Texas Certification Requirements

Minimum Requirements

  • Undergraduate degree
  • Successful completion of the UTeach Natural Sciences Program
  • Paid application through the TEAL Login from the TEA website
    • Click on View My Educator Certification Account in your Application Tab above your TEA ID Number.
    • Verify your Contact Information
    • Click on the Application side left menu to select and apply for the certification
    • This can be done at ANY TIME during the final field experience to begin the process
  • Pass all required TExES exams
    • Access to exams is provided only to candidates who have been accepted into the Final Field Experience after the 12th university class day of the semester
  • Complete the state required fingerprinting process.

Certification Process

As soon as grades are posted, UTeach provides program completion documentation to the University’s Certification Officer.  The Certification Officer checks the list above and recommends students for certification if all requirements are met.

Documentation is not sent if:

  • The candidate is registered for courses after the Final Field Experience semester.
  • The candidate is missing any degree requirements.
  • The candidate has not applied to graduate.

Undergraduates

For certification purposes, the candidate is considered an undergraduate if their degree will be awarded in the same semester of the Final Field Experience or after that semester.

Degrees must become official before the candidate can be recommended for certification.

The candidate needs to:

  • Apply through the TEAL Login
  • Select: University of Texas - Austin (University Based)
  • Complete the fingerprinting process
  • Pass all required TExES exams

Degree-holders

For certification purposes, the candidate is considered a degree-holder if they earned an undergraduate degree before the Final Field Experience. There are 2 options, when the candidate applies to SBEC.

The candidate can be recommended for certification as soon as grades post.

The candidate needs to:

  • Apply through the TEAL Login
    • OPTION 1: If the candidate is seeking certification alone, select: University of Texas - Austin (Alternative)
    • OPTION 2: If the candidate is seeking another degree (such as a graduate degree) in addition to certification, select: University of Texas - Austin (University Based)
  • Complete the fingerprinting process
  • Pass all required TExES exams

If the Candidate Applies for the Wrong Certification Pathway

University Based? Alternative? See above for which pathway to select. Or ask the UTeach Advisor. (Include your UT EID and TEAL#).

It is definitely confusing. If the candidate applied for the incorrect certification pathway, they can get it changed. The TEA Help page has instructions for changing the pathway on the application. 

Where’s The Certification?

Wondering where the certification is? Here are some possibilities:

  • Did the candidate apply to graduate? Is the candidates degree official yet? 
  • Did the candidate apply to and paid for the certification? (Through Your TEAL Account under Applications)
    • Standard Certification
      • Degree awarded in the Final Field Experience semester or after, select: University of Texas - Austin (University Based)
      • Degree awarded before the Final Field Experience semester AND the candidate is seeking another degree, select: University of Texas - Austin (University Based)
      • Degree awarded before the Final Field Experience semester and the candidate is not seeking another degree, select: University of Texas - Austin (Alternative)
  • Has the candidate completed the fingerprinting process?
  • Has the candidate taken and passed all exams? IMPORTANT: The number of retakes is now limited. More information about these new limits is available from TEA.
  • Did the candidate finish coursework or degree requirements after the Final Field Experience? Send us an email to let us know you’re ready to be certified.
  • Did the candidate finish coursework for certification after the degree became official? Send us an email to let us know you’re ready to be certified.

FINGERPRINTING:

Did the candidate complete the fingerprinting process, but the SBEC application still shows that as incomplete? This is a known glitch in the system. Call TEA Fingerprinting at 512 936 8400/option 3. Options for other certification questions are also available.

Important Note: There is a Limit on the number of Retakes for TExES exams

As of September 1, 2015, candidates are limited to four retakes on a certification test, in accordance with HB 2205, 84th Texas Legislature, 2015.

In January 2016 the ETS Eligibility web service was changed to not send test approvals for a specific test when the educator has reached or exceeded the exam limit of 5 attempts for that test. Please note that the exam registration system does not prevent a person from registering for more than one test on their fifth attempt. If a person registers for more than one Core Subjects subtest (800 series test), and if the person passes on a sixth attempt, that person will need to request a waiver for the attempt to count for certification.

Details about educator testing are available on the TEA website. There's also an FAQ about limits on the number of test attempt.

There is a 45 day wait period between exam attempts. The candidate must communicate with the Clinical Faculty and UTeach Advisor if they are seeking to retest as there are policies associated with this process.