Teacher Certification Programs

Teacher Certification Programs for Undergraduate Students

The following describes undergraduate programs for students who are pursuing a bachelor’s degree concurrently with teacher certification:

  • Undergraduate students interested in teaching pre-kindergarten through sixth grades will declare a major in Equity and Education (EC-6 Core Subjects with Science of Teaching Reading and English as a Second Language Supplemental Certification). These students should refer to the section of this catalog for the EED Teacher Certification Concentration. Please contact Academic Advising for assistance in planning your degree semesters and goals.
  • Undergraduate students interested in teaching in fourth through eighth grades will declare a major in Equity and Education (EED) with teacher certification in Language Arts/Reading/Social Studies with Science of Teaching Reading and English as a Second Language  Supplemental Certification or Mathematics/Science and English as a Second Language Supplemental Certification . These students should refer to the section of this catalog for the Bachelor of Arts in Equity and Education (Middle Level 4–8 concentrations). Please contact Academic Advising for assistance in planning your degree semesters and goals.
  • Undergraduate students interested in teaching bilingual pre-kindergarten through sixth grades will declare a major in Equity and Education (EC-6 Core Subjects with Science of Teaching Reading and Bilingual Supplemental Certification). These students should refer to the section of this catalog for the EED Teacher Certification Concentration. Please contact Academic Advising for assistance in planning your degree semesters and goals.
  • Undergraduate students interested in teaching bilingual fourth through eighth grades will declare a major in Equity and Education (EED) with teacher certification in Language Arts/Reading/Social Studies with Science of Teaching Reading and Bilingual Supplemental Certification or Mathematics/Science and Bilingual Supplemental Certification. These students should refer to the section of this catalog for the Bachelor of Arts in Equity and Education (Middle Level 4–8 Bilingual 4-8 concentration). Please contact Academic Advising for assistance in planning your degree semesters and goals.
  • Undergraduate students interested in teaching Special Education will declare a major in Equity and Education (EED) with certification in EC–12 Special Education. These students should refer to the section of this catalog for the Bachelor of Arts in Equity and Education (EC–12 Special Education concentration). Please contact Academic Advising for assistance in planning your degree semesters and goals.
  • Undergraduate students interested in teaching seventh through twelfth grades will declare a major (English Language Arts Reading, History, Social Studies, or Speech) in the academic area in which they plan to teach. Undergraduates wanting to teach mathematics and life, physical or computer science will enroll in the UTeachSA program, a collaboration between the College of Science and College of Education and Human Development. Regardless of the pathway to becoming a secondary certified teacher, all those seeking grades 7-12 certification students should refer to the “Minor in Secondary Education” and “Secondary Certification Programs” sections of this catalog for information about specialized core curriculum and professional education coursework for which they will enroll concurrently with degree requirements. Students seeking secondary certification are advised to stay in close contact with a Certification Specialist in Education Advising and their Academic Advisor in COLFA or COS Advising Centers. Students can also add English as a Second Language (ESL) or Bilingual Education (BL) Supplemental Certifications to their base certification with additional content courses in those areas. Please consult with a Certification Specialist in the Education Advising Center to learn more about supplemental certifications.
  • Students interested in teaching physical education in pre-kindergarten through twelfth grades will declare a major in Kinesiology with a concentration in Physical Education. These students should refer to the “Bachelor of Science Degree in Kinesiology” section of this catalog for degree and certification requirements. Please contact Academic Advising for assistance in planning your degree semesters and goals.
  • Students interested in teaching music in pre-kindergarten through twelfth grades will declare a major in Music with a concentration in Music Studies and will choose either the Instrumental or Choral Music tracks. These students will refer to the “Bachelor of Music with a Music Studies Concentration” section in this catalog for information about degree and certification requirements. Students seeking Music certification are advised to stay in close contact with a Certification Specialist in the Academic Advising Center. 
  • Students interested in teaching art in pre-kindergarten through twelfth grades will declare a major in Art. These students will refer to the “Bachelor of Arts Degree in Art” section of this catalog for information about degree and certification requirements. Students seeking Art certification are advised to stay in close contact with a Certification Specialist in the Academic Advising Center. 
  • Students interested in teaching Spanish in pre-kindergarten through twelfth grades will declare a major in Spanish. These students will refer to the “Bachelor of Arts Degree in Spanish” section of this catalog for information about degree and certification requirements. Students seeking Spanish certification are advised to stay in close contact with a Certification Specialist in the Academic Advising Center. 

For information about certificate and degree course content, students should refer to the “All Level Specialized Certification Programs” and the “Degree with Certification” sections of the catalog as related to their specific degree.

Accelerated Teacher Certification Program

UTSA is approved by the Texas Education Agency to offer teacher candidates various routes to teacher certification. The Accelerated Certification Program (ACP) is a track that allows students who have earned a Bachelor's degree or higher to obtain Texas teacher certification at the elementary and secondary level. The accelerated certification program is considered by TEA as an alternative route. A $35 TEA fee will be charged to the teacher candidate's account. This fee is absorbed by the Texas Education Agency and is not used by the University of Texas at San Antonio. It is a one-time, non-refundable fee that will be charged at the time of admission.

