Texas Educator Certification Requirements
Texas educator certificates are issued by the Texas Education Agency. In accordance with the rules of the State Board of Education, candidates applying for an initial teaching certificate in the State of Texas must meet the requirements for a bachelor's degree with an academic major related to the public school curriculum.
Candidates applying for a professional certificate must hold a master's degree and complete an approved educator preparation program.
Students must apply for and be admitted to UHCL's initial Teacher Education Program (TEP) in order to complete the required certification coursework.
Initial Teacher Certification Requirements
Upon completion of the UHCL Teacher Education Program, students must meet the following requirements to be eligible for certification:
- Minimum grade of "C-" in UHCL courses
- Minimum 2.50 overall GPA in the content area courses
- Minimum 3.0 overall GPA in pedagogy courses
- Minimum grade of "B-" in Pre-Service Internship I
- Passing scores on all required state assessments.
Advance Educator Certification Requirements
Upon completion of a UHCL Advanced Certification program, graduate students must meet the following requirements to be eligible for certification:
- Minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0
- Minimum grades of "C" or better required in all graduate level course work.
- Note that some programs require higher grades in specific courses.
- Passing scores on all required state assessments.
Certification by Exam
If you hold a valid Texas classroom teaching certificate and a bachelor's degree you may add classroom certification areas by completing the appropriate examination. For additional information visit the TEA Additional Certification by Exam webpage.
Texas Educators' Code of Ethics Reminder
All educators, educator candidates and educator preparation program faculty and staff must adhere to the Texas Educators’ Code of Ethics.
Texas Administrative Code, Title 19, Part 7, Chapter 249, gives the State Board for Educator Certification the authority to suspend or revoke an educator certificate or refuse to issue a certificate to a person who has been convicted of a felony or misdemeanor which directly relates to the duties and responsibilities of the educator profession.