Educator Preparation Notices and Policies
Notice Regarding Criminal History Background Check
Pursuant to Texas Education Code, candidates must undergo a criminal history background check prior to clinical teaching and prior to employment as an educator. Any negative legal history, as defined by State Board for Educator Certification, may jeopardize your ability to obtain a certification in Texas and to teach or be employed as an educator.
You may request a preliminary criminal history evaluation by the Texas Education Agency if you believe you may be ineligible for certification due to a conviction or deferred adjudication for a felony or misdemeanor offense. There is currently a $55 fee for this optional service.
Notice Regarding Military Service, Training, or Education
Pursuant to Texas Administrative Code, the UTPB College of Education will evaluate and may accept military service, training, or education toward the fulfillment of educator certification requirements. The military service, training, or education must be directly related to the certificate being sought and may not take the place of certification examinations. Service, training may not count as part of an internship, clinical teaching, or practicum requirement. The military service, training, or education will be evaluated by the certification officer to determine whether or not the service, training, or education is relevant and may be used as a substitution.
Notice Regarding Credit for Prior or Ongoing Coursework
Pursuant to Texas Administrative Code, the UTPB College of Education will evaluate and may accept prior or ongoing service, training or education, provided that the experience, training, or education may not take the place of certification examinations nor be counted as part of an internship, clinical teaching, or practicum requirement. The training or education must also be provided by an approved Educator Preparation Program or an accredited institution of higher education within the past five years and must be directly related to the certificate being sought. The prior coursework and training will be evaluated by the certification officer to determine whether or not it meets the criteria to be used as a substitution.
Notice Regarding Supply and Demand Forces
The 2023-2024 teacher shortage areas have been approved by the US Department of Education. The approved shortage areas for 2023-2024 are as follows:
Declared Areas – All levels unless noted
- Bilingual/English as a Second Language
- Career and Technical Education (secondary level only)
- Computer Science/Technology Applications
- English Language Arts and Reading (secondary level only)
- Mathematics (secondary level only)
- Science (secondary level only)
- Social Studies (secondary level only)
- Special Education
The following are critical shortage areas allowing individuals to apply for TEACH Grants and/or Public Service Loan Forgiveness:
- Bilingual/English as a Second Language
- Career and Technical Education (secondary level only)
- Computer Science/Technology Applications
EPP Readmission Policy
Certification students who have been inactive for two or more successive long semesters must have their certification plan reevaluated, and they may be required to apply for readmission to the program.