Former Educator Preparation Program Finishers Seeking Approval for Initial Certification after Completing Any Middle School, High School, or All Level Certification Degree Program

Before being approved to take the certification exams for which they have earned an undergraduate degree, the student:

1. Must meet all current applicable TEA certification requirements (e.g., grade point average and reading, writing and math scores, six hours of test preparation).
2. May be asked to repeat or take refresher content area courses depending on the certification exam(s) to be taken and an evaluation of the student’s test history and degree transcripts. Hours/courses to be taken will be determined by the Director of the Office of Teacher Certification & Admission Services, the Chair of the Department of Curriculum and Instruction and the COE Associate Dean of Undergraduate Studies in consultation with the Department Chair of the student’s major area of study.
3. Must complete any other requirements deemed necessary by the Director of the Office of Teacher Certification & Admission Services, the Chair of the Department of Curriculum and Instruction and the COE Associate Dean of Undergraduate Studies (e.g., participation in the test preparation, passing TExES representative exams).
4. Upon completion of required coursework and/or fulfillment of other certification requirements, the student will have three years to take the exam with no additional expectations. After three years, the student may be required to retake coursework and/or complete other requirements before being permitted to retake certification exam(s).

Former EC-4 Students Seeking Approval for EC-6 Generalist Exam

These requirements apply to students who were NOT prepared under the current EC-6 Generalist, EC-6 Bilingual Generalist or EC-6 Generalist with EC-12 Special Education Specialization test standards who are requesting approval to take exams. This includes:

• Former students who graduated in 80s, 90s, and early 2000’s under old education degree plans
• More recent students who graduated under an EC-4 Generalist degree plan

These students will be required to:

• Meet all applicable TEA certification requirements (e.g., grade point average and reading, writing and math scores, six hours of test preparation).
• Take education and/or content courses (numbers of hours will vary) depending on the certification exam(s) to be taken and an evaluation of the student’s test history and degree transcripts. Hours/courses to be taken will be determined by the Director of the Office of Teacher Certification & Admission Services, the Chair of the Department of Curriculum and Instruction and the COE Associate Dean of Undergraduate Studies.
• Complete any other requirements deemed necessary by the Director of the Office of Teacher Certification & Admission Services, the Chair of the Department of Curriculum and Instruction and the COE Associate Dean of Undergraduate Studies (e.g., participation in test preparation, passing TExES representative exams).
• Upon completion of required coursework and fulfillment of other certification requirements, the student will have three years to take the exam with no additional expectations. After three years, the student may be required to retake coursework and complete other requirements before being permitted to retake certification exam(s).

NOTE:

*As of September 1, 2014, the Generalist EC-6 exam will require passing scores on each domain or section for an overall passing score:

• English Language Arts and Reading
• Mathematics, and
• Science/Social Studies/PE/Health/Fine Arts

*Due to the expiration of the TOPT, beginning September 1, 2011, students pursuing the EC-6 Bilingual Generalist Exam will be required to take the Bilingual Target Language Proficiency Test (BTLPT) to be certified as an EC-6 Bilingual Generalist teacher. This is in addition to the aforementioned requirements.

Interested students will need to call 956-665-3420 to schedule an appointment to meet with the Director.