Address:
5th Floor, Hammond Hall, 701 Planetarium Place
Box 19227, Arlington, TX 76019-0227
General Email: education@uta.edu
Certification Office: coedcertification@uta.edu
Phone: 817-272-2591
Fax: 817-272-2530
Steps to Become an Educator for Post-Baccalaureate/Graduate Students
Already have a bachelor's degree and want to teach? Explore your next steps and learn how to become certified to teach in Texas.
Three Options to Choose From
We offer three certification options for aspiring teachers who have already earned a bachelor's degree or higher from an accredited university.
Choose Your Program & Review Admissions Requirements
Browse our programs, choose between one of our master's degree or certification-only programs, and review admissions requirements in the official catalog.
Please note that in Texas, educators are certified to teach an age range and (if teaching Grade 4 or above) a specific subject or content area.
Complete a Content Declaration Form
Applicants to the M.Ed. in Teaching with initial teacher certification or the Initial Teacher Certification only program must also contact a content advisor for a transcript evaluation and complete a content declaration form. The exception are students pursing the M.Ed. in Special Education with initial teacher certification.
PASS THE TEXAS PRE-ADMISSION CONTENT TEST
Once you have determined the grade level and subject you want to obtain certification for, you must pass the Texas Pre-Admission Content Test (TX PACT) for that grade level and subject. For example, if you want to teach Elementary classes, you will register for the Core Subjects EC-6 TX PACT. Need assistance? Contact coedcertification@uta.edu.
Special Note: Individuals pursuing the M.Ed. in Special Education with certification are not required to take/pass the PACT.
Apply to UTA at ApplyTexas.org
Apply on ApplyTexas.org, pay the application fee, and submit your official transcripts.
Apply to Program & For Grants, Scholarships, Etc.
Complete the program admission requirements. Our academic team will inform you when to complete these steps.
1. Submit letters of reference and other forms to COEDadvising@uta.edu
Note: There may be additional requirements for some students.
Apply to UTA's Educator Preparation Program
Students pursing a Texas Teacher Certificate are required to apply to and complete an Educator Preparation Program (EPP). The EPP includes pedagogy coursework, classroom experience, and clinical teaching. Your advisor will help you determine when you have met the EPP requirements and instruct you on how to apply.
View EPP requirements here, and view the essay rubric here.
Meet with your advisor and register for classes
Your College of Education Advisor will be able to guide you through the process of completing both teacher certification and degree requirements. Once you've met with your advisor, you'll register for classes through your UTA MyMav account.
Participate in Field Experiences
Your field experiences are critical steps toward your development as a future educator. The opportunity to practice what you have learned during your studies in a real school classroom under the mentorship of a Cooperating Teacher is one of the most valuable components of your Educator preparation. As part of the EPP, our Office of Educational Field Experiences has a dedicated team to help students apply for and complete required field experiences for their program.
Register for and Pass the State Certification Exams
Certification candidates must receive approval to test for the Texas Examinations of Educator Standards (TExES), the state's certification exam. To receive approval to register for TExES, candidates must meet the requisites for their specific certification program and should work with their Program Coordinator to receive approval and instructions to apply for exam registration. Candidates must then pass then exam to move onto the next step.
Apply for TEA Certification
Individuals who have passed all their certification exams (which include content, pedagogy, and supplemental) must also submit a certification and fingerprinting application to the Teas Education Agency (TEA) and pay TEA's application fee. This certification application will be recommended to the TEA for final processing by the Certification Officer at UTA once all certification requirements have been met.
Apply to Graduate
UTA College of Education students seeking a master's degree must apply online to gradate during their Clinical Teaching semester, which is the final semester of coursework. The online Graduation Application is available from the 12th day of class (4th day in summer) until the mid-semester deadline. Certification only students do not apply to graduate; they will work with the program coordinator to register for the TEA certification exam (listed above in Step 10).
Start Your Teaching Career!
The college's Education Career Day (job fair) each Spring semester and job board, as well as UTA's Lockheed Martin Career Center are other great resources to assist you in beginning your career as an Educator. If needed, candidates can request a status letter by emailing coedcertification@uta.edu.