Complete 4 of the 6 graduate alternative certification

You have extensive technology training that you can use to teach local high school students. Build on your work experience and qualifications through our technology education educator program. In less than two years, you can be equipped to educate high school students in grades 6-12 in systems application, troubleshooting, design process and communication processes. Begin your new career in teaching today!

Computer science student talking with another student sitting at a computer.

Admission

Admission Requirements

  • Note: You will be creating a password for this account.
  • Must have a bachelor’s degree with an overall GPA of 2.75 or higher OR a conferred master’s degree with an overall GPA of 3.0 or higher
  • Eligible military experience may be used in lieu of civilian licensure and wage-earning experience.

You are required to pass the Texas Pre-Admission Content Test for Technology Education, test #771, prior to admission.

Submit Application

  • Create an ApplyTexas account or login if you already have one
  • Complete your profile section first once you log into your account
  • Select “School Search” and select East Texas A&M
  • Choose the semester you wish to begin
  • Select “Educator Certification” as your “Program.”
  • Pay the $50 application fee.

Wait to receive an application confirmation email before proceeding to the next step.

  • Within two business days of your application, the Graduate School will send a confirmation email to the personal email account you used for ApplyTexas.

Submit the following documents to your graduate coordinator after you receive an application confirmation email.

Your Graduate Coordinator

Domestic Transcripts

Contact your previous institution(s) and request that they send your official transcripts to your Graduate Student Services Coordinator. We accept transcripts officially via email (directly from the institution), through Parchment, and any other official transcript providing agency. If your university does not offer an electronic transcript service, you may request them to be sent via regular mail to:

East Texas A&M University

Attn: Graduate School

2600 S. Neal St.

Commerce, Texas 75428

If your degree is from East Texas A&M University, you do not have to order a transcript. We will access your transcript.

If we already have your transcript, we will reuse it for a new application as long as it is still on file.

International transcripts

WES ICAP evaluations will be required for certain countries; those are listed below:

  • Transcripts/Degrees from universities in Nigeria
  • Transcripts/Degrees from universities in China that do not come from CSSD (formerly CHESICC)
  • Any country where the official transcript is not in English

For all other countries, an evaluation is not initially required. Original official transcripts are required for admission consideration.
Please know that upon receipt of your official transcript, the Graduate School reserves the right to require an external evaluation at that time.

Contact your previous institution(s) and request that they send your official transcripts to:
East Texas A&M University
Attn: Graduate School
2600 S. Neal St.
Commerce, Texas 75428

We will need official/original documents.

If those documents are the only copies you have, the Graduate School can mail them back to you upon request. Contact your graduate coordinator for more information.

Submit a resume or curriculum vitae (CV) which includes your academic and professional history and achievements.

Describe your preparation for graduate work and your academic interests and goals in no more than 500 words.

Look for application updates in myLeo > Apps > Check Application Status

  • Once an admission decision has been made, you will receive an email to your student email account at myLeo > Apps > Leomail.

Once your application to the Graduate School is complete, you can submit your Alternative Certification Program Application right away using TK20. If you have any questions, please email your alternative certification coordinator.

Your Alternative Certification Coordinator

You will need to have the following documents ready for upload in order to submit the application:

  • Alternative Certification Application fee receipt
  • TEA Assessment fee receipt
  • TX PACT Scores
    • Since the PACT is not available for Trades and Industry please upload a note stating PACT not available in TK20 as part of your admissions application.
  • Resume
  • Essay: A 1-page, double-spaced, titled “What Inspired Me to Become a Teacher”
  • Statement of Qualification form
    • The link for the SOQ form is found in the TK20 application under the Career and Technical Education section.
  • Official transcripts from the Graduate Office will be reviewed by the certification office.
    • Official transcripts from all institutions must be submitted to the Graduate School in order to satisfy TEA certification admission requirements. Transcripts showing only pass/fail on the entire transcript with no established GPA will not be accepted.
    • A minimum GPA of 2.75 on a conferred bachelor’s degree or on the most recent 60 credit hours is required for certification admission. Please note that certification admission requirements may differ from those of the Graduate School and are separate requirements.
If applicable:
  • TEA Transfers
    • If you have previously been admitted to another educator preparation program for alternative certification you are required to submit a TEA transfer form. You will complete Part A, have your previous program complete Part B and then return to [email protected].
  • Transcripts from outside the United States
    • Contact [email protected] for any questions about TEA requirements for transcripts from outside the United States.
    • If you received a bachelor’s degree from outside of the United States, then a Foreign Credential Evaluation with a course-by-course summary will be required. This is to remain in compliance with TEA to verify a bachelor’s degree and to compute a core GPA.
    • A course-by-course evaluation must be from a TEA-approved Foreign Credential Evaluation Service.
  • English Proficiency
    • Educators who apply for certification are required to demonstrate English language proficiency by fulfilling one of the following requirements:
      • Completion of an undergraduate or graduate degree at an accredited institution of higher education in the United States, not including US territories.
      • Completion of an undergraduate or graduate degree earned at an institution of higher education in a country outside of the United States approved by the State Board of Educator Certification (SBEC).
      • A standard certificate issued by the department of education in another state where examinations for the certificate were taken and passed.
    • If these requirements are not met, then a passing score on the Test of English as a Foreign Language Internet-Based Test (TOEFL-iBT) exam must be submitted. You are required to score within the High-Intermediate level in each section.
  • Military Personnel
    • Military service members or military veteran candidates that have verified military service, training or education directly related to the certificate being sought may have that military service, training or education reviewed by an EPP to see if it satisfies any of the educator certification requirements.

