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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 are defined as “program finishers” and are eligible for certification when they fulfill all the Educator Preparation Program (EPP) requirements including clinical teaching and confirmation of a degree, and 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.
Program finisher(s) must request recommendation for standard certification upon conferring degree by UTRGV. Candidates are recommended to refer to the Office of Educator Preparation and Accountability webpage for a description of the current certification application process.
UTRGV Graduate Certification Policy
The UTRGV CEP Leadership Team has established the following policy with input from the Advisory Committee. All candidates are defined as “program finishers” and are eligible for certification when they fulfill all the Educator Preparation Program (EPP) requirements including practicum or internship, conferral of a degree, and submission of passing scores on comprehensive examinations prescribed by SBEC (TAC 230.13).
Program finisher(s) must request recommendation for standard certification upon conferring degree by UTRGV. Candidates are recommended to refer to the Office of Educator Preparation and Accountability web page for a description of the current certification application process.
Students in initial and 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 finishers who have been out of school one or more years requesting test approval will be referred to their respective department chair/program coordinator if standards and/or test has changed. TAC 228.31 (e)
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. TAC 228.31(e)