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Sharing research and resources for aspiring educators seeking to attain their teacher certification in Texas.

At Educate Texas, we recognize that teachers are the most important in-school factors affecting student learning. Any long-term plan for student academic success, and college and career readiness, must include strategies for improving the effectiveness of our teachers. To achieve the goal of placing an effective teacher in every Texas classroom, we recognize that we must collaborate and share our resources in order to help guide future Texas teachers to their certifications.

This site provides cohesive information, so that anyone seeking to become a teacher in Texas can make an informed decision about choosing the right path to their teacher certification.

 

 

Educator Preparation Programs in Texas

In order to become a certified teacher, you must complete an approved Educator Preparation Program.

Educator Preparation Programs (EPPs) are entrusted to deliver high-quality curriculum in order to prepare our future teachers. The Texas Administration Code requires that all teacher candidates go through an EPP in order to become certified as a Texas Teacher.

Texas

Texas offers over 200 EPPs, either through universities or alternative programs

Each EPP varies widely

Each EPP varies widely in admission requirements, graduation rates, placement, and post-placement retention

Knowing the right EPP to choose can be difficult.

Knowing the right EPP to choose can be difficult to discover, and navigating the available resources can be confusing

Lack of Resources

The lack of easily navigable resources can become a barrier for those seeking to become an educator

An EPP or Educator Preparation Program is an entity approved by the State Board for Educator Certification (SBEC) that prepares and authorizes teacher candidates for their certification examinations and equips them with the right skillsets for the classroom environment. EPPs can be located at universities, school districts, education service centers, community colleges, or private entities in Texas.  

University Programs offer a route to teacher certification that simultaneously allows the teacher candidate to obtain a bachelor’s degree or higher. Teacher candidates who already hold a bachelor’s degree may also attend a University Program’s EPP. 

A teacher candidate can expect to apply to a specific college in a university, as well as the EPP provided by the college. Every University Program will vary in the coursework they require to obtain a degree, as well as in their approach in preparing teachers and providing them with the required Educator Preparation Curriculum. You can expect the following plans for different candidate pathways:

Candidates seeking a bachelor’s degree along with their teacher certification

  • Plan a 4-year commitment as you work through your bachelor’s degree on top of completing the minimum number of coursework and training hours required by the EPP.
  • Part of your education will include a minimum of 14 weeks of clinical teaching, meaning your program will help place you in a classroom with a mentor teacher as you learn to navigate your way through lessons.

Candidates holding a bachelor’s degree seeking their teacher certification

  • Plan to spend 1 – 2 years in the EPP.
  • Some programs allow you to obtain a one-year paid internship while completing your program.
  • If you do not gain an internship, you will need to complete a minimum of 14 weeks of clinical teaching, meaning your program will help place you in a classroom with a mentor teacher as you learn to navigate your way through lessons.

Candidates seeking a master’s degree with their teacher certification

  • Plan a 2-year commitment as you work through your master’s degree on top of completing the minimum number of coursework and training hours required by the EPP.
  • Some programs allow you to obtain a one-year paid internship while completing your program.
  • If you do not gain an internship, you will need to complete a minimum of 14 weeks of clinical teaching, meaning your program will help place you in a classroom with a mentor teacher as you learn to navigate your way through lessons.

Alternative Certification Programs are offered to teacher candidates who already hold a bachelor’s degree. While each Alternative Certification EPP will have a different approach to preparing teachers and providing them with the required Educator Preparation Curriculum, you can expect the following plan for each:

  • Plan to spend 1 – 2 years in the EPP as you complete your coursework and training hours.
  • Some programs allow you to obtain a one-year paid internship while completing your program.
  • If you do not gain an internship, you will need to complete a minimum of 14 weeks of clinical teaching, meaning your program will help place you in a classroom with a mentor teacher as you learn to navigate your way through lessons.

While we cannot advise on the specific program that may be right for you, we can give you information on the programs that are out there and how to find the program that is right for you.

The Texas Education Agency (TEA) provides an online tool that enables you to sort approved EPPs by program type and certification.

If you are uncertain about the type of program and/or certification that best fits you, then view our Pathways to Certification and we can help walk you through your options.