Educator Certification Programs

Educator Certification Programs at NAU (EPP) 

Becoming a certified educator is a journey that leads to a rewarding career. As your professors, it is our goal to help you become a highly effective professional educator. Listed below are the programs that lead to educator certification:

  • Initial Teacher Certification Program at bachelor’s degree level (NAU-TCP) 
  • Alternative Certification Program (ACP)
  • Principal as Instructional Leader (PIL)

Policies, Rules, and Notices 


Notice of Criminal Background Checks

(1) Pursuant to the Texas Education Code (TEC), §22.083, candidate must undergo a criminal history background check prior to employment as an educator;
(2) pursuant to the TEC, §22.0835, candidates must undergo a criminal history background check prior to clinical teaching.

Each applicant to and enrollee in the EPP of the following regardless of whether the applicant or enrollee has been convicted of an offense:

(1) the potential ineligibility of an individual who has been convicted of an offense for issuance of a certificate on completion of the EPP;
(2) the current SBEC rules prescribed in 19 TAC §249.16… and
(3) The applicant has the right to request a criminal history evaluation letter as provided in 19 TAC Chapter 227, Subchapter B
More information for Preliminary Criminal History Evaluation.


Admission Process for Military Service Members and Military Veterans

NAU-ACP program provides help to the military service members and military veteran candidates as stated in 19 TAC §228.35(a)(5)(A-B).

(A) Military service member or military veteran candidates to credit verified military service, training, or education toward the training, education, work experience, or related requirements (other than certification examinations) for educator certification requirements, provided that the military service, training, or education is directly related to the certificate being sought; and

Military Service members or military veteran candidates may receive credits from their current and previous educational experience. The military service, experience, training, or education must be related to the sought certification field. The certification office will help the candidate with determining possible credits to transfer.

(B) Candidates who are not military service members or military veterans to substitute prior or ongoing service, training, or education, provided that the experience, education, or training is not also counted as a part of the internship, clinical teaching, or practicum requirements, was provided by an approved EPP or an accredited institution of higher education within the past five years, and is directly related to the certificate being sought.

The prior coursework and training will be evaluated by the program director and academic advisor.

TEA Compliance Reports

Click Here to see the TEA Compliance Reports

Educator Preparation Program Compliance Policy at NAU

NAU Student Complaint Policy and Procedure
Click here to see the policy.

EPP follows the NAU Complaint/Grievance Policy and Procedures. The policy details are on the www.na.edu website in the student section (https://www.na.edu/students/grievance-procedure/).

  1. Upon receipt of a complaint or violation, EPP Director/coordinator will notify the accused teacher candidate in writing. The notification will include the details of the misconduct or violation.
  2. The teacher candidate will be asked to submit a written response to the EPP Director.
  3. EPP Director/Coordinator will summon the Complaint/Grievance Committee and invite the teacher candidate to an initial hearing (may be on the phone).
  4. After the hearing, the committee will make an appropriate decision.
  5. If the candidate has a complaint, he/she needs to fill out the “complaint form” on the website. The committee will proceed according to the policy procedure.

Step 1: The Student Services Office informs the student via NAU email ensuring that his/her claim is being taken into consideration and who contacts them next.

Step 2: The Student Services Office informs the related supervisor/administrator.

Step 3: Within two weeks, the supervisor determines the best course of action and informs the student via NAU email. The supervisor may contact the related parties during the investigation.

The student has the right to appeal the decision to the Provost. Any appeal must be in writing and submitted to the University Administrative Secretary within five business days of receipt of the supervisor’s decision. The Provost Office’s decision is final.

Consequences for minor violations include verbal warning and written warning.
Consequences for major violations include probation, suspension, expulsion, and referral to the local enforcement agency.

The complaint process allows for an applicant, candidate, employee or former employee of an EPP, a cooperating teacher, a mentor, or an administrator in a school district, charter school, or private school to submit a complaint about an EPP for investigation and resolution.

The complaint process allows individuals to seek redress in areas where they feel that the program did not fulfill requirements for certification or for actions that the individual feels are wrong.  Educator preparation programs may also file a complaint about the actions of other EPP programs when it involves a candidate’s transfer into or out of a program.

Not all complaints fall under the authority of TEA. TEA has jurisdiction to investigate allegations of noncompliance regarding specific laws and rules, generally related to state and federal requirements. Complaints may address educator preparation program requirements listed in Texas Administrative Code (TAC) §§ 227, 228, 229, ethics (TAC 247), fingerprinting (TAC §§227, 232) and certification (TAC §§230, 231, 232, 239, 241, 242).  TEA staff and the SBEC do not have jurisdiction over complaints related to contractual arrangements with an EPP, commercial issues, obtaining a higher grade or credit for training, or seeking reinstatement to an EPP.

