Office of Educator Certification and Academic Services

OFFICIAL NOTICE: Certification with TExES 161 & 163

The last day to be standard certified as a classroom teacher using either the TExES 161 or TExES 163 exam for special education is August 31, 2026. Individuals who have not fully completed their program, applied for certification, and been recommended by the university must take and pass the new TExES 186: Special Education Specialist EC-12 exam. Candidates in the undergraduate program may contact [email protected] in the Certification Office with questions. Candidates in graduate level teacher certification programs may reach out to [email protected] in the Certification Office for more information.

Pursuant to the Texas Education Code (TEC) 22.083, candidates must undergo a criminal history background check prior to employment as an educator; and pursuant to the TEC, 22.0835, candidates must undergo a criminal history background check prior to clinical teaching.

Per TAC Title 19, Section 249.16 Pursuant to the Texas Occupations Code (TOC), Chapter 53, and the Texas Education Code (TEC), Chapter 21, Subchapter 8, the State Board for Educator Certification (SBEC) may suspend or revoke an existing valid certificate, deny an applicant a certificate, bar a person from being assessed or examined for a certificate, or take other disciplinary action because of a person's conviction of a felony or misdemeanor or certain other criminal history.

If you have the potential to be ineligible because you have been convicted of an offense, it is in your best interest to request a preliminary criminal history evaluation.

For more information or to request a preliminary criminal history evaluation, please visit the TEA preliminary criminal history evaluation FAQs.

The United States Department of Education has approved the 2025-2026 teacher shortage areas submitted by the Texas Education Agency (TEA).

The approved state-level shortage areas for the 2025-2026 school year are:

• 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)
• Special Education

The following are critical shortage areas TEA has posted 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
• Special Education

The approved shortage areas help administrators support the recruitment and retention of qualified teachers.

Supply and Demand: The Educator Workforce in Texas

East Texas A&M University is regionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools and their Educator Certification Programs are accredited by the Texas Education Agency. You can view our performance data over the last five years.

Costs vary based on the different programs. Please see each program’s webpage below for details and reach out to the Alternative Certification Coordinator in the Certification Office for more information.

Alternative Teacher Certification, Competency-Based

Alternative and Post-Baccalaureate Teacher Certification

The Student Complaint, Appeal and Concern Resolution Matrix is provided to assist students in understanding the procedures and process for addressing common issues. Procedures are usually different for Undergraduate and Graduate students.

Step 1

• Find your complaint, appeal, or concern on the Student Complaint, Appeal, and Concern Resolution Matrix and follow the process for resolution.

Step 2

• If your complaint, appeal, or concern is still not resolved, complete the Student Complaint and Grievance Form and submit it to the Dean of Students.

Step 3

• After all avenues have been exhausted and not resolved to your satisfaction through the EPP (Educator Preparation Program) then the final step would be to contact TEA (Texas Education Agency). You may view the Complaints and Investigations Procedures in the TAC (Texas Administrative Code) in Title 19, Part 7, Chapter 228, rule 228.70 and view the process on the TEA website. NOTE: TEA may delay addressing the complaint until the proper sequence of complaints have been followed.

Test Registration

Registration for TExES exams is completed on the Pearson website.

Registration for the Performance Assessment for School Leaders (PASL) is completed on the ETS website.

Test Approvals

Program approval is required before the exam website will allow you to register. Students should contact their academic advisor or faculty program coordinator for questions about the documents required for evidence of readiness to test.

Individuals who finished their certification program 12 or more months ago may be required to complete remediation before being given test approval for their certification exam. If applicable, contact [email protected] with your TEA ID or CWID to determine what is required to receive test approval.

Current or former students who are eligible may request TExES exam approval by submitting this form.

Representative Exams

ETAMU students who need to schedule a representative (practice) TExES exam should email the Exam Administration Coordinator for available testing dates and registration. The Exam Administration Coordinator’s email address is [email protected].

Study Resources

• 240Tutoring
• CertifyTeacher
• The Learning Liaisons
• Texas Right Start
• Passage Preparation
• Mometrix e-Library
  • The Mometrix e-Library contains TExES study guides. Free access for current students is available through the ETAMU Library when you login using your student credentials.

Alternative Testing Arrangements

Students who need testing alternative testing arrangements for a Pearson administered exam are encouraged to review the information on the Pearson website. Select the exam you need to take, and select “Go” to learn more about the process required to receive alternative testing arrangements for your exam.

Use the TEA Login to access your account (if you have taken a TExES exam you should have an account)

• First-time user Click on “New User? Create New Account”

Once you are logged in:

1. Click on the tab APPLICATIONS
2. Click on STANDARD CERTIFICATE
3. Click APPLY FOR CERTIFICATION
4. Fill in all sections of the application.

