- Alternative Certification Program
- Application Requirements
Certification Information
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APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS
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Requirements:
- Completion of an undergraduate or graduate degree at an accredited institution of higher education in the United States, including US Territories OR;
- Completion of an undergraduate or graduate degree earned from one of the following countries: American Samoa, Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Canada (except Quebec), Dominica, Gambia, India, Ireland, Gibraltar, Grand Cayman, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Liberia, New Zealand, Nigeria, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Singapore, Trinidad/Tobago, Turks and Caicos, United Kingdom and U.S. Pacific Trust or:
- Pass the TOEFL-iBT exam within the High-Intermediate level score range per section (listed below). Information about the scores can be located on this TEA page:
- Speaking: 20-24
- Listening: 17-21
- Reading 18-23
- Writing: 17-23
- More information about the TOEFL test can be found at this link: click here
- All foreign degrees must include a course-by-course evaluation from a TEA-approved evaluator. A list of approved evaluators can be found at: https://tea.texas.gov/texas-educators/certification/out-of-state-certification/certification-based-on-credentials-from-another-country:
- GPA
- Must be 2.5 and above on your bachelor's degree
- Transcripts will be evaluated to determine eligibility and certification pathway
- A professional resume (must be submitted when applying on the HISD Careers website)
- If an applicant has previously been on an Intern or Probationary certificate, he/she is ineligible for our program
- Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States
- If the applicant is offered a teaching position in the Houston Independent School District, he/she will be required to complete an Employment Eligibility Verification form (I-9)
- The applicant must also produce documentation of identity and authorization to work
- Testing History (Two or more failed TExES exam attempts will not be considered)
- Criminal Background Check
- All applicants and candidates must undergo a preliminary criminal history background check prior to field-based experience and prior to employment as an educator.
- The potential ineligibility of an individual who has been convicted of an offense for issuance of a certificate on completion of the EPP, the SBEC rules relating to eligibility of persons with a criminal history for certification, and
- The right to request a criminal history evaluation letter