Teacher certification

Students planning to teach in elementary early childhood-grade 6 (EC-6) must major in Education (see Department of Teacher Education and Administration ).

Students planning to teach in secondary schools (7–12) must earn a major and degree in the academic discipline in which they plan to teach and take a minor in secondary education to qualify for a teaching certificate. Students should check with the appropriate department for degree requirements.

The State of Texas Standard Teaching Certificate requires completion of an approved four-year degree program, passing of the appropriate TExES state examinations and clearance on a criminal record search. Students must meet all prerequisite requirements and apply for admission to the teacher education program prior to taking education courses. Continuation in the teacher education program is contingent upon the results of criminal background checks and successful progress in teacher education courses.

A minimum of 12 semester hours must be completed in residence before a recommendation from UNT is made for any teaching certificate. For the University of North Texas to recommend an undergraduate student for teacher certification, additional teaching field, or area of specialization, that student must have successfully (1) completed an approved teacher education program for the preparation of early childhood, secondary or all-level teachers; (2) completed clinical teaching, including attendance at required seminars; and (3) passed the TExES EC-12 Pedagogy and Professional Responsibilities (PPR) and all required content and supplemental certification exams of the Texas Examinations of Educator Standards (TExES), as applicable.

Access to register for Texas teacher certification exams (TExES) is only granted to students who have been formally admitted to the Teacher Education program at UNT. Teacher candidates (who have been admitted to TEd) must take UNT-sponsored TExES practice exams prior to the start of Block B courses.

Practice exams are free of charge The TExES Practice exams are offered four times in each long semester and twice during the summer.

Contact the TExES Success Office In Matthews Hall 119 at 940-369-8601 or COE_TSO@unt.edu for information about registering for your practice TExES Exams, TEAL account setup, and for information and study resources for your actual certification exams. Students who have completed all requirements must apply for teaching certificates online (see www.tea.state.tx.us). In some cases, teacher service records may be required.

Teaching certificates

The awarding of teaching certificates is a function of the Texas Education Agency (TEA) under the authority of the State Board for Educator Certification (SBEC) and is contingent upon a recommendation by the UNT College of Education. The College of Education is authorized to recommend students who successfully fulfill all state and program requirements for the chosen teaching certificate in the following areas:

Early Childhood through Grade Six (certifies to teach grades EC–6)

• EC–6 Core Subjects with Science of Teaching Reading and ESL Supplemental
• EC–6 Core Subjects with Science of Teaching Reading and Bilingual Education Supplemental – Spanish (Grades EC-12)
• EC-6 Core Subjects with Science of Teaching Reading and EC-12 Special Education Supplemental

Standard Secondary (certifies grades 7–12) and All-Level (EC–12)

At the time this catalog went to press, UNT was authorized to recommend secondary and all-level teacher certification for students who have completed a baccalaureate degree in the following content areas:

• Secondary content areas: chemistry; dance; English language arts and reading; family and consumer sciences; history; hospitality, nutrition and food sciences; human development and family studies; journalism; life science; mathematics; physical sciences; physics/mathematics; science; social studies; and speech.
• All-level content areas: art; French; German; music; physical education; Spanish; and theatre.

Although teacher certification programs share many commonalities, what applies to one certificate or grade level is not necessarily applicable to another. Also, changes to existing teacher standards, content areas and certificate levels continue to be made by the State Board for Educator Certification.

Students are encouraged to schedule an appointment with an advisor in the Student Advising Office, Matthews Hall, Room 105, or check online at www.coe.unt.edu/sao for the current information regarding specific certificate requirements and any pending changes. The SAO sees students by appointment only, except during the regular registration period each term/semester when they accept drop-in visits. Appointment times fill quickly and students are encouraged to schedule early. Appointments can be made up to two weeks in advance.

Professional (Advanced) educator certification

The College of Education is also authorized by the Texas Education Agency to offer preparation programs leading to professional certification for post-baccalaureate students. The following certifications are available:  

• Educational Diagnostician 
• Principal as Instructional Leader 
• Superintendent 
• School Counselor 
• School Librarian 

See Graduate Catalog for details.

Teacher certification

Eligibility for Teacher Certification and Recommendation

Teaching certificates are granted by the Texas Education Agency (TEA) under the authority of the State Board for Educator certification (SBEC). Completion of the bachelor’s degree and the required education courses does not guarantee certification by the TEA. In order to be recommended by UNT for a standard teaching certificate students must:

• Earn the required Bachelor’s Degree.
• Be admitted to the UNT Teacher Education (TEd) Program and meet all state and program requirements including coursework with acceptable grades and GPAs.
• Complete and pass all clinical practice requirements including early field experiences and clinical (student) teaching and be recommended by the university field supervisor and cooperating teacher/s.
• Pass all Texas Examinations of Educator Standards (TExES) teacher certification exams.
• Apply to the Texas Education Agency to be certified after all requirements are met and the bachelor’s degree is posted on the transcript.
• Complete fingerprinting. All first-time applicants must be fingerprinted by the TEA-authorized entity and clear a national criminal background check.

 

Admission to the Teacher Education (TEd) Program

To be eligible for admission, students must have:

• Completed a minimum of 60 semester hours, including the University Core Curriculum. (See “General University Requirements” in the Academics  section of this catalog.) Programs leading to teacher certification require specific courses contained in parts of the University Core Curriculum  to satisfy particular degree requirements. Students should consult degree program advisors for best choices in the core;
• A 2.75 UNT GPA;
• A 2.75 overall GPA (includes all courses transferred to UNT, plus all courses taken at UNT);
• TSI Complete Status, or have appropriate exam scores on either the ACT or SAT. (Contact the Student Advising Office in Matthews Hall, Room 105, for further information on the score requirements); and
• Submit an application to the UNT Teacher Education (TEd) Program. To apply, Contact the College of Education Student Advising Office, 940-565-2736; Matthews Hall, Room 105; or visit https://coe.unt.edu/student-advising for details.

 

Clinical Teaching Requirement

All EC-6, secondary and all-level teacher candidates must complete Clinical Teaching (6 SCH) with a grade of P (Pass) for both courses to be recommended for their standard teaching certificate. Clinical teaching requirements include attendance at required non-credit seminars.

Clinical Teaching is a full-time, 5 days per week, supervised teaching experience in a school district. Teacher candidates must