Alternative Certification

The alternative route to receiving a Texas teaching certificate is offered to candidates who have completed a Bachelor’s and/or Master’s degree from an accredited university with a GPA of 2.7 or better. The Alternative Certification program is a 0-credit certification only program; that costs $5,000 total as a $500 down payment, and can then be paid off on a monthly basis.

Candidates must complete the following prerequisites before being admitted to the Alternative Certification program:

• Criminal background check
• English Language proficiency requirement
• Take and pass the TxPACT (Texas Preadmission Content Test) for chosen area of certification
• Admission to Wayland

After admission to the University and the Don A. Williams School of Education, candidates must complete the following steps:

• Complete 30 hours of observation (15 hours of which can be video and/or virtual)
• Complete 150 hours of instruction
• Complete TEA-required trainings and pay the $55 TEA fee
• Pass the appropriate TExES content exam

Prior to beginning their internship experiences, candidates must complete the following:

• Complete a minimum of 300 clock-hours of coursework and/or training
• Unless candidates qualify as late hires, they shall complete the following prior to any clinical teaching or internship:
  • design clear, well-organized, sequential, engaging, and flexible lessons that reflect best practice, align with standards and related content, are appropriate for diverse learners and encourage higher-order thinking, persistence, and achievement;
  • formally and informally collecting, analyzing, and using student progress data to inform instruction and made needed lesson adjustments;
  • ensure high levels of learning, social-emotional development, and achievement for all students through knowledge of students, proven practices, and differentiated instruction;
  • clearly and accurately communicate to support persistence, deeper learning, and effective effort;
  • organize a safe, accessible, and efficient classroom;
  • establish, communicate, and maintain clear expectations for student behavior;
  • lead a mutually respectful and collaborative class of actively engaged learners;
  • meet expectations for attendance, professional appearance, decorum, procedural, ethical, legal, and statutory responsibilities;
  • reflect on his or her practice; and
  • effectively communicate with students, families, colleagues, and community members.

Once the candidates complete the above criteria, they are eligible to be hired by a school district as an intern. During the year of internship, the candidates must complete a professional portfolio. Upon successful completion of one year of teaching and passing the edTPA portfolio, the university supervisor and site supervisor will present the candidates to the Teacher Education Committee. If all requirements and expectations have been met, the candidates will be recommended to TEA for certification.