Certifications offered through the ACP are:

  • 7-12 English Language Arts

  • 7-12 Life Science

  • 6-12 Physical Science

  • 7-12 Science

  • 7-12 Social Studies

  • 7-12 History

  • 7-12 Speech

  • 7-12 Math

  • EC-12 Health

  • EC-12 Physical Education

  • EC-12 Special Education

  • EC-12 Art

  • EC-12 Spanish

  • EC-12 German

  • EC-12 French

  • EC-12 Music

Students interested in these programs will be required to meet with a Certification Specialist in the Academic Advising Center to learn more about the program. Students can also visit the College of Education and Human Development Website to learn more about the options for doing an accelerated program. 

Standards

Certificate programs have been designed to meet the standards for teacher certification set by the State Board for Educator Certification (SBEC). UTSA is approved to recommend individuals for these certificates if the individual has met all of the COEHD Fitness to Teach Policy standards and has successfully completed all academic requirements for the certificate sought.

The State of Texas utilizes the “approved program” concept in its system of teacher certification. The State:

  • establishes the regulations and standards by which teachers are certified (the requirements are independent of college or university degree requirements);
  • approves colleges and universities to recommend students for teacher certificates in areas where programs have been found to be in conformity with State standards and are on file with the State; and
  • issues the teacher certificate directly to the student, upon recommendation by an approved college or university.

Applying to the Teacher Certification Program

Students who are pursuing an undergraduate degree together with certification and who meet the requirements for admission to the Teacher Certification Program can apply online for admission to the Teacher Certification Program. Requirements and application materials are located on the COEHD website (see Professional Preparation and Certification). Students must be accepted into the Teacher Certification Program in order to register for courses restricted to teacher certification students.

Applying for the Teacher Certificate

Upon successful completion of the bachelor’s degree, the certification program, required examinations, and clinical teaching (or an approved substitution for clinical teaching), students must apply for their certificate online at the SBEC website.

Additional eligibility requirements for recommendation for the teacher certificate include a 2.75 cumulative grade point average on a 4.00 scale, good standing status at UTSA (not on academic probation), and the recommendation of the College of Education and Human Development (COEHD).

Upon completion of processing by the Assistant Director of Teacher Education/Educator Certification Officer and by SBEC, the teacher certificate will be sent directly to the student.

Student Fitness to Teach Policy

The College of Education and Human Development has a responsibility to the educational community to ensure that individuals whom UTSA recommends to the State of Texas for teaching certification are fit to join the teaching profession. All teacher candidates in the UTSA Teacher Certification Program (TCP) are expected to demonstrate that they are prepared to teach children and youth. This preparation results from the combination of successful completion of University coursework and the demonstration of important human characteristics and dispositions that all teachers should possess. Consult the COEHD website for a copy of the Fitness to Teach Policy. UTSA and the COEHD reserve the right to recommend or not recommend teacher candidates for certification. If for whatever reason, it is determined that a student does not qualify to be recommended for a teaching certificate, the student may graduate with only their degree upon completion of their respective program.

Criminal Record Check

A criminal background check is a requirement for admission to the Teacher Certification Program. In addition, during each semester in which field-based courses are taken, students will be required to submit to a Criminal Record Check. For further information about criminal record check procedures, consult the COEHD Web page. Criminal record checks are conducted by the individual school districts when field work in schools is a course requirement.

Criminal History Policy and Acknowledgement

The College of Education and Human Development (COEHD) prepares educators and professionals for fields which require fieldwork, internship, practicum, service-learning, and/or clinical teaching. Placements occur in educational, clinical, and health care facilities; hospitals; and/or medical settings which require a criminal background check. The University of Texas at San Antonio is required to inform students of the requirements set forth by the Texas Occupation Code, Chapter 53, Sections 53.001 through 53.105.

All COEHD prospective students in a licensure or certification program are required to acknowledge that they have been made aware of these requirements and that they have read the COEHD Criminal History Policy. For more information and for completing the acknowledgement form, please visit the Office of Professional Preparation, Assessment, and Accreditation in the College of Education and Human Development.

Teaching Certificates for Persons with Criminal Background

In accordance with state law, the State Board for Educator Certification (SBEC) may suspend or revoke a teacher certificate or refuse to issue a teacher certificate for a person who has been convicted of a felony or misdemeanor for a crime that is directly related to the duties and responsibilities of the teaching profession (Texas Occupation Code, Section 53.021).

Certification in States Other than Texas

Once certified in Texas, teachers who move out of state may consult the NASDTEC Interstate Contract website at www.nasdtec.net to determine if Texas has reciprocity with the state of relocation. If the state in question requires an out-of-state document to be completed, it should be forwarded to the UTSA Certification Officer in the Interdisciplinary Education Advising and Certification Center.

Students moving out of state before having completed all requirements for teacher certification in Texas will be required to complete a state-approved teacher preparation program once relocated.

