Office of Educator Preparation

Education Building Room 2016
Telephone: 512-245-7880 Fax: 512-245-8345
www.education.txst.edu/oep

The Office of Educator Preparation (OEP) collaborates with all university departments and schools involved in educator certification. The OEP assists departments and schools in certification program alignment and compliance with federal, state, and university policies and procedures that lead to educator certification through baccalaureate, graduate, and certification-only programs: namely, programs in the colleges of Applied Arts, Education, Fine Arts and Communication, Liberal Arts, and Science and Engineering.

Because of the nature of the teaching profession--and because of the extensive field-based component of educator certification--all interested students must be aware of the following:

Students in teacher certification programs are preservice teacher candidates who are expected to meet the professional standards outlined by the Texas State University Teacher Education Program Standards. These expectations include recognizing learner backgrounds in instructional planning, adhering to ethical and policy requirements, maintaining professional communication and relationships, using reputable information to guide decisions, and engaging in ongoing reflection to review and adjust their professional practice.  Students in teacher programs are expected to adhere to the Texas Educators’ Code of Ethics and requirements of the Texas State University Educator Preparation Program Exit Policy.

A candidate who does not meet the expectations of the Texas State University Teacher Education Program Standards will be evaluated by a professor, field supervisor, cooperating teacher, or principal using the Texas State University Teacher Education Program Standard Evaluation Process.

Candidates may be dismissed from the Texas State University Educator Preparation Program for failure to comply with, or violations of, the Texas State University Educator Preparation Program Exit Policy. Candidates may appeal a dismissal decision to the Dean of the College of Education, whose decision is final.

Criminal background checks are required for participation in field-based coursework and for progression through the Educator Preparation Program. Based on information recorded in an individual's criminal history, a candidate may be ineligible for issuance of a certification upon completion of the Educator Preparation Program. If a candidate has a criminal history, that student is advised to request a Preliminary Criminal History Evaluation from the Texas Education Agency; schedule an appointment for free legal counseling services through Texas State University's Attorney for Students (http://attorney.dos.txstate.edu/); and disclose this information to the Office of Educator Preparation.

Certification requirements are subject to change regardless of catalog year. Teacher Certification at Texas State University is governed by state/federal statute and rules. Certification coursework, exam approval, and exam scores may expire in response to changes from either the state or federal government.

Major with Teacher Certification

Students who wish to teach Early Childhood (EC) through Grade 6 (elementary with specialization in either English as a Second Language or Bilingual Education), Grades 4-8 (middle school), or All-Level Special Education pursue the Bachelor of Science major in Education. Students seeking all other teacher certifications should initially declare a major within their chosen teaching field in the department, school and college where that major is housed. Students should note that teacher certification requirements may differ from degree requirements and that completion of both is necessary for awarding a degree and recommending a student for teacher certification.

Sequence of Coursework

Students should refer to their Advising Center for guidance in following the Educator Preparation course sequence in their degree plan. At a minimum, each Educator Preparation sequence consists of introductory “Education Core” classes, at least one 15-week semester of a Field-Based Block of coursework and a final 15-week semester of Clinical Experience or year long residency. Students must apply a semester in advance for Field-Based Block coursework at www.education.txstate.edu/oep/Applications/apply-for-fieldblock-experience.html and for Clinical Experience coursework or apply for teacher residency.

Teacher Certification

In addition to an earned baccalaureate degree, there are six criteria for earning certification:

  • Admittance to the Educator Preparation Program
  • A passing criminal history review
  • Completion of Field-Based Blocks
  • Passing scores on all required certification exams
  • Satisfactory completion of Clinical Experience
  • Applications for graduation as well as state certification

Admittance to the Educator Preparation Program

To pursue teacher certification, students must apply and be invited to attend the Educator Preparation Program through the Office of Educator Preparation. If a student accepts this invitation, the student must then pay the required $35 Texas Education Agency technology fee before the student will be officially admitted. Please see http://www.education.txstate.edu/oep for current admittance requirements and procedures.

For more information about admittance to the Educator Preparation Program, see the Teacher Certification Handbook on the Office of Educator Preparation website: www.education.txstate.edu/oep.

