The Road to Certification
Understanding and planning for
the completion of your Texas
teacher certification requirements.
Certification Requirements vs.
Degree Requirements
 Meeting degree requirements will award you a
bachelor’s degree.
 Meeting certification requirements will award you
a teaching certificate.
 The academic coursework and field experience
requirements for teacher certification are met
through the completion of your degree plan or
post-baccalaureate certification plan.
Certification Requirements vs.
Degree Requirements
 Additional certification requirements:
• Completion of the Educator Preparation Program
• Certification exams taken and passed
• Degree completed
• Teaching certificate application on SBEC website
At this point, ASU can recommend you for your certificate.
SBEC will certify you based on our
recommendation and completion of a
national background check.
Educator Preparation Program (EPP)
 When you have completed at least 60 SCH,
you must apply for admission to the ASU
Educator Preparation Program.
 Instructions and a link to the online
application may be found at
www.angelo.edu/dept/ceducation/STonlineap
plication.html
 You must be admitted into the EPP before
you can be approved to take any certification
exams.
Educator Preparation Program (EPP)
 At the time of application for the Educator
Preparation Program, all applicants must
have completed:
1. Between 60 SCH and 75 SCH with a cumulative
grade point average of 2.50, and
2. The course work to demonstrate proficiency in
reading, writing, mathematics, communication, and
critical thinking.
Educator Preparation Program (EPP)
 All course work used to demonstrate
proficiency must have a grade of C or better.
The student must have completed the
following:
To demonstrate Reading proficiency History 1301 and 1302 or Government 2301
and 2302
To demonstrate Writing proficiency English 1301, 1302
To demonstrate Mathematics proficiency Mathematics 1302 or an equivalent course
To demonstrate Communications proficiency:
Communication 2301 or 2331
Educator Preparation Program (EPP)
 All applicants will be asked to sign a
Disposition Statement regarding appropriate
educator behaviors.
 All applicants must possess sound physical
health, sound mental health, and acceptable
moral character. The Admission Committee
may require the student to undergo physical
and/or psychiatric evaluation.
Certification Exams
 You must pass at least two certification exams
• Content Area - All candidates
• Pedagogy and Professional Responsibilities (PPR) All candidates
• Foreign Language candidates must also pass the
TOPT
Content Area Exam
 Approval to take this exam comes from your academic
major department. When you are near completion of
your major coursework, contact that department.
 Some departments require you to pass departmental
level tests or attend preparation workshops before
they will give approval.
 Your department will notify the Certification Office in
the College of Education when you are approved to
take the test.
PPR Exam
 You will take the level of PPR exam that corresponds with
the certificate you are seeking: EC-4, 4-8, 8-12, or All-Level.
 You are automatically approved to take the PPR when you
begin student teaching.
 You will be given registration instructions during student
teaching orientation.
 If you pass your content area test AND have taken all of
your education coursework, you may qualify to take the PPR
prior to student teaching. See the Director of Certification to
complete a form requesting early approval.
Certification Exams
***ATTENTION STUDENTS REQUIRING
ACCOMODATIONS***
If you need special testing accommodations,
be sure to contact the Director of Certification
(Carr/EFA #109) AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
There are detailed procedures that must be
followed to grant those accommodations and
the process can take several weeks.
Applying for Certification
 It is best to wait until you are in your student
teaching semester to apply for your teaching
certificate.
 You will apply and pay for your fingerprinting
process at the same time you apply and pay for
your teaching certificate.
Fingerprinting
 Two options: ink-based and electronic.
 Electronic is highly recommended.
• After you apply and pay for your fingerprinting, you will
receive an email from SBEC with further instructions
on how to schedule a fingerprint appointment.
• San Angelo has electronic fingerprinting appointments
available.
Certification Expenses
 Certification Exams - $82 each
 Application for Teaching Certificate - $77
 Fingerprinting Fee (SBEC) - $47
 Fingerprinting Fee (actual taking of fingerprints) $10
Planning for Student Teaching
 You MUST attend a Student Teaching Application Meeting the
semester PRIOR to student teaching.
 It is highly recommended you do not work during student
teaching so plan your financial strategy now.
 Student teaching is ALL day so you will not be able to take
other coursework unless it is an evening class and you have
special permission.
 You may contact the Office of Field Experiences if you have
questions - 942-2052, ext. 268.
Additional Information Certificate Renewal
 Teaching certificates must be renewed every 5
years.
 You are required to keep track of any Continuing
Professional Education (CPE) hours you acquire
through professional development workshops,
courses, etc. For a list of approved CPE work,
visit www.sbec.state.tx.
 It is your responsibility to renew your certificate.
Do not let your certificate expire or you will have
to re-test.
Additional InformationAdding Teaching Areas
 Once you are initially certified, you can add
teaching areas by challenging the TExES test
for that area.
 You will not have to take an additional PPR.
 After passing the test, you will need to apply for
“Additional Certification by Exam.”
Additional Certification Help
 For more detailed information about teacher
certification, visit www.angelo.edu/dept/ceducation
and click on “Certification Handbook.”
 If you have additional questions, please contact
Cindy Pond at 942-2209 or via email at
cindy.pond@angelo.edu.