College of Education

CERTIFICATION AREAS

Texas A&M International University’s College of Education offers teaching certifications in a variety of areas through both undergraduate and graduate pathways. Graduate students have the option of certifying through a post-baccalaureate degree program or Alternative certification program. The following are the areas of certification offered through the TAMIU College of Education

Undergraduate:

Art (EC-12)
Bilingual (BTLPT and Supplemental)
Core Subjects (EC-6)
English, Language Arts and Reading (7-12)
English as a Second Language (ESL)
History (7-12)
Languages Other Than English - Spanish (EC-12)
Mathematics (7-12)
Music (EC-12)
Physical Education (EC-12)
Science (7-12)

Post Baccalaureate / ACP

Core Subjects (4-8)
Core Subjects (EC-6)
Educational Diagnostician (EC-12)
English Language Arts and Reading (4-8)
English Language Arts and Reading (7-12)
History (7-12)
Languages Other Than English-Spanish (EC12)
Mathematics (4-8)
Mathematics (7-12)
Principal (EC-12)
Reading Specialist (EC-12)
School Counselor (EC-12)
Science (4-8)
Social Studies (4-8)
Social Studies (7-12)
Superintendent (EC-12)

EDUCATIONAL AIDE PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS

TAMIU does not offer a certification program for Educational Aides. Educational Aides are no longer exempt by state rule from meeting all of the program and field requirements for completion of the Educator Preparation Program. A portion of the fieldwork may be fulfilled in the educational aide’s place of employment. This will be negotiated with the Director of Field and Clinical Experience and with authorization from the candidate’s employer.

REPRESENTATIVE EXAM AND REVIEW REQUIREMENTS FOR ALL CONTENT AREAS

Candidates are required to take a content area representative exam in their area of certification before they are approved to sit for the state certification exams. In most cases, candidates take two certification exams, the content area exam and the Pedagogy and Professional Responsibilities exam. Candidates seeking bilingual certification are responsible for taking the Bilingual Target Language Proficiency Test (BTLPT) and the Bilingual Supplemental test in addition to the content exam and PPR for a total of four exams. Requirements for eligibility to take representative exams are handled through the office of Student Support Services at the TAMIU College of Education.

APPROVAL TO TEST

Candidates are only eligible to register for exams in their identified area of certification. The first certification exam that a candidate is eligible to take is that of the identified content area. After the candidate has met the requirements they must submit the “Approval to Test” form in order to register for the TExEs exam. If the candidate has met the TAMIU requirements, they will be approved to test through the TEA online approval process.

Eligibility Requirements to Test

Candidates are to complete assigned tasks as provided by the office of Student Success and the TExES Coordinator, which include minimum passing scores as assigned to teacher content area. If a teacher candidate does not meet minimum passing scores and wishes to appeal their score to challenge the state exam, the following criteria below is required for appeal to the committee:

1. EC-6 candidates must have one content domain with a minimum score of 80%. All other core domains with a minimum score of 75%.
2. Demonstrate progress
3. Demonstrate good academic standing. To appeal student will use this Appeals Form.

Read more detail about eligibility to test here.

FIVE TIMES RULE FOR TAKING STATE EXAMS

All candidates for initial and professional certification may only take the same state exam for a total of five time. The five attempts include the first attempt to pass the exam and the four retakes. The State Board of Educator Certification (SBEC) determines rules for a waiver.

STATE EXAM REGISTRATION AND LOGGING IN TO TEAL FOR THE FIRST TIME

All candidates seeking certification are required to have approval to test before they may register for their certification exams. Candidates will request TEAL login account by completing the following steps on the TEA Website.

1. Click on ECOS for Educators at the top of the page
2. Click on Login to TEAL
3. Select “Educator” as your Organization Type on the TEAL New User Registration form. TEAL will promote you to enter your Social Security Number.
4. After you have created your TEAL User account, you will receive an email with your new user name and password.
5. After changing your password and establishing your security question, you will be redirected to the TEAL landing page, where you can access the ECOS for Educators application by clicking on the link.

EXAM APPROVAL STATUS

1. To check exam approval status, go the the TEA website and login to TEAL. Click on “View Examinations”.
2. “Approval to test” will only be granted to teacher candidates that have successfully completed TAMIU eligibility requirements prior to submitting the Eligibility Form.

PROCESS OF RECOMMENDING FOR CERTIFICATION

APPLYING FOR INITIAL CERTIFICATION

Applications for all Texas Educator Certificate are now made online at the Texas Education Agency website.

1. At the website, click on “Educator Login/Account Set up” and follow the directions. You must first set up an account if you have not done so previously. You are applying for a STANDARD certificate, and the recommending entity is Texas A&M International University- UNIVERSITY BASED
2. When you have completed the process, TAMIU will receive notification that you have applied for your certificate, If you are eligible, TAMIU will complete the recommendation and you will be notified by email that you have been recommended.

Note: you will not be officially certified until TEA has: 1. Received and applied the required fee 2. Received your fingerprint card (if applicable) and 3. Completed a criminal history background check.

Applying for a Standard Certificate

Instructions for candidates completing blocks

1. You may apply for your initial standard certificate before completing all the requirements, but only during your student teaching semester
2. December 2020 education graduates seeking Core Subjects EC-6 should apply, pay fees to TEA and complete fingerprinting/background check BEFORE they graduate in December 2020
   1. Any elementary education teacher candidate who does not have a standard certificate issued to them from TEA by December 30, 2020 will have to pass the Science of Teaching Reading (STR) exam in order to earn their certificate

Requirements to be recommended for your standard certificate

1. Pass TExES content (e. Core Subject EC-6, Physical Education EC-12, etc.) exam
2. Pass TExES PPR EC-12 exam
3. Successfully complete Student Teaching
4. Have your field supervisor and cooperating teacher sign off on your observation form that you have demonstrated proficiency of the standards during student teaching
5. Earn a Bachelor’s degree, as recorded by the University registrar
6. Complete all four required trainings provided during EDCI 4693, as per TAC §228.30 (3)

ELIGIBILITY FOR RECOMMENDATION FOR CERTIFICATION

Note: Do not begin the application process until you are eligible to be recommended. You are eligible if ALL of the following requirements have been met:

1. You are enrolled in your final course (clinical teaching)
2. Your final grades have been posted
3. Your have passed all required TExES State Exams for the certification area you are seeking
4. The required degree has been awarded and posted on your transcript