Path to Certification

We have been certifying, supporting, and training teachers for the classroom since 1992. Our program has been nationally recognized by the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Innovation and Improvement as being successful and innovative.

Process

Future teachers will complete the application process. Upon acceptance, they will complete Orientation before beginning pre-service training to prepare for the classroom during their internship year. After successfully completing program and state requirements, as well as their internship year, participants will earn a standard teaching certificate in their certification area.

1. APPLY
2. PRE-SERVICE TRAINING
3. INTERNSHIP YEAR
4. CERTIFICATION

Application Process

Choose Your Learning Format and Certification Area

Your decision on which learning format you prefer and your chosen certification area will determine which cohort you join and which certification tests you must take. Our program accommodates different subject areas, grade levels, schedules, learning styles, and requirements. Explore our learning formats and certification areas to determine which one is the best fit for you, check the application deadlines, and review the minimum qualifications required. 

Program Benefits

Explore the Learning Formats

Learn more about our learning formats and cohort models.

Complete the Online Application

Our online application will guide you through the required information and documentation. Once your complete application and transcripts have been received, your materials will be reviewed for program eligibility. You can expect a response regarding your admission status within three business days of receipt of all required documents.
To begin the online application, you will need the following information:
  • A valid email address.
  • Social Security Number or Resident Alien number (this will serve as your application reference number).
  • Education history, including institutions attended and dates.
  • Employment history including the supervisor’s name and contact information, and dates of employment.
  • Pay the $100 application fee (non-refundable) located at the end of the application.
  • Please see additional certification program requirements.
Program Benefits

Apply

Create an account and begin your online application.

Required Documents:

  • Three Professional References* 

    Your three professional references must email a completed Recommendation Form to the Certification Department office on your behalf. The forms should be sent directly to ecp@esc13.txed.net. *This requirement is for in-person programs only.

  • Official College Transcripts

    Submit Official College Transcripts from ALL colleges. Official transcripts must be received in an unopened envelope sealed by the college or university. If the university or college uses an electronic transcript system such as Transcripts Network or eSCRIP-SAFE, this would be acceptable. The university must send an email with login or download instructions for the transcript to the ECP Registrar at ecp@esc13.txed.net.

        • Region 13 computes the GPA based on all transcripts, therefore, official transcripts from ALL institutions of higher education the applicant has attended must be submitted to the ECP office.
        • Degrees must be from an institution of higher education that, at the time the degree was conferred, was accredited or otherwise approved by an accrediting organization recognized by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.
        • TEA requires applicants with a degree from a foreign institution to have their transcripts evaluated to verify the degree earned and provide grade equivalencies. You can find the list of TEA-approved evaluation organizations here: TEA Foreign Credential Evaluation Information.
          • TEA requires applicants to complete the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL iBT) with scores within the range identified as High-Intermediate Level for all four sections of the test. If you earned a degree from the U.S., one of its territories, or a country in which English is an official language, a TOEFL score is not required. To learn more about TEA’s requirements please go here: TEA English Lanugage Proficiency

    • Background Check

      Per TAC 227.1.(b) Educator preparation programs should inform all applicants that: (1) Pursuant to the Texas Education Code (TEC), § 22.083, all candidates must undergo a criminal history background check prior to employment as an educator. If you feel this is a concern and you have questions about eligibility for a Texas educator certificate, TEA staff may perform an evaluation for a non-refundable fee of $50.

    • PACT Scores

      If you do not meet the minimum credit hour and GPA requirements you will need to pass the Pre-Admission Content Test (PACT) for your certification area. You can register and find more information about the PACT here.

    • Language Proficiency Screening

      Participants must demonstrate a near-native proficiency level in speaking, reading, writing, and listening in Spanish to qualify for Bilingual certifications. Applicants must pass a bilingual screener to be conducted during the application process. If language proficiency is not determined applicants will be encouraged to pursue the ESL certification pathway.

    • Optional Test Scores

      Submit documentation scores from;  ACT, SAT, GRE, TASP/THEA, Compass, or Accuplacer.

    • For those with Military Service

      Applicants who currently or previously served in the military can provide a Joint Services Transcript or equivalent as part of their application materials for review by the Cohort Specialist.

    Have documents sent to Educator Certification Program Assistant, Education Service Center Region 13, 5701 Springdale Road, Austin, TX 78723 or ECP@esc13.txed.net. Please read above for specific document submission requirements. Once all application materials and payment are received, you will receive a response regarding your admission status within three business days.

    Pre-Service Training

    Program participants move into Pre-Service training after completing orientation, prior to their internship year.

    Pre-Service training consists of content examination preparation, Field-Based Experience, and pedagogy coursework. Our certification program curriculum is aligned with Texas Education Agency standards and educational best practices.  All curriculum is taught by certified staff and content area experts. Training Topics include:

    • preparing for first days/weeks of school
    • establishing a positive and productive classroom environment
    • managing student/classroom procedures and behaviors
    • planning and creating developmentally appropriate instruction (curriculum and lesson plans)
    • using a variety of instructional strategies to increase engagement, rigor, and relevance
    • developing and using student assessments
    • content specific topics
    • professional responsibilities of a teacher
    • effectively implementing open education resource instructional materials included on the list of approved instructional materials maintained by the State Board of Education

    Our program curriculum also embeds digital literacy from day one to ensure that future teachers are able to integrate technology effectively into their own classroom. Training Topics include:

    • demonstrating knowledge of basic terms and concepts of current technology
    • understanding and applying the guidelines for the legal and ethical use of technology and digital information
    • using productivity tools to communicate information in various formats
    • participating in electronic communities as a learner, initiator, and contributor; sharing information through online communication

    Field-Based Experience

    All candidates participating in an alternative certification program within Texas are mandated to fulfill 50 hours of Field-Based Experiences (FBE) as outlined in the Texas Administrative Code prior to beginning their internships. These FBEs constitute introductory experiences for candidates, involving interactive and reflective observations of certified teachers in the classroom.

    Internship Year

    After completing pre-service training, content testing, and field-based experience hours, you’ll begin your internship year — your first year as a full-time classroom teacher. During this year, you’ll be hired by a school district as the teacher of record, earning a full teacher salary and benefits. Region 13 ECP does not place teacher candidates in these positions, it is the repsonsiblity of the candidate to secure a full time teaching position within the certification area they are pursuing.

    While you teach full time, Region 13 continues to support you through coaching, mentoring, and cohort-based training designed to help you succeed in your classroom and complete certification requirements.

    Program Schedule

    Check program specific schedule for dates

    Standard Certification

    Upon successful completion of the certification program requirements,  internship year, and state-required tests, you will be a fully certified teacher in Texas!

    State Testing

    Find out more about state required tests