the previous page
•
Save Changes and Exit – allows you to save your work and
come back at a later time
•
Submit Application Now – submits your application for
review
•
Cancel – deletes any work that had been started
Need help with the Tk20 application process?
Contact Colleen Pleau at 780-5772, cpleau@usm.maine.edu, or visit 8 Bailey Hall, USM Gorham