Initial Teacher Certification Program

Teacher certification is a journey that takes you a rewarding teaching career. The information on this page will guide you to go through the certification process. it is our goal to help you become the most effective professional educator that you can.
NAU-TCP offers teacher certification in the following areas:

• Mathematics Teaching (7-12)
• English Language Arts and Reading (7-12)
• Core Subjects (EC-6)
• Technology Applications (EC-12) – not active
• Physical Science (6-12) – not active
• Social studies (7-12) – not active  

There are several steps required to become a certified teacher in Texas. The following steps explain the details about the process:

Admission Requirements

1. 1. Junior Standing: Students must have 60 hours completed.
   2. Minimum Grade Point Average (GPA): The candidate must meet one of the following criteria to be eligible to enter the educator preparation program:
      1. an overall GPA of at least 2.5 or higher (Overall, transfer and English core classes);
         or
      2. at least 2.5 in the last 60 semester credit hours; or
      3. Exception to Minimum GPA Requirement: demonstration of achievement equivalent to the academic achievement represented by GPA through the applicant’s work, business, or career experience as evidenced by the applicant. GPA requirement will be granted by the program director only in extraordinary circumstances and will not be used to admit more than 10% of any cohort of candidates.
         To meet the exception to the 2.5 minimum GPA requirement, according to 19 TAC §227.10(a)(3)(B), the following should be met:

     (B) In accordance with the Texas Education Code, (TEC), §21.0441(b), an exception to the minimum GPA requirement may be granted by the program director only in extraordinary circumstances and may not be used by a program to admit more than 10% of any incoming class of candidates. An applicant is eligible for this exception if:
     (i) documentation and certification from the program director that an applicant’s work, business, or career experience demonstrates achievement equivalent to the academic achievement represented by the GPA requirement; and
    (ii) in accordance with the TEC, §21.0441(a)(2)(B), an applicant must pass an appropriate content certification examination as specified in paragraph (4)(C) of this subsection for each subject in which the applicant seeks certification prior to admission. In accordance with the TEC, §21.0441(b), applicants who do not meet the minimum GPA requirement and have previously been admitted into an EPP may request permission to register for an appropriate content certification examination if the applicant is not seeking admission to the same EPP that previously granted test approval for a certification examination in the same certification class.

To meet the requirement above, NAU requires all applicants that do not meet the minimum GPA requirement to take/pass a TX PACT exam for the content area seeking admission prior to admission. In addition, the program director signs a document that certifies each applicant’s work, business, or career experience demonstrates achievement equivalent to the academic achievement represented by the GPA requirement; and provide a description of extraordinary circumstance.

3. 3. College level Competency: The applicants may use any one of the options below for meeting this requirement:
      1. Texas Higher Education Assessment (THEA): Minimum scores: Reading
         230; Math 230; Writing 220 with no time limit.
      2. Accuplacer (Administered by College Board): Minimum scores: Reading
         78; Algebra 63; Sentence Structure 80; Writing 6.
      3. SAT: Minimum scores: Verbal 500; Math 500.
      4. ACT: Minimum scores: Composite – 19.
   4. College-level skills: All applicants will be required to demonstrate competency in basic skills in reading, oral and written communication, critical thinking, and mathematics.
      1. Reading: Grade of “C” or better in ENGL 1311 – Composition and
         Rhetoric I or its equivalent
      2. Oral Communication: Grade of “C” or better in COMM 1311 –
         Fundamentals of Communications or its equivalent
      3. Written Communication: Grades of “C” or better in ENGL 1311 –
         Composition and Rhetoric I and ENGL 1312 – Composition and Rhetoric II or their equivalents
      4. Critical Thinking: Grade of “C” or better in PHIL 1311 – Introduction to
         Logic and Critical Thinking or its equivalent
      5. Mathematics: Grade of “C” or better in MATH 1311 – College Algebra or
         its equivalent
   5. Minimum of 12/15 semester credit hours in the subject-specific content area for
      certification is sought.
   6. An interview to determine the educator preparation candidate’s appropriateness for the
      certification sought.
   7. Official degree plan: Candidate must have an official degree plan on file.
   8. English Language Proficiency: Educators who apply for certification are required to demonstrate English language proficiency by fulfilling one of the following requirements: 
      1. Completion of an undergraduate or graduate degree at an accredited institution of higher education in the United States or one of its territories. – You must contact your institution or servicer to request official transcripts. Official transcripts must be sent directly from your institution or servicer via email to osc75@tea.texas.gov. *Transcripts from the applicant are not accepted for the credentials review.
      2. Verification of a minimum scaled score that falls within the High-Intermediate level in each section on the Test of English as a Foreign Language Internet-Based Test (TOEFL-iBT). To have scores submitted directly to TEA, use the entity code 8225 (State Board for Educator Certification). Applicants for a review of credentials may upload the official PDF score report to their Educator Certification Online System (ECOS) educator account via the “My Documents” tab.
         *High-Intermediate level scores for each section:
               Reading 18-23
               Listening 17-21
               Speaking 20-24
               Writing 17-23
         *If you are enrolling in an educator preparation program (EPP), please do not use this entity code. Contact your program for the correct code to use.
      3. An undergraduate or graduate degree that was earned at an institution of higher education in a country outside of the United States listed in the figure provided below. Figure: 19 TAC §230.11(b)(5)(C)
         No additional submission is needed. Upon review of the original course-by-course evaluation by a recognized foreign evaluation service, the country in which the degree was earned will be verified.
      4. A standard certificate issued by the department of education in another state where examinations for the certificate were taken and passed. Applicants must submit official test score reports along with the out-of-state standard certificate for the credentials review. EPP candidates must submit official score reports to the program.
         *Candidates for certification must still complete all requirements through an approved educator preparation program or must successfully complete all requirements of the out-of-country credentials review process.
   9. Passing score (240) on Pre-Admission Content Test (PACT) administered by ETS.
   10. Other Requirements at the time of application to TEA: Candidates applying for a Texas
       educator certificate must:
       1. be at least 18 years of age;
       2. not be disqualified or the subject of a pending proceeding under Chapter 249 of
          Title 19 of Texas Administrative Code and §228.50 Professional Conduct.
       3. not be disqualified by federal law;
       4. be willing to support and defend the constitutions of the United States and Texas;
       5. pass a criminal background check

NAU-TCP accepts international students to its program with the conditions fulfilled above and
under Title 19 of Texas Administrative Code.

For more information refer to the Teacher Certification Program Student Handbook above

Contact Info

North American University
Certification Office/Kerime Sari
11929 W Airport Blvd.
Stafford, TX 77477, #835
edcertifications@na.edu
832-230-5548