I graduated, passed my PRAXIS, completed residency, but cannot obtain my Teacher Certificate. What should I do?
I am 22, and went to school in LA. While in residency I was placed with a new mentor teacher. My placement school was going through a transitional period and switch to a 3rd party HR.
HR was terrible at communicating, completing their portions of applications, etc. It was so bad that my residency coordinator wanted to move my classmates and myself to another location.
Long story short, my residency application expired 3 times and on the 4th time I was denied. Because my mentor teacher was having the same issues with HR and her Mentor Teacher add on wasn't added until APRIL 2026 ( she too had to fill out her application multiple times), they stated she was not eligible to mentor me until then ( she completed all requirements for the certification August 2025 ). I was assured many times not to freak out and that an appeal ( which i paid out of pocket for ) would fix everything. Everyone in my cohort graduated knowing they would do their Teacher Certification application expect for me.
I have taken the 5001, 7002, the PLT and passed. I was the highest ranking graduate of not only my college, but the Spring 2026 class.
The Appeal Meeting was finally held and I was once again denied. When I contacted my residency coordinator she stated that I should fill out another Residency Application for the 26-27 school year. Which i would have to be a student to qualify for and my college is 6 hrs away from home.
Im very frustrated and wondering what on Earth do I do now. I honestly want to cut all ties with my college because they caused me so much stress my last semester I began having seizures and I will NOT let these people take me out.
Is a Masters the answer? Another B.S. but in Middle school or Secondary education? iTeach, A+Pel Ready To Teach, or some other alternative route?
TLDR: My 4 year long education and obtainment of a B.S. in Elementary Education ( Gr 1-5 ) has not resulted in a Teachers Certificate due to the HR at my placements school chronic tardiness of letting my mentor teacher Mentor Teacher Add on application expire causing the state to deny my Residency application and the subsequent appeal. My advise from my school and my former residency coordinator's seems to be complete residency all over again. What should I do now to get a Teacher's certificate WITHOUT returning to my former school.