Filing a Complaint

All complaints filed with the TEA must be in writing. We do not accept complaints by phone or complaints that are submitted anonymously.  A person or entity may file a written complaint with TEA by filling out the complaint form online or by mailing or faxing a hard copy to the address on the form.

To adequately review and address a complaint, TEA needs specific details. We must be able to identify a clear violation of TAC and determine whether the agency has authority to act upon the allegation.

Complaints submissions should include the following:

The reasons you believe the issues raised in your complaint are valid. You should also indicate how you believe that TEA can assist you with this matter.

Documentation to support your claim when possible. For example, if you refer in your complaint to an educator preparation program policy, include a copy of the policy with your complaint. Helpful documentation might include letters or e-mails exchanged between the parties.

After the Complaint Is Filed

Texas Education Agency staff will send confirmation of a complaint within 30 days of receiving the submission. Remember, information the public sends to TEA by email may not be secure. Do not email sensitive information to TEA. The agency will remove confidential or sensitive information when replying by email. TEA will maintain confidentiality of information to the extent the law allows.

TEA staff will record all complaints in the TEA complaints tracking system. Each complaint, no matter the severity, shall be assigned a tracking number.  The complaint will be forwarded to the division responsible for educator preparation for further action, including assessing the complaint, providing a severity status and prioritizing the complaint accordingly, and determining jurisdiction.  If TEA staff determines that the complaint is not within the State Board for Educator Certification’s (SBEC) jurisdiction, TEA staff shall notify the complainant that the complaint will be closed without action for lack of jurisdiction.  If TEA staff determines the complainant knew or should have known about the events giving rise to a complaint more than two years before the earliest date the complainant filed a complaint with either TEA staff or the EPP, TEA staff will notify the complainant that the complaint will be closed without action.  If a complainant has not exhausted all applicable complaint and appeal procedures that the EPP has established to address complaints, TEA staff may delay initiating an investigation until the EPP’s complaint and appeal process is complete.

Upon completion of an investigation, TEA staff will notify both the individual and the EPP in writing of the findings of the investigation. If TEA staff finds that a violation occurred, the notice will specify the statute and/or rule that was alleged to have been violated.  Each party will have ten business days to present additional evidence or to dispute the findings of the investigation.

After reviewing any additional evidence, if TEA staff finds that no violation has occurred, the complaint will be closed, and TEA staff will notify both parties in writing.  After reviewing any additional evidence, if TEA staff finds that the EPP has violated SBEC rules and/or TEC, Chapter 21, additional actions will be taken against the EPP.

The final disposition of the complaint will be recorded in the TEA complaints tracking system.

Please refer to http://tea.texas.gov/Texas_Educators/Preparation_and_Continuing_Education/Complaints_Against_Educator_Preparation_Programs/ for additional details on the complaint process.

Educator Certification Programs (ACP) admission requirements 

Candidates applying for admission to ACP are required to meet the following criteria:

  1. Baccalaureate Degree: The applicant must have a baccalaureate degree earned from and conferred by an institution of higher education that is recognized by one of the regional accrediting agencies. If the applicant earned the baccalaureate degree from a foreign university, the transcript must be evaluated by an accrediting organization recognized by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board to prove that it is equivalent to a U.S. baccalaureate degree.
  2. Minimum Grade Point Average (GPA): The candidate must submit an official transcript meet one of the following criteria in order to be eligible to enter the ACP:
    1. an overall GPA of at least 2.5 or
    2. a GPA of 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 provides a description of extraordinary circumstance.

  1. Verification of Subject Content Credits (at least 12/15 credits) or TX-PACT passing score: The candidate must demonstrate the content mastery by meeting one of the following:
    1. a minimum of 12 (social studies and language arts) or 15 (math, science, technology) credit hours in the subject-specific content area for the certification sought; or
    2. a passing score on Texas Pre-Admission Content Test (TX-PACT). The content test must match the content area for the certification sought.
  2. College-level skills: All applicants will be required to demonstrate competency in basic skills in reading, oral and written communication, critical thinking, and mathematics.
    • Reading: Grade of “C” or better in ENGL 1311 – Composition and Rhetoric I or its equivalent
    • Oral Communication: Grade of “C” or better in COMM 1311 – Fundamentals of Communications or its equivalent
    • Written Communication: Grades of “C” or better in ENGL 1311 – Composition and Rhetoric I and ENGL 1312 – Composition and Rhetoric II or their equivalents
    • Critical Thinking: Grade of “C” or better in PHIL 1311 – Introduction to Logic and Critical Thinking or its equivalent
    • Mathematics: Grade of “C” or better in MATH 1311 – College Algebra or it’s equivalent
  1. English Language Proficiency: Proof of English language proficiency must be provided to the ACP office before an applicant can be considered for admission to the program. English proficiency can be demonstrated in any one of the following ways:
    1. completion of an undergraduate or graduate degree at an institution of higher education in the United States;
    2. if an undergraduate or graduate degree was earned at an institution of higher education outside of the United States, check the list of TEA’s accepted country list;
    3. TOEFL– minimum score: 89 (Speaking 24, Listening 22, Reading 22, Writing 21).
    4. If a candidate presents a transcript from an out of country institution of higher education, the transcript must be evaluated by one of the approved evaluation entities and reflect a degree comparable the ones issued in the United States.