Field-Based Blocks: Elementary, Middle School, High School, and All-Level Certification

Students in any undergraduate teacher certification program must participate in one or more field-based block(s) of integrated courses that provide authentic experience in classrooms, prior to Teacher Residency or Clinical Teaching. Texas State partners with Central Texas public schools to provide these rich, hands-on experiences. All students being placed in field experience must complete criminal background checks.

For more information about Field-Based Blocks, see the Department of Curriculum and Instruction website: www.education.txstate.edu/ci/resources/student-resources/Block-Information.html

Certification Exams

Students must apply to the OEP for test approval for each attempt of the state-required Texas Examination of Educator Standards (TExES).

State statute limits candidates to FIVE (5) attempts of each certification exam. If a candidate does not pass any required exam within five attempts, the candidate will not be eligible to become a certified teacher in the state of Texas.

For more information about the certification exams, see the Teacher Certification Handbook on the Office of Educator Preparation website: https://www.education.txst.edu/oep/current/initial-certification/certification-exams.html

Clinical Experience

Pathways for clinical experience are determined by program requirements. Pathways include Teacher Residency (two semesters) or Clinical Teaching (one semester).

Residency Texas State University’s Teacher Residency Program provides the highest-quality clinical preparation available in Texas. Residency is nationally recognized as the gold standard for teacher training, offering a full year of guided, hands‑on classroom experience that develops confident, skilled, and classroom‑ready educators. This professional experience requires the commitment of a full-time job. Students may request a particular district, but the district Human Resources staff and the TXST Residency Team oversee placement. While teaching in a residency program, students are responsible for transportation and lodging arrangements. Students must be available at a minimum by the first day of instruction within a school district through the last day of the instruction. Students may be asked to come earlier for orientation and professional development.

All other degree-required coursework must be completed prior to Teacher Residency except for coursework that is paired with Teacher Residency. Contact your advisor regularly for updated degree audit and certification requirements. Criminal background checks are required for all Teacher Residency placements.

Clinical Teaching (student teaching) is a mandatory and traditionally unpaid, one semester professional experience that requires the time commitment of a full-time job. Students may request a particular district, but the district Human Resources determines placements. While teaching in the clinical experience, students are responsible for transportation and lodging arrangements. Students must be available for mandatory district orientation up to 5 weeks prior to the first day of Clinical Teaching placement. Because Clinical Teaching is 6 credit hours, students must determine, with the assistance of the Financial Aid Office, if and how their financial aid or scholarships may be affected by half-time enrollment.

All other degree-required coursework must be completed prior to clinical teaching which should occur during a student’s final semester or final year. Contact your advisor regularly for updated degree audit and certification requirements. Criminal background checks are required for all clinical teaching placements. 

For more information about Clinical Experience, see the Teacher Certification Handbook on the Office of Educator Preparation website: www.education.txst.edu/oep/current/initial-certification.html

Graduation and Certification

Graduation

In addition to the other graduation requirements listed in this catalog, the following graduation requirements must be met by students seeking teacher certification:

  1. An Overall GPA of at least 2.75.
  2. Grades of "C" or better in all courses within the Major(s), Teaching Field(s), Certification area(s), and/ or in the Education minor. 
  3. Successful completion of Teacher Residency or Clinical Teaching.

Standard Certification

Eligible students should apply for a Texas Educator Certificate through the State Board for Educator Certification. The Certification Officer in the OEP will recommend the issuance of the appropriate certificate by the State of Texas. The certification process includes the following steps:

  1. Completion of at least a baccalaureate degree and the posting of the degree to the official transcript.
  2. Verification of satisfactory completion of Teacher Residency or Clinical Teaching experience.
  3. Passing scores on the appropriate Texas Examination of Educator Standards (TExES).

For more information about Certification Exams. Test Prep, and Issuance of Standard Certification, see the Teacher Certification Handbook on the Office of Educator Preparation website: www.education.txst.edu/oep.

Post-Baccalaureate Certificate Requirement

Persons who hold at least a bachelor’s degree who are seeking initial Texas teacher certification or professional certification need to follow information listed in the Graduate Catalog.