Admission Criteria and Requirements

Admission Criteria and Requirements

The Andrews ISD Teacher Academy Alternative Certification Program follows the EPP admission requirements outlined in 19 TAC §227.10. Applicants must meet the following requirements to be admitted into the program.

Bachelor’s Degree from an Accredited University

To be eligible for admission, an applicant must have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited university.

Minimum GPA Requirements

The applicant must have a grade point average (GPA) of at least 2.5*. 

The GPA shall be calculated from an official transcript as follows:

• 2.5 on all coursework previously attempted at an accredited IHE, or

• 2.5 in the last 60 semester credit hours on all coursework previously attempted at an accredited IHE.

*Any applicant seeking a career and technical education (CTE) certificate that does not require a degree from an accredited IHE is exempt from the minimum GPA requirement.

Applicants with a GPA below 2.5 may be able to qualify for acceptance if they meet the following requirements:

• contact the program director for an interview,

• have work, business, or career experience demonstrating achievement equivalent to the academic achievement represented by the GPA requirement,

• takes and passes the appropriate Pre-Admission Content Test prior to admission, and

• are less than 10% of the candidates of an incoming class.

Semester Credit Hours in Subject-Specific Content Area

Applicants are required to have:

• 12 semester credit hours in the subject-specific content area in which they are applying for certification for all content areas except math or science at or above grade 7. 

• Applicants for math (7-12) or science (7-12) must have at least 15 semester credit hours in the subject specific content area of the certification sought.

If an applicant does not have the required hours for the specific content area they wish to seek certification, they must take and pass the Pre-Admission Content Exam (PACT) for their content area.

Pre-Admission Content Test (PACT)

The PACT will be required for admission to the AISD Teacher Academy Alternative Certification Program if an applicant meets one of these two circumstances:

• An applicant does not meet the 2.5 GPA requirement but is interested in being accepted into the program.

• An applicant does not have the 12-15 semester credit hours required for the subject-specific content area they are interested in seeking in the program.

To learn more, please visit the PACT website at https://tea.texas.gov/texas-educators/certification/educator-testing/pre-admission-content-test. 

College-Level and English-Proficiency Skills

All applicants must demonstrate basic skills in reading, written communication and mathematics by meeting the requirements of the Texas Success Initiative. Applicants are also required to demonstrate English language proficiency skills. If an applicant has graduated with an associate or baccalaureate degree from an IHE, they will automatically meet this requirement according to the THECB in 19 TAC §4 (Subchapter C) §4.54. 

An applicant for CTE certification that does not require a bachelor's degree from an accredited IHE may satisfy the English language proficiency requirement with an associate's degree or high school diploma or the equivalent that was earned at an accredited IHE or an accredited high school in the United States.

Interview 

All applicants must complete an interview with the Andrews ISD Teacher Academy Director as part of the application process.

Prior EPP or Classroom Experience

Applicants may not be admitted if they:

1. have been reported as completing all EPP requirements by another EPP in the same certification category or class, unless the applicant only needs certification examination approval; or

2. have been employed for three years in a public school under a permit, intern, or probationary certificate as specified in Chapter 230, Subchapter D, of this title (relating to Types and Classes of Certificates Issued).

Military Service Considerations

In accordance with 19 TAC §228.35(a)(5), military service member or military veteran candidates may be eligible to receive credit for verified military service, training, or education toward the training, education, work experience, or related requirements for educator certification. The requirement for certification exams cannot be waived. The military service, training, or education must be directly related to the certification area being sought.

Effective September 1, 2015, TEA waives certain fees for eligible military service members, military veterans, and military spouses.  For additional information, please see the TEA website.  There are some fee exemptions as well.  Please see the requirements to obtain these fee exemptions.

Information regarding military service members, military spouses, and military veterans may be found in the Texas Administrative Code 234.

If you are a military service member or military veteran, please email altcert@andrews.esc18.net to be connected with a staff member who can help review your qualifications.

Credit for Service, Training or Education

Candidates who are not military service members or military veterans may substitute prior or ongoing service, training, or education, provided that the experience, education, or training is not also counted as a part of the internship, was provided by an approved EPP or an accredited institution of higher education within the past five years, and is directly related to the certificate being sought.

If you have prior service, training or education to be evaluated, please email altcert@andrews.esc18.net to be connected with a staff member who can help review your qualifications.