|
GENERAL
REQUIREMENTS updated
6/9/08
Anyone
seeking educator certification in Texas
must pass examinations of professional
knowledge and subject matter knowledge
approved by the State Board for Educator
Certification. To obtain information
on these testing programs, click
here.
In
addition to passing the appropriate certification examinations,
applicants for a Texas educator certificate must satisfy other
requirements by following one of the several routes to educator
certification listed below and must apply for certification using
the Online Services for Educators link that is accessible from
our secure web site. To obtain additional information related to
application procedures, click
here.
ROUTES
TO EDUCATOR CERTIFICATION
1. University-based Programs
2. Alternative Programs for Educator Preparation
3. Additional Certification Based on Examination
4. Certification Based on Credentials from Outside Texas
5. Additional Routes to Certification
1. University-based Programs
These
programs are usually delivered as part of a baccalaureate degree
program. However, most colleges and universities have programs
designed to prepare people who already hold a bachelor's degree
and want to obtain educator certification. These programs may
vary by institution.
Approved
Educator Preparation Programs
2.
Alternative Programs for Educator Preparation
Some institutions of higher education and large school districts
have been approved by the State Board for Educator Certification
to operate alternative programs of preparation for teachers and
administrators. These programs may involve university coursework
or other professional development experiences as well as intense
mentoring and supervision, during the candidate's first year
in the role of educator. In addition, some regional education
service centers and private entities offer alternative programs
of preparation similar to the university/college based programs.
Approved
Educator Preparation Programs
3. Additional Certification Based on Examination
A teacher who holds an appropriate Texas classroom teaching
certificate and a bachelor's degree may add classroom certification
areas by successfully completing the appropriate certification
examination(s) for the area(s) sought. Certification by examination
is not available for:
- initial
certification;
- career
and technology certification based on skill and work experience;
- a
class of certificate other than classroom teacher (e.g. School
Counselor, Principal, Superintendent, Learning Resources/School
Librarian, Educational Diagnostician);
- a
certificate for which no certification examination has been
developed.
The first step toward additional certification by examination is passing an appropriate subject matter test. To access the appropriate websites for test registration, click here.
To
apply online for additional certification based on examination after you have passed a test,
click here.
4.
Certification Based on Credentials from Outside Texas
An applicant who has been issued a standard certificate or credential
from another state, territory of the United States , or another
country may apply for a Texas certificate. The credential must
be equivalent to a certificate issued by the State Board for
Educator Certification (SBEC), and must not have been revoked,
suspended, or pending such action. SBEC will evaluate an expired
credential provided it was standard at the time of issuance.
A statement issued by another state department of education specifying
eligibility for standard certification upon completion of certain
employment or examination requirements will have the same standing
as a standard certificate.
To
apply online for a review of credentials, click
here.
An
applicant who holds a standard credential issued by a jurisdiction
outside Texas , and who meets specified requirements as determined
by the review of credentials completed by the SBEC may be issued
a One-Year Certificate in one or more subject areas. During the
validity of this temporary, nonrenewable certificate, the applicant
must complete satisfactorily all appropriate examinations for
each certification area for which continued certification is
desired. If the person has completed an examination administered
under the authority of a jurisdiction outside Texas that is determined
to be comparable to a Texas test, they may request an exemption
of the Texas test. To review information on comparable out-of-state
tests, click here.
To
apply online for a One-Year Certificate, click
here.
To
establish eligibility for the Standard Certificate, certified
applicants from outside Texas must complete all requirements
specified in the certification plan prepared by the SBEC.
To
apply online for a Standard Certificate, click
here.
5. Additional Routes to Certification
An
applicant who holds a bachelor's degree or higher from an accredited
institution of higher education with an academic major that
is related to at least one area of the Texas public school
curriculum and related to the 8-12 certificate structure that
currently has an exam under the Texas Examination for Educator
Standards (TExES) program may be approved to enter the teaching
profession on a Temporary Teacher Certificate (TTC.) Applicants
for the TTC must undergo a review of transcripts by SBEC. For
additional information on the Temporary Teacher Certificate,
click here.
To
apply online for a review of transcripts or to apply for issuance
of the TTC, click here.
|
