Office of Educator Preparation and Accountability

Review our approval process to find out about deadlines and requirements.

• TExES Test Approval Process

Review the 2024 Schedule to register for a TExES Representative Exam session.

Visit the Office of Field Experiences website to review the Clinical Teaching program deadlines and requirements.

• Office of Field Experiences

The applicant can submit a Preliminary Criminal Background Evaluation .  
 
Pursuant to the Texas Education Code (TEC), §22.083, candidates must undergo criminal history background check prior to employment as an educator. Pursuant to the TEC, §22.0835, candidates must undergo a criminal history background check prior to clinical teaching.  
 
As required by Texas HB1508, applicants need to be aware of the following.  

1. To receive certification in Texas, you must pass a criminal history background check.
2. If you have been convicted of an offense that is considered not appropriate for an educator, you could be ineligible to earn this certification from the state of Texas.
3. You have a right to request a preliminary criminal history evaluation letter from the Texas Education Agency prior to admission into this program. The Texas Education Agency currently charges a $50 fee for this criminal history evaluation.  

In accordance with 19 TAC 228.35 (a)(5), and in alignment with organizational transfer credit policies , UTRGV’s College of Education and P-16 Integration may accept military service, training, or education toward the fulfillment of program requirements. Military service, training, or education must be directly related to the certificate being sought and may not take the place of certification examinations. Service, training, or education may not count as part of an internship, clinical teaching, or practicum requirement and must be provided by an approved Educator Preparation Program or accredited institution of higher education within the past five years.

19 TAC §228.35 (a)(5)(B), Candidates who are not military service members or military veterans to substitute prior or ongoing service, training, or education, provided that the experience, education, or training is not also counted as a part of the internship, clinical teaching, or practicum requirements, was provided by an approved EPP or an accredited institution of higher education within the past five years, and is directly related to the certificate being sought.

• Transfer Credit Policies  

The Educator Preparation Program (EPP) at the UTRGV is grateful for the investment and sacrifice of our military service members and veterans.  

The program and curricula have been designed to effectively prepare candidates to be successful on certification examinations and in the profession. A review of military service, training, or education can be requested by contacting the Director of Educator Preparation and Accountability.  

Any coursework credit considerations must include the following parameters, which have been developed in accordance with Texas Administrative Code (19 TAC 228.35 and 19 TAC 234) and under the discretion of the EPP:  

• Training or education must have been received within the last five years;  
• Training or education must be directly tied to the grade level/content area of the certification being sought;  
• There must be strong evidence that any credit considerations would be a replacement for the instruction/content and that candidate performance on certification examinations or professional experiences would not be negatively impacted;  
• Certification exams may not be waived or credited;  
• Field-based experiences (30-hours) cannot be waived or credited unless the candidate has experiences as a long-term substitute as outlined in 19 TAC 228.35(e)(1)(C);  
• A full day clinical teaching assignment up to 5 full days fewer (or up to 10 half days fewer for half-day assignments) than the minimum requirement if due to military leave may be permitted based on 19 TAC 228.35(e)(2)(A)(iv); and  
• An internship of up to 30 school days fewer than the minimum if due to military leave may be permitted based on 19 TAC 228.35(e)(2)(B)(i).  

Additional considerations can be made for our military service members and military veterans on a case-by-case basis. Final determination will be communicated to the candidate by the Director of Educator Preparation and Accountability.

• Educator Occupational Outlook  

• Effects of Supply and Demand in the Field of Education  

• Educator Preparation Program Performance

A $35 TEA technology fee is assessed at admission to a program leading to educator certification.  

• Code of Ethics