On the field that says “I request to be recommended by this Entity”

Undergraduate Teacher Certification Candidates Select: East Texas A&M University (University Based)

Post-Bach Teacher Certification Candidates (Earned a Master's Degree) Select: East Texas A&M University (University Based)

Alternative Teacher Certification Candidates (Cert-Only) Select: East Texas A&M University (Alternative)

Professional Certification Candidates (Certification-ONLY Programs) Select: East Texas A&M University (Alternative)

Professional Certification Candidates (Degree Seeking Programs) Select: East Texas A&M University (University Based)

When all information has been entered, click on APPLY.

Pay TEA electronically for $78.00 certification, $40.25 fingerprinting and $10.00 vendor fees.

If you have been an Educational Aide and hold an Aide Certificate with SBEC, or completed the process with a school district, or already hold a standard teaching certificate (Professional Certification Applicants) you will not be required to complete Fingerprinting again.

Use the tab labeled APPLICATION STATUS to make sure that your payment was processed.

Scheduling a Fingerprinting Appointment

The fingerprinting process is initiated once an applicant applies and makes the payment for certification through the Educator Certification Online System (ECOS). At the time the applicant pays for certification, he or she will also be prompted to pay for the fingerprint background check. Certificate applicants residing in Texas must submit their fingerprints electronically, Option 1, using the Texas Department of Public Safety’s (DPS) approved vendor, MorphoTrust/Identogo. Once payment for fingerprinting has been submitted in ECOS, the applicant will be “pre-enrolled” and MorphoTrust/Identogo will send the applicant an email that includes information to schedule an appointment. The email will be sent from the address: [email protected].

Please note that, once pre-enrolled, certificate applicants may also find the information necessary to schedule an appointment in the applicant’s ECOS account. After logging in, the certificate applicant should choose ‘Fingerprint Status’, and he or she will be taken to a screen that displays the UEID number, the service code and a link for appointment scheduling through MorphoTrust/IdentoGo.

The total fingerprinting background check fee for a certificate applicant in Texas is $50.25, $40.25 of which is paid in ECOS via credit card during the application process. An additional $10.00 is paid to MorphoTrust/IdentoGo at the time of appointment scheduling. A valid photo ID is required at the time of the appointment. Texas Education Agency (TEA) receives the fingerprinting results 5-7 business days after the fingerprint appointment.

Professional development for K-12 teachers offers you training and credit hours for license renewal or certification in another subject area.

The Texas Education Agency posts a list of approved CPE providers.

Educators are also encouraged to review the available courses on TEALearn.

Additional information on the continuing professional education (CPE) requirements for the renewal of educator certificates can be found on the Texas Education Agency website.

Please contact the admissions offices for undergraduate or graduate degrees for specific criteria and procedures that may allow for military service member and military veteran candidates to credit verified military service, training or education toward the training, education, work experience or related requirements (other than certification examinations) for educator certification requirements, provided that the military service, training or education is directly related to the certificate being sought.

Please contact the admissions offices for undergraduate or graduate degrees as well as the appropriate faculty advisor for specific criteria and procedures that may allow candidates who are not military service members or military veterans to substitute prior or ongoing service, training or education, provided that the experience, education or training is not also counted as a part of the internship, clinical teaching or practicum requirements, was provided by an approved EPP or an accredited institution of higher education within the past five years and is directly related to the certificate being sought.

Learn to provide guidance and counseling to students of all ages. When you graduate from our master of science program in counseling after completing your certification exam and approved practicum, you'll be eligible for school counselor certification. This program does not require a teaching certificate or any years of teaching service for admission.

Contribute to student success by learning to assess, diagnose and instruct students’ reading and writing skills. You can earn your reading specialist certification through our Master of Education in Curriculum & Instruction with Literacy Emphasis. If you already have a master’s degree, you can earn your reading specialist certification by completing our 24-hour program.

Earn your principal certification while completing your master's degree in educational administration. If you already have a master's degree, you can earn your principal certification by completing our 21-hour program.

Become a respected leader in Texas school districts by earning your superintendent certification while completing your doctorate in educational administration. If you have a master’s degree and do not wish to pursue your doctorate, you can earn your superintendent certification through our 15-hour program.

Become an educational diagnostician while earning your Master of Education in Special Education. If you already have a master’s degree, you can earn your educational diagnostician certification through our 21-hour certification-only program.

Earn your school librarian certification through our master of education program in educational technology library science. If you already have a master’s degree, you can earn your school librarian certification through our 21-hour certification-only program.