Alternative Certification

About UHCL’s Alternative Certification Program Information (ACP)

• A teacher training program for initial teacher certification candidates who have previously earned a bachelor’s degree.
• Candidates can be employed as full-time teachers while completing required coursework.
• Program length may be from one to two years. (Three years if intern certificate, then probationary certification.)
• UCHL ACP meets the requirements of the U.S. Department of Education (USDE) definition of “highly qualified” under the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB).
• An uncertified educator is able to meet this “highly qualified” definition by:
  • Having earned a bachelor’s degree or higher from an approved institution;
  • Having been admitted to a State Board for Educator Certification (SBEC) approved ACP; and
  • Having passed the content state assessments required for the certification area being sought.
• Some certification plans may be combined with a master’s degree plan.

To Qualify for UHCL ACP

1) State Assessment

For Intern Certificate

Candidates must pass all of the required TExES content state assessments in the designated certification areas prior to seeking a position within a school district.  Bilingual candidates must pass all of the required TExES content area state assessments along with the BTLPT prior to seeking a position within a school district.

For Probationary Certificate

Candidates must pass all of the required TExES content state assessments in the designated certification areas and pass the PPR TExES exam (or edTPA) prior to seeking a position within a school district.  Bilingual candidates must pass all of the required TExES content area state assessments along with the BTLPT prior to seeking a position within a school district.

2) Enrollment

Candidates must be admitted to UHCL by the Office of Enrollment Services.  Enroll as a “College of Education Graduate” and in the section labeled “Graduate Teaching Cert (ND)” check the certificate she/he is pursuing. 

Candidates must be:

• Accepted as a “post-baccalaureate teacher certification” student; or
•  Accepted as a “graduate teacher certification” student.

3) Grade Point Average (GPA)

Candidates must have at least a 3.0 overall GPA.  This overall GPA includes all coursework from all collegiate institutions attended – not just UHCL.  If a candidate does not have a 3.0 overall GPA, then a 3.0 GPA in the last 60 hours of coursework may be accepted (includes all coursework taken during the 60th credit hour semester).

4) Application

Candidates must complete the ACP Application available in the CPDT office (B-1231.04).  Transcripts from all universities attended must accompany the application or be on file with the university.  Candidates must meet eligibility requirements for each year that they are in the program.

5) Fees

• Pay UHCL tuition and fees required for coursework.
• Pay UHCL ACP program fees for TCED 4678, TCED 4679 and TCED 4079, as follows:
  • $60 non-refundable ACP application fee, payable to “UHCL”;
  • $45 non-refundable fee to change the certification area listed on the ACP application, once the application has been processed.
  • UHCL ACP program fee of $750 per semester, in semesters one and two, payable to “UHCL”;
  • UHCL ACP program fee of $450 program fee per semester, in semester three and later, if the candidate is still completing the coursework, payable to “UHCL”.
• Independent School District of Hire may assess program fees, in addition to those assessed by UHCL.  Candidate is responsible for payment of school district program fees, if any, separate from UHCL’s program fees.  Please refer to your school district agreement/employment contract. 
• $116 per TExES exam required for certification, payable on the Pearson Testing site.
• $78.00 paid to the State Board of Educator Certification (SBEC) for probationary certificate or intern certificate. Re-apply yearly for a maximum of three years.
• $40.25 for fingerprinting information to be added to certificate.
• $10.00 for fingerprinting scans by Morpho Trust/IdentoGo, to be sent to the TEA for a background check.
• $37.00 Texas Education Agency Admission (Technology) Fee
• $78.00 TEA fee for the standard teaching certificate at the end of the program.

6) Teaching Position

• Candidates must have completed 30 documented clock hours of K-12 experience or observation prior to securing a teaching position within a school district.  Thirty (30) documented clock hours criteria*:
  • Authentic school settings in a public school accredited by the TEA or other school approved by the TEA for this purpose;
  • Instruction by content certified teachers;
  • Actual students in classrooms/instructional settings with identity-proof provisions;
  • Content or grade-level specific classrooms/instructional settings; and
  • Reflection on the observation.
• Candidates must be admitted to the Teacher Education Program (TEP) prior to securing a teaching position within a school district.
• Candidates must obtain, and submit to the CPDT, a contract or “Letter of Intent to Hire”, from one of the participating independent school districts listed below, prior to January 1st (spring semester) or August 1st (fall semester), then –
  • Apply for Probationary or Intern Certificate with fees on the TEA Website.
  • Register for TCED 4678 Post-degree Internship I prior to semester late registration date.
• Candidates may only be hired to teach in their area of certification.
• Candidates must submit all required documentation to the CPDT office prior to the start of the teaching position.

A program acceptance letter will be mailed to candidates when all requirements have been met.

*Substitute teaching and instructional aide experience does not meet all of the criteria for 30 clock-hours (TAC §228.35). Up to 15 clock hours may be satisfied by serving as a long-term substitute. Service record required to verify.

Independent School District (ISD) of Hire to Choose From:

7) Additional Requirements

• The Texas Education Agency (TEA) requires that all candidates remain under university supervision while in the program and serving as the Teacher of Record in a public school;
• Candidates may remain on a probationary certificate for one to two years while completing coursework and serving as the Teacher of Record in a public school, if satisfactory progress is being made;
• An intern certificate is limited to one 12 month period. (TAC7, 230.36), however, a candidate who served a year on an intern certificate may be eligible for a probationary certificate for their second and third year;
• Enrollment in TCED 4678 Post Degree Internship I (1st semester);
• Enrollment in TCED 4679 Post Degree Internship II (2nd semester);
• Enrollment in TCED 4079 in subsequent semesters while finishing program requirements; and
• Periodic eligibility audits.

Once the candidate has completed all course requirements, candidate will be given information on how to apply for a standard teaching certification.  

For more information about the program, contact UHCL College of Education, 281-283-3600.