Applying for Certification
NOTE: Teacher candidates are required to complete a national fingerprint background check; for more information visit http://tea.texas.gov/Texas_Educators/Certification/Fingerprinting/.
- Applying for Certification is a TWO-STEP Process.
- Certification applications are complete when both steps have been completed.
- Applications are processed in the order they are received and take 5-7 working days depending on volume.
Requirements
The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) College of Education & P-16 Integration (CEP) Leadership Team has established the following policy with input from the Advisory Committee, effective immediately. All teacher candidates defined as “program finishers” fulfilling all the Educator Preparation Program (EPP) requirements including clinical teaching and confirmation of a degree, must fulfill State Certification testing requirements to become eligible for recommendation of certification to the State of Texas.
Program finisher(s) must request recommendation for teacher certification immediately upon conferred degree by UTRGV and no longer than 3 calendar years after fulfilling all degree requirements. This applies to all current teacher candidates formally admitted to EPPs as of Fall 2015.
Timeframe for Receiving Teacher Certification Recommendation
If program finisher/teacher candidate is not test-complete by time a bachelor’s degree has been conferred, all testing requirements must be met within 3 calendar years to apply for teacher certification and be eligible to receive recommendation for certification from UTRGV.
Change in State Standards and Teacher Certification
Subsequent to completion of degree and request for approval to take the State Certification exam , ; the current TEA regulations will be adhered to. Therefore, candidates may be required to fulfill additional requirements not present at the time of initial completion of degree.
Students in professional certification programs are highly encouraged to take their certification exam(s) within one year after program completion to avoid possible program and testing criteria changes that may occur. Within this one-year period students can reference the Test Approval Process for exam preparation and approval (Undergraduate students). If students need assistance on navigating the approval process, they may reach out to the Certification Exam Support Hub (CESH) for support (Undergraduate students); or their respective department (Master’s Program candidates).
Program completers who have been out of school five years or more requesting test approval will be referred to their respective department where the department chair/program coordinator will create a certification plan and discuss any recent exam, or standards changes if applicable. This certification plan may include additional coursework or professional development and must be completed before testing approval is granted.
If TEA certification standards change between the time that the program is complete and the time that certification is sought, the new standards must be met. This may mean taking additional courses or completing additional requirements in the form of a certification plan.