6. Application Form: The candidate must submit a signed application form.

7. Interview: An interview is required as part of the admission process to determine the candidate’s appropriateness for the certification sought.

8. Proof of Competency in Content Area: Passing PreAdmission Content Test (TX-PACT)

9. Signed Acknowledgement of Required background Check form

10. Signed Acknowledgement of Preliminary Criminal History Evaluation

11. Signed acknowledgment of Texas Educator’s Code of Ethics

12. Other Requirements: 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.
    3. not be disqualified by federal law;
    4. be willing to support and defend the constitutions of the United States and Texas.
    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.

    1. 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.
    1. 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
    2. Minimum of 12/15 semester credit hours in the subject-specific content area for
      certification is sought.
    3. An interview to determine the educator preparation candidate’s appropriateness for the
      certification sought.
    4. Official degree plan: Candidate must have an official degree plan on file.
    5. English Language Proficiency: Proof of English language proficiency must be provided to the NAU-TCP office before an applicant will be considered for admission to the program. English proficiency can be demonstrated in any one of the following ways:
      1. completion of an undergraduate or graduate degree at an institution of
        higher education in the United States;
      2. if an undergraduate or graduate degree was earned at an institution of higher education outside of
        the United States, check the list of TEA’s
        accepted country list;
      3. TOEFL– minimum score: 89 (Speaking 24, Listening 22, Reading 22,
        Writing 21).
      4. If a candidate presents a transcript from an out of country institution of
        higher education, the transcript must be evaluated by one of the approved
        evaluation entities and reflect a degree comparable the
        ones issued in the United States.
      5. An applicant to a university undergraduate program that leads to a
        bachelor’s degree may satisfy the English language proficiency
        requirement by meeting the English language proficiency requirement of
        the accredited IHE at which the applicant is enrolled. [19 TAC
        §227.10(a)(7)(B)]
    6. Passing score (240) on Pre-Admission Content Test (PACT) administered by ETS.
    7. 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.

Admission Requirements

In addition to the admission into M.Ed. in Educational Leadership master’s degree program,
PIL candidates must meet the admission requirements below.

This checklist guides you to the completion of your application packet. Please read all
instructions carefully before submitting any document. In order to be considered for the
program, all application documents must be received before due date. If you need further
assistance, please email to edcertifications@na.edu.

Please include this checklist with your application and the following documents:

1 ____ Application Form https://www.na.edu/admissions/apply/

2 ____ Official Transcripts from all colleges attended

2a ____ Master’s transcript (official)

2b ____ Bachelor’s transcript (official)

3a ____ Principal Candidate Interview

3b ____ Philosophy of Leadership

4 ____ Copy of Texas Standard Teaching Certificate

5 ____ Teacher Service record from school district personnel office indicating at least two
years of classroom teaching experience, in a TEA approved school.

6 ____ Proof of Application Fee (http://www.na.edu/fees-deposits/)

7 ____ Master’s degree and principal certification plan

8 ____ Proof of English Language Proficiency- Check one of the following

  •  I have an undergraduate or graduate degree from an institution of higher
    education in the US
  •  I have an undergraduate or graduate degree from an institution of higher
    education outside of the US where the primary language of instruction was English
    (attach a written statement by an officer of the institution confirming that)
  •  TOEFL – minimum score: Speaking 26

9 ____Cumulative GPA: _____________________________

10 ____ Acceptance Letter.

11 ____ Code of Ethics

12 ____ Program start Date: ___________________________

Upon the receipt of the application documents, an interview will be scheduled, and the
evaluation will start. If the applicant does not meet the requirements, a notification letter will be
sent. If the applicant does not satisfy the academic requirements, a clear explanation of
remediation will be provided. The applicants may submit a request for appeal if they believe that
there are extenuating circumstances that should be considered. If the application is accepted,
an acceptance packet which includes registration, training, and other program information is
sent to the applicant.