Graduate Alternative Certification Program (ACP)

Alternative Certification Program (ACP) 

The Texas A&M University–Texarkana Education Division offers Texas Alternative Teacher Certification Program (ACP) for students who hold a baccalaureate degree. The program starts with online coursework and field-based experiences. After completing coursework, field-based experience, and passing the required TExES certification exams, the student teaching requirement may be fulfilled with a paid internship as teacher of record for one school year (fall/spring or spring/fall) in a Texas public school. The student continues online coursework during the ACP internship and is eligible to apply for certification when all coursework, internship, and testing requirements are met. Texas A&M University-Texarkana is an approved Educator Preparation Program, teacher candidates must be admitted into an approved educator preparation program to meet alternative program (ACP) certification requirements to become a certified educator in Texas. 

To be accepted into the Texas Education Agency (TEA) approved Educator Preparation Alternative Certification Program (ACP) an applicant must complete two separate applications:

For the university application, select the graduate application. For the program, select non-degree seeking with a concentration in Teacher Certification (not eligible for financial aid) or the Master's of Education in Teaching (Seeking Initial Teacher Certification (is eligible for financial aid). A master’s degree is not required for certification. 

Link of approved certification areas for Texas A&M University-Texarkana. 

Admission Requirements

1) Graduate application to the university 

2) Educator Preparation Program Application 

3) Official transcripts on file with Admission Office 

4) Undergraduate or graduate degree from a regionally accredited institution, or will be awarded a bachelor's degree in the current semester 

5) 2.7 or higher GPA undergraduate cumulative or last 60 hours for non-degree seeking ACP

6) Required content hours for certification sought OR TX PACT (Pre-admission Content Test) exam passed in content level/area for certification (submit score report to ACP Office) Note: PACT exam is for admission only and does not fulfill certification requirements.  

7) Interview with Education Division faculty 

English Language Proficiency 

Educators who apply for certification are required to demonstrate English language proficiency by fulfilling one of the following requirements: 

A. Completion of an undergraduate or graduate degree at an accredited institution of higher education in the United States or one of its territories.
You must contact your institution or servicer to request official transcripts. Official transcripts must be sent directly from your institution or servicer via email to osc75@tea.texas.gov. 
*Transcripts from the applicant are not accepted for the credentials review.

B. Verification of a minimum scaled score that falls within the High-Intermediate level in each section on the Test of English as a Foreign Language internet-Based Test (TOEFL-iBT).
To have scores submitted directly to TEA, use the entity code 8225 (State Board for Educator Certification).  Applicants for a review of credentials may upload the official PDF score report to their Educator Certification Online System (ECOS) educator account via the “My Documents” tab.
*High-Intermediate level scores for each section:
      Reading 18-23
      Listening 17-21
      Speaking 20-24
      Writing 17-23
*If you are enrolling in an educator preparation program (EPP), please do not use this entity code. Contact your program for the correct code to use.

C. An undergraduate or graduate degree that was earned at an institution of higher education in a country outside of the United States listed in the figure provided below.
Figure: 19 TAC §230.11(b)(5)(C) 
No additional submission is needed. Upon review of the original course-by-course evaluation by a recognized foreign evaluation service the country in which the degree was earned will be verified.

D. A standard certificate issued by the department of education in another state where examinations for the certificate were taken and passed. 
Applicants must submit official test score reports along with the out-of-state standard certificate for the credentials review. EPP candidates must submit official score reports to the program. 
*Candidates for certification must still complete all requirements through an approved educator preparation program or must successfully complete all requirements of the out-of-country credentials review process.

Please contact education@tamut.edu or (903) 223-3044 for additional support. 

For additional information and for a list of Certifications offered please visit the Graduate Alternative Certification Program website.