  • Go to tamuc.tk20.com
  • Scroll down and click “Admissions”
  • Select “Click here to create your account.”
How to log into TK20.
  • Complete the “Create Applicant Account” form.
  • Note: You will be creating a password for this account.
  • Store the password you create in a secure location so you can refer to it later.
  • After completing the “Create Applicant Account” form, TK20 will provide your username.
  • Store your TK20 username and password in a secure location so you can refer to them later.
    • You will use the username to log in to review your admission application once submitted.

  • Log into your TK20 account
    • Click on the “back to login” link.
    • Enter your username and password.
    • Click the green “Log Into Your Account” button.
  • Click on the “Create New Application” button.
  • Select “Alternative Certification” application
  • Click the “Next” button.
  • Complete the application.

  • Upload documents by clicking on the “+ Select File(s)” button for the item you are uploading.
  • Once you have completed all fields in the application, click the “Submit” button.
  • Look for an email from TK20 confirming your submission.

To check your application status:

  1. Log in to your TK20 Student Admissions account
  2. On the “Home” tab, locate your application under “Recent Messages”
  3. Click on the application.
  4. If you are admitted, the message will indicate your application was “Admitted”
  5. If you lack admission requirements, the message will indicate “Denied.”
    • Click on “Review Document” to view your deficiencies and reason(s) for denial.

Once both the Graduate School and Certification Program Applications are complete, the Alternative Certification Program Coordinator may reach out to schedule an additional interview.

Once accepted, please sign and return the “letter of invitation” that will be sent to you via email from Tracey Stedman.

  • Apply for scholarships and graduate assistantships once you are admitted.
  • Apply for financial aid by submitting a FAFSA and sending it to school code 003565.
  • Contact your financial aid advisor with any questions.

Note: If you are pursuing teacher certification only is non-degree seeking and not eligible for Federal Financial Aid. You may use personal loans, scholarships and grants. Pursuing a master’s degree with teacher certification is degree-seeking and eligible for financial aid.

Once registration opens and you are eligible to enroll, your certification coordinator will contact you to complete registration.

  • View your degree plan in DegreeWorks.
  • To register for classes, go to myLeo > Student Resources > Registration Menu.

Contact your certification coordinator if you have any questions regarding your degree plan and registration.

Your Alternative Certification Coordinator

Your Path To Complete The Certification

Complete 50-hours of required field experience in the content area or grade level you are pursuing.

  • Instructions, log sheets, and reflection questions will be sent once you have been admitted.
  • You cannot begin your teaching assignment until this is complete.

  • Complete 4 of the 6 graduate alternative certification courses prior to a paid internship or clinical teaching.
    • You must receive a “B” or better in all classes and have a minimum overall GPA of 3.0.

  • Receive approval from the alternative certificate program staff after successfully completing 4 of the 6 certification courses.

Choose one of the following two options:

  • Complete one-year paid internship as a teacher of record.
    • Candidates will apply for positions through the district or region service center.
  • Complete a one-semester unpaid clinical student teaching assignment.
    • The alternative certificate program representative will assist with your application and placement.

Supervision and Fees

All paid interns or clinical student teachers will be supervised by a University Supervisor and Campus Mentor.

  • An internship fee of $700 per semester is assessed during paid internship/clinical student teaching.

  • Complete any remaining courses.
  • All tuition and fees for the university, certification agency and program must be paid prior to obtain certification.
  • Contact the Educator Certification Office during your final semester.
    • They will verify that all requirements are completed.
    • After the verification, you will receive information about how to apply for certification via the Texas Education Agency.

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