Policies

Course Substitutions

UTSA certification programs have been carefully designed to meet State Board for Educator Certification (SBEC) standards and to prepare UTSA students to pass the Texas Examinations of Educator Standards (TExES). It is, therefore, in the student’s best interest to follow the approved certification program. Course substitutions in the teacher education program are granted only in extenuating circumstances and only if appropriate substitutions are available. All requests for substitutions must be filed in writing with the Interdisciplinary Education Advising and Certification Center before the individual registers for the course. Requested course submissions must match the required course in content, level, and grade requirements. Course substitution approvals rest within each department. Department decisions are final.

Restricted Education Courses

Restricted Education courses have strict prerequisites as specified by COEHD faculty. In order to register for a restricted course, a student must be admitted to the teacher certification program and meet the required prerequisites for authorization. The Interdisciplinary Education Advising and Certification Center accepts applications for advisor authorization from approximately three weeks before registration begins until the registration process is complete. Restricted Professional Development courses are subject to change depending on state-mandated requirements. Students should consult an academic advisor about restricted courses in their program.

Waivers

Individuals who wish to request a waiver of course requirements should first contact the Academic Advising Center to determine if the requirement is a UTSA or a State Board for Educator Certification requirement. Individuals who wish to request a waiver of a UTSA requirement must file a written request with the Academic Advising Center. Waivers cannot be granted for the requirements mandated by the State Board for Educator Certification.

Requirements for Admission to the Teacher Certification Program

Consult UTSA Student Policies and the COEHD website for additional admission requirements to the UTSA Teacher Certification Program.

Clinical Teaching (formerly Student Teaching)

The Clinical Teaching experience is an extremely important component of the certification program. The primary purpose of clinical  teaching is to apply what has been learned in university courses to the professional setting (i.e., an actual classroom). It is expected that the clinical teaching component of the certification program will be completed through UTSA.

Admission to Clinical Teaching

Admission to clinical teaching must be requested by formal application during the semester before the student plans to clinical teach. A meeting will be held early in the semester to disseminate application information. The deadline for the application for students who plan to do clinical teaching in the Fall Semester is February 15. For students planning to do clinical teaching in the Spring Semester, the deadline for the application is October 1. Acceptance into the clinical teaching program is contingent upon completion of the following requirements:

  1. Admission to the UTSA Teacher Certification Program; consult the current UTSA Student Policies for admission requirements.
  2. A 2.75 cumulative grade point average on all college work attempted.
  3. Completion of the Professional Education coursework (please refer to course descriptions for specific grade requirements for your program’s student clinical course).
  4. Students seeking Supplemental Certification in English as a Second Language or Bicultural-Bilingual Education should consult an advisor regarding additional course requirements.
  5. Presentation of a negative tuberculosis report, as specified by the school district, from a licensed physician, valid at the time of registration for clinical teaching.
  6. Approval of the Director of Professional Clinical Experiences.

NOTE: At present, we offer the Traditional Clinical Teaching semester, Yearlong Clinical Teaching, and Residency Clinical Teaching. 

The Traditional Clinical Teaching semester is a full-time commitment. The traditional clinical teaching semester is 15 weeks with time divided between school campuses and UTSA. A clinical teacher must follow the same schedule as their cooperating teacher in the public schools for a full semester of consecutive, full-day, full-time clinical teaching; therefore, it is not possible to register for other courses that meet in the daytime hours. Since performance in the clinical teaching semester is a key factor used by school districts in evaluating an applicant’s potential as a teacher, it is recommended that the individual not attempt to work during the clinical teaching semester. There is no special provision for financial support of clinical teachers; check with financial aid for possible funding. 

Yearlong Clinical Teaching and Residency Clinical Teaching are clinically-rich experiences in which clinical teachers complete methods courses along with clinical teaching over two semesters.  These are intensive clinically-embedded experiences, and we strongly recommend that clinical teachers be prepared to fully immerse themselves into the school environment.  They are also expected to follow the school district's academic calendar, as the clinical teacher's performance is a key component in evaluating future potential as a teacher.  Both of these experiences allow for financial support; check with financial aid for possible funding. 

Texas Examinations of Educator Standards (TExES)

The Texas Examinations of Educator Standards are state-mandated examinations whose purpose is to ensure that educators possess the necessary content and professional knowledge to teach in Texas public schools. Individuals seeking certification in the State of Texas must pass the required tests before they can be recommended for a teacher certificate and/or endorsement. Teacher certification candidates may only take the same state exam for a total of five times. The five attempts include the first attempt to pass the exam and four retakes. All attempts to pass the exam taken before September 1, 2015, will count as one attempt regardless of how many times the exam was taken prior to this date.

TExES tests are criterion-referenced. This means that these exams are designed to measure an individual’s knowledge in relation to an established standard of competence rather than in relation to the performance of other individuals.

Further information on required TExES tests can be obtained in the Academic Advising Center, the Office of Professional Preparation and Partnerships,  Director for Assessment and Program Accountability, or  from the UTSA COEHD website (see TExES).