PreService Progress Reports

The ACP Admissions letter is sent to candidates at the beginning of the program to offer either formal or contingency admissions into Relay's certification program. The letter is sent to your Relay student email address from DocuSign. If you are having trouble locating the letter, search DocuSign in your email inbox and look for an email that has your signed pdf of the letter attached.

All candidates must pass an official TExES content exam during the preservice stage. To

Candidates must complete at least 30 approved hours of field-based experiences in authentic school settings under the supervision of a content certified teacher. Please make sure to read all instructions and/or watch the FBE screencast before reaching out with questions. Full instructions can be found here.

The "Approved Field Based Experience Hours" field in the progress report shows how many hours you have accrued to date.

All candidates must pass the TExES content test during the preservice stage. This is the first test you study for in the Relay program. If you have not already passed the official TExES content exam, you will need to 1) take a diagnostic, 2) create a study plan for 2-4 months of study time, and 3) actively study 1-2 hours per day. Finally, when you are ready, you will need to take and pass a practice test to be able to register for the official exam.

If your employer requires the ESL Supplemental, you will prepare for that exam after you've passed the official TExES content exam. If your employer does not require the ESL Supplemental, Relay considers it optional. Whether it is required or optional, the ESL Supplemental must be passed during the pre-service stage of the program for Relay to recommend you for this certificate.

All candidates in Core Subjects EC-6, Core Subjects 4-8, ELAR 4-8, and ELAR/SS 4-8 are also required to take the Science of Teaching Reading Exam. There is a required Canvas course that must be passed for testing permission.

Also in the spring, candidates in all certification categories will study for the Pedagogy and Professional Responsibilities exam.

More information and resources for testing is provided here.

Texas Administrative Code requires that you successfully complete at least 150 coursework hours before you are issued your first teaching certificate (probationary or intern).

For residents: Your Relay coursework and field-based experience hours count toward the 150 coursework hours. As long as you are passing your coursework, you will meet this requirement during the first year of the residency program.

For one-year alt route candidates: Your Relay coursework, field-based experience hours, and certification workshops count toward the 150 coursework hours. Teach for America Corps Members often are also able to earn hours from their summer training with TFA.

If you applied to Relay before your bachelor's degree was conferred, you will need to send another official transcript that shows your degree has been conferred. For year 1 residents, the degree-conferred transcript must be received by Relay's Office of Admissions and Enrollment by October 1. For one year alt route candidates, the deadline is July 15.

To be eligible for extended enrollment, all pre-service requirements must be met by June, and some pre-service requirements must be met by December 1.

Specifically, Year 2 pre-service candidates must pass the official TExES content test and accrue 30 hours of approved field-based experience hours by December 1 in order to remain in the certification program. Candidates who do not meet these requirements by December 1 will be exited from the certification program and will no longer have the option to extend enrollment to pursue certification through Relay.

To report a discrepancy between your progress report and your certification checklist or your own records, please complete this brief form.

For questions about a certification requirement, you may ask your faculty advisor or email support@relay.edu.