The Road to Certification

1
The Road to Certification

• Understanding and planning for the completion of
  your Texas teacher certification requirements.

2
Certification Requirements vs. Degree Requirements

• Meeting degree requirements will award you a
  bachelors degree.
• Meeting certification requirements will award you
  a teaching certificate.
• The academic coursework and field experience
  requirements for teacher certification are met
  through the completion of your degree plan or
  post-baccalaureate certification plan.

3
Certification Requirements vs. Degree Requirements

• Additional certification requirements
• Completion of the Educator Preparation Program
• Certification exams taken and passed
• Degree completed
• Teaching certificate application on SBEC website
• At this point, ASU can recommend you for your
  certificate.
• SBEC will certify you based on our recommendation
  and completion of a national background check.

4
Educator Preparation Program (EPP)

• When you have completed at least 60 SCH, you must
  apply for admission to the ASU Educator
  Preparation Program.
• Instructions and a link to the online application
  may be found at www.angelo.edu/dept/ceducation/STo
  nlineapplication.html
• You must be admitted into the EPP before you can
  be approved to take any certification exams.

5
Educator Preparation Program (EPP)

• At the time of application for the Educator
  Preparation Program, all applicants must have
  completed
• 1. Between 60 SCH and 75 SCH with a cumulative
  grade point average of 2.50, and
• 2. The course work to demonstrate proficiency in
  reading, writing, mathematics, communication, and
  critical thinking.

6
Educator Preparation Program (EPP)

• All course work used to demonstrate proficiency
  must have a grade of C or better. The student
  must have completed the following
• To demonstrate Reading proficiency -
• History 1301 and 1302 or Government 2301 and
  2302
• To demonstrate Writing proficiency -
• English 1301, 1302
• To demonstrate Mathematics proficiency -
• Mathematics 1302 or an equivalent course
• To demonstrate Communications proficiency
• Communication 2301 or 2331

7
Educator Preparation Program (EPP)

• All applicants will be asked to sign a
  Disposition Statement regarding appropriate
  educator behaviors.
• All applicants must possess sound physical
  health, sound mental health, and acceptable moral
  character. The Admission Committee may require
  the student to undergo physical and/or
  psychiatric evaluation.

8
Certification Exams

• You must pass at least two certification exams
• Content Area - All candidates
• Pedagogy and Professional Responsibilities (PPR)
  - All candidates
• Foreign Language candidates must also pass the
  TOPT

9
Content Area Exam

• Approval to take this exam comes from your
  academic major department. When you are near
  completion of your major coursework, contact that
  department.
• Some departments require you to pass departmental
  level tests or attend preparation workshops
  before they will give approval.
• Your department will notify the Certification
  Office in the College of Education when you are
  approved to take the test.

10
PPR Exam

• You will take the level of PPR exam that
  corresponds with the certificate you are seeking
  EC-4, 4-8, 8-12, or All-Level.
• You are automatically approved to take the PPR
  when you begin student teaching.
• You will be given registration instructions
  during student teaching orientation.
• If you pass your content area test AND have taken
  all of your education coursework, you may qualify
  to take the PPR prior to student teaching. See
  the Director of Certification to complete a form
  requesting early approval.

11
Certification Exams

• ATTENTION STUDENTS REQUIRING ACCOMODATIONS
• If you need special testing accommodations, be
  sure to contact the Director of Certification
  (Carr/EFA 109) AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. There are
  detailed procedures that must be followed to
  grant those accommodations and the process can
  take several weeks.

12
Applying for Certification

• It is best to wait until you are in your student
  teaching semester to apply for your teaching
  certificate.
• You will apply and pay for your fingerprinting
  process at the same time you apply and pay for
  your teaching certificate.

13
Fingerprinting

• Two options ink-based and electronic.
• Electronic is highly recommended.
• After you apply and pay for your fingerprinting,
  you will receive an email from SBEC with further
  instructions on how to schedule a fingerprint
  appointment.
• San Angelo has electronic fingerprinting
  appointments available.

14
Certification Expenses

• Certification Exams - 82 each
• Application for Teaching Certificate - 77
• Fingerprinting Fee (SBEC) - 47
• Fingerprinting Fee (actual taking of
  fingerprints) - 10

15
Planning for Student Teaching

• You MUST attend a Student Teaching Application
  Meeting the semester PRIOR to student teaching.
• It is highly recommended you do not work during
  student teaching so plan your financial strategy
  now.
• Student teaching is ALL day so you will not be
  able to take other coursework unless it is an
  evening class and you have special permission.
• You may contact the Office of Field Experiences
  if you have questions - 942-2052, ext. 268.

16
Additional Information - Certificate Renewal

• Teaching certificates must be renewed every 5
  years.
• You are required to keep track of any Continuing
  Professional Education (CPE) hours you acquire
  through professional development workshops,
  courses, etc. For a list of approved CPE work,
  visit www.sbec.state.tx.
• It is your responsibility to renew your
  certificate. Do not let your certificate expire
  or you will have to re-test.

17
Additional Information-Adding Teaching Areas

• Once you are initially certified, you can add
  teaching areas by challenging the TExES test for
  that area.
• You will not have to take an additional PPR.
• After passing the test, you will need to apply
  for Additional Certification by Exam.

18
Additional Certification Help

• For more detailed information about teacher
  certification, visit www.angelo.edu/dept/ceducatio
  n and click on Certification Handbook.
• If you have additional questions, please contact
  Cindy Pond at 942-2209 or via email at
  cindy.pond_at_angelo.edu.