Job Search Timeline for Licensed PK-12 Positions

Fall Term

REQUIRED ACTION: DEGREE APPLICATION 

 December, May, July, and August Degree Candidates

• Submit your degree application, details linked here.

STUDENT COMMENCEMENT SPEAKER NOMINATIONS

Submit your nomination or self-nominate for the role of L&C Graduate School of Education and Counseling student commencement speaker; details linked here.

December/Early January

RÉSUMÉ, LICENSE PLACEHOLDER, and BUSINESS CARDS (optional)

Update your résumé. A sample résumé is available here.

• Consider creating a comprehensive résumé or cv that includes all of your experiences in and related to the profession. Use the comprehensive résumé as the source for creating résumés specific to each position to which you’re applying. 
• See licensure language for résumés at the bottom of this webpage.

Create a “license placeholder”—a PDF that you can upload to applications indicating your anticipated license. A sample license placeholder is linked here.

Optionally, create a business card to use during your job search. Business cards can contain your name, phone number and personal email address, your license information, type of position you are seeking, and an abbreviated version of your philosophy of education.

EMAIL, VOICEMAIL, and RING-BACKS

Create a personal email address, if you don’t already have one, that you check regularly and can use in the job search process.

• Do not use your Lewis & Clark email address during the job search as that email address will be discontinued shortly after you graduate.

Add your personal email address to your L&C profile by logging into your WebAdvisor account; instructions linked here.

Create a voicemail message that is simple and reflective of you as an educator entering the profession. Make sure that your VM box is not full and that you check it regularly.

If you have a ring-back tone, choose one that you feel is reflective of yourself as an educator entering the profession.

SOCIAL MEDIA PRESENCE

Search yourself using a variety of search engines. As possible, delete/untag anything that reflects unprofessionally on you as an educator.

NETWORKING: SHARING YOUR RÉSUMÉ

Introduce yourself to your building principal and the staff in the district office, including human resources, sharing your updated résumé.

• Professional organizations through which you can also network are listed here.

WHERE DO I WANT TO WORK?

Determine the geographic region(s) in which you would like to work. Identify the school districts within that region and find links to the district webpages and to their employment or human resources pages.

• Links to district maps are available here.

LICENSING (OUT-OF-STATE)

Begin collecting license application packets if you are planning to relocate outside of Oregon.

• Links to out-of-state licensing offices are available here.

SUBJECT AREA TESTS + edTPA/SECONDARY LAO

SUBJECT AREA TESTS

Register for and take any subject area tests that you have remaining.

• Find the score reports from tests you have already taken (you may need these reports in order to apply for licenses).
• Save the e-mails with your official score report(s). 
• Aim to have all required tests passed by the deadline recommended by your faculty program director.

edTPA OR SECONDARY LAO (STUDENT TEACHERS)

Complete and submit the edTPA or the Secondary LAO by the deadline recommended by your faculty program director.

CHECKING SCORE REPORTS

Make sure that WebAdvisor or Self-Service correctly lists all of your test and, if required, edTPA, results. Contact the Graduate Admissions re: missing results. gseadmit@lclark.edu

• Additional test and edTPA information is available here.

ORDERING TRANSCRIPTS

Order one or more copies of official, undergraduate and other degree-posted college/university transcripts to be sent to you at your home address.

Optionally, order one Lewis & Clark graduate transcript from the Graduate Registrar’s office to demonstrate to districts that you are in the process of completing a license and/or degree program. 

You will use these official transcripts as you apply for jobs, when you are hired, and when you apply for your license(s).

• Information on ordering official transcripts is available here.

LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION, PAST EXPERIENCES (optional)

Optionally, collect letters of recommendation from former supervisors of both paid and unpaid positions.

• You’ll be collecting letters of recommendation from your Lewis & Clark student teaching and internship experiences later in the spring.
• Hint: Offer your reference-writer a list of 4-bulleted skills/abilities that they could expand on as they write your letter. A copy of your resume would work, as well.

LinkedIn OR PROFESSIONAL WEBPAGE (optional)

Optionally, create and maintain a professional LinkedIn page or similar website that can be shared with prospective employers. 

Mid-to-Late January/February/March

CHECKING VACANCIES

In January, begin regularly checking the vacancy links on school district employment or human resources webpages.

• Additional vacancy sites are linked here.

APPLY FOR CERTIFICATED POSITIONS

Complete district applications as positions become available.

• You can apply for positions before you complete your degree and/or licensure programs.

VIRTUAL SPACES FOR ONLINE INTERVIEWS

Plan ahead to identify spaces where you can participate in virtual interviews with minimal distractions. 

IN-PROCESS LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION, CURRENT PROGRAM (only if required)

Final letters of recommendation for candidates in L&C programs are typically available in mid-April or May.

If you are actively involved in the hiring process with a school district prior to your final letters being available AND the school district requires letters of recommendation in order for you to complete your application, work with your faculty program director re: obtaining early, place-holder letters of recommendation from your cooperating teacher, district supervisor, L&C supervisor, and/or administrator. Update these letters in April/May.

• Hint: Offer your reference-writer a list of 4-bulleted skills/abilities that they could expand on as they write your letter. A copy of your resume would work, as well.

REGISTER FOR AND ATTEND NETWORKING AND RECRUITING EVENTS 

Register for and attend educator networking fairs and district recruiting events. 

Request a full- or half-day away from your student teaching or internship site to attend longer events such as the Oregon Professional Educator Fair.

For current L&C candidates: Watch your L&C email in February for information on registering to attend the L&C-only Metro Educator Fair.

• A complete listing of educator recruiting events is available here. 

April/May

ATTEND NETWORKING AND RECRUITING EVENTS 

Continue attending educator fairs and other recruiting events.

• A complete listing of educator recruiting events is available here.

CHECKING VACANCIES

Continue checking the vacancy links on school district employment or human resources webpages. 

• Additional vacancy sites are linked here.

APPLY AND INTERVIEW FOR CERTIFICATED POSITIONS

Continue filling out district applications and interviewing. Send thank you notes to interviewers.

FINAL LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION, CURRENT PROGRAM

Collect final letters of recommendation from your cooperating teacher or district supervisor, L&C supervisor, and your building or other administrator.

• Request that the letters be written on letterhead. Aim for a total of three-to-five letters of recommendation.
• Hint: Offer your reference-writer a list of 4-bulleted skills/abilities that they could expand on as they write your letter. A copy of your resume would work, as well.

CELEBRATE!

L&C GSEC COMMENCEMENT, Sunday, May 17, 2026

L&C GSEC commencement details linked here.

June/July/August

APPLY AND INTERVIEW FOR CERTIFICATED POSITIONS

Continue the application and interview process. 

APPLY FOR YOUR LICENSE

Once you have completed all of your Preliminary (or first) License requirements (including course work, work samples, edTPA, tests…), you will automatically receive a “congratulations” e-mail from Lewis & Clark Graduate School indicating that you are eligible to apply to TSPC for your Oregon and out-of-state licenses.

Once you receive the “congratulations” e-mail, you can begin the licensing process for Oregon and out-of-state. 

Make sure that your Oregon license, once issued, appears correctly on TSPC’s Public Educator Search webpage.

• License instructions are available here. 

ORDERING FINAL, DEGREE-POSTED L&C TRANSCRIPTS

Once you receive your master’s or specialist degree, order an official transcript from the Graduate Registrar’s office to be sent to your school district’s human resource office so that they can place you at the appropriate point on their salary schedule.

Optionally, order an official, degree-posted transcript for your personal records, as well.

• Information on ordering transcripts is available here.