Center for Arts and Science Education
Timeline to Becoming
a Certified Teacher!
Where am I now and
where do I need to go?
CASE Staff
www.academics.utep.edu
David Vasquez – College of Liberal Arts Teacher Preparation
◦747-5290
◦vasdavid@utep.edu
Ana Lee Covey - College of Science Teacher Preparation
◦747-5032
◦acovey@utep.edu
Ellen Esposito - College of Science Teacher Preparation
◦747-8468
◦edesposito@utep.edu
Dr. Michele Levy - Student Teaching and Induction
◦747-5025
◦mslevy@utep.edu
Dr. Amanda DeGraff - Student Data and Testing
◦747-8884
◦adegraff@utep.edu
Objectives for Today:
Prepare you for what to expect as you
move towards graduation and certification
Answer any questions you may have about
testing, student teaching, graduation, and
certification
To Get Hired as a Teacher:
Take and pass UTEP required Content
and PPR (Pedagogy and Professional
Responsibility) Qualifying exams.
 Take and pass Content and PPR TExES
certification exams
 Graduate from UTEP
 Register and pay for your teaching license
 Pass a background check

Timeline to Graduation
Applications to Teacher Education
In order to be accepted to the Teacher Education
Program you must:
Have a ‘C’ or better in:
 English 1311, 1312
 Communication 1301/1302
 Math 1319 or higher
 Pass the TASP or THEA with:
 230 on the Math
 220 on the Writing
 250 on the Reading
 Complete 60 hours with a GPA of 2.5 or better

May 2010
May 2010
Sunday
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
APRIL 30
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End of
Internship
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Your Goal: Complete all exams and have a
teaching contract by Graduation!
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Qualifying Exams

In order to graduate you MUST receive a 78% on
both of your qualifying exams


1 content exam – 2.5 hours long (science 5 hrs)
1 PPR exam – 2.5 hours long
You can begin taking your qualifying exams as soon
as you have been admitted to teacher education
 You MUST pass BOTH of the qualifying exams:



to receive a grade for student teaching
to graduate
UTEP Content qualifying exams
Content first
You’ve learned a majority of this material in
your freshman, sophomore and junior level
courses
 Prepare as if for the MCAT or GRE – lots of
study time!
 Complete 6 documented hours of review
offered by your college or at library
 Timeline is important!

UTEP PPR qualifying exams
Pedagogy and Professional Responsibilities
The majority of this material is covered by
your education courses
 Prepare as if for the MCAT or GRE – lots of
study time!
 Complete 6 documented hours of review
 Timeline is important!

January 2010
Sunday
Monday
January 2010
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
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8 Deadline Paper-
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Contact College
based TExES
to clear for
Content or PPR
graduation
test
ISD orientations
Form a study
group
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Saturday
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Most
internships
begin
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Content review
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Content review
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February 2010
February 2010
Sunday
Monday
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Tuesday
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Content
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Saturday
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Take Content
Qualifying
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Register TExES
computerbased content
TExES
computer based content
exam
Review
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PPR
Friday
Review
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Content
Thursday
Review
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Content
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Wednesday
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Review
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Paper-based
TExES Content or
PPR
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March 2010
Sunday
Monday
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March 2010
Tuesday
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Wednesday
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PPR
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Thursday
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Friday
Saturday
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Review
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Receive TExES
score report
PPR
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Review
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Register TExES
computer- based
TEXES PPR
PPR
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UTEP PPR
qualifying exam
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Deadline to
register for TExES
PPR or Content
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TExES PPR
Review
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April 2010
Sunday
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April 2010
Tuesday
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TExES PPR or
Content Exam
Give feedback on
teacher education
program thru’
Survey Monkey
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Pass all
exams by
this date!
UTEP Teacher
Job Fair
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End of
Internship
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May 2010
May 2010
Sunday
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TExES paperbased test results
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How To Begin?
Gather your resources and study them
before content reviews!
 Preparation Handbooks
◦ http://texes.ets.org/texes/prepMaterials/

Registration Bulletin
◦ http://www.texes.ets.org/registrationBulletin/
 Know how the test is scored p. 38
Registration Bulletin
http://www.texes.ets.org/registrationBulletin/
Qualifying Exams - Studying

You must have 6 hours of review
prior to every qualifying exam you
take.
◦ You should have much MORE than 6
hours.
◦ Study for these exams like you would
for your SAT or a final exam.

Review hours must be
documented with proof
Qualifying Exams – Review Hours

Review schedule is on CASE website
◦ http://academics.utep.edu/case

Review hours can be conducted at:
◦
◦
◦
◦
Library
College of Education
Ellen Esposito’s office (Math and Science)
Dr. Keith Ereckson’s office (History and Social
Studies)
You can also attend content and PPR review
sessions
 Science –

◦ You must take a 5 hour qualifying exam
Qualifying Exams - Registration

Registration for Content or PPR qualifying
exams will ONLY be available 2 business days
prior to the exam date.
◦ FOR EXAMPLE: Test date March 7, 2009. Registration
begins on March 5, 2009 @ 7:00 am.

Register at http://testing.utep.edu
◦ in person at the Student Assessment & Testing Office
(located in the Academic Advising Center Bldg, Suite
127)
◦ call the TEST RESERVATION line at (915) 747-5009.
(Required for science)
Qualifying exam – misc.
Instant results
 Come prepared

◦ Proof of 6 hours of review
◦ Jacket
◦ Water/snack (leave in locker)

Math – own calculator
◦ New batteries!
◦ Know how to clear the memory!
Certification Exams

You can begin taking your certification exams
as soon as you have passed appropriate
qualifying exam and have been admitted to
Teacher Education
◦ This means that if you set your timeline correctly,
you should pass both of your certification exams
before you graduate 

Many tests are computer based and offered
almost every week. Some are offered only
three times a year!!!
Certification Exams Offered Via
Computer for 2009-2010
•English as a Second Language Supplemental
•Health EC–12
•History 8–12
•Life Science 8-12
•Mathematics 8–12
•Music EC–12
•Pedagogy and Professional Responsibilities EC–12
•Pedagogy and Professional Responsibilities 8–12
•Physical Education EC–12
•Science 8–12
TExES Paper Testing Dates
TExES Registration
Once you have passed, you will be cleared to take the
appropriate state certification exam.
 Step 1: OBTAIN YOUR TEA ID NUMBER
The TEA ID number is used to register for your state
certification exam.
◦ Go to www.sbec.state.tx.us. Look for the section that
reads Educator Login and click on “NEW USER?”
◦ Supply all the necessary information to complete
your educator profile including up- to-date e-mail and
telephone contact numbers then proceed to Step 2.
TExES Registration

Step 2: REGISTER FOR YOUR STATE
CERTIFICATION EXAM
◦ You have two registration options:
 ONLINE REGISTRATION: Go to
www.texes.ets.org. Follow on-screen instructions
and register for the exam you are eligible to take.
 TELEPHONE REGISTRATION: Call 1-866-9025922 to register for eligible exams.
Certification Exams
To become certified you must receive a
score of at least 240 on your state
content exam and state PPR exam.
 These exams are each 5 hours long
 These exams cost $120 per exam

◦ 1 Content + 1 PPR = $240
◦ Every time you fail you must spend another
$120
◦ $35 Late registration fee (paper-based tests);
$75 Emergency registration fee (paper-based tests)
Studying for all 4 of your Exams

The qualifying exam is practice for your
certification exam.
◦ The time you spend studying for them helps prepare
you for your certification exams.

Consider using the following study
materials:
◦
◦
◦
◦
◦
ETC test preparation handbooks
Cliff notes
Laminated Reference Guides
TAKS tests
State end of course exams
Study Groups

Consider forming a study group
◦ Create your own group, one will not appear
from nowhere.
◦ Find other interested students:
 Ask classmates you know and those you
don’t
 Announce the formation of a group at the
start of class
 Talk to your professors
Create Study Group Ground Rules
Be on time, respectful of others, cell phones, etc.
 Be prepared
 Have homework, preparation handbooks,
calculators
 Have questions about the subject ready to
discuss
 Bring class notes and textbooks that will help
with the session
 Have regular meetings – weekly, bi-weekly,
monthly based on your timeline.
 This is a study group, NOT a social group

Short term sacrifice
for long term gain
Student Teaching
You will apply for student teaching the
semester before you intend to be a
student teacher
 Dr. Michele Levy does the placements for
Secondary and All-Levels
 Before you can be placed you must be
admitted to the Teacher Education
Program

Student Teaching

Attend student teaching orientations
◦ CASE - Secondary
◦ College of Education
◦ School District

Student teaching is a FULL-TIME position
◦ Plan ahead
◦ From 8 am – 4 (or 5) pm you cannot work or
take other classes.
University Career Services

Craig Thompson – Associate Director
◦ Your contact for teaching jobs locally and
across the country

Job Mine
◦ Complete your job mine account so we can
better serve you

You will need references and a resume!