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.
Policies
UTRGV Initial Certification Policy
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.
UTRGV Professional Certification Policy
Students in professional certification programs will have two years after program completion to take their certification exam. Within this two-year period, program completers who are requesting test approval will be reviewed by the department chair/program coordinator before approval is granted to ensure that all TAC requirements have been met. After the two-year period, program completers requesting testing approval will be reviewed by the department chair/program coordinator so that a new certification plan can be created as needed. This certification plan may include additional coursework or professional development and must be completed before testing approval is granted.
Change in State Standards and Teacher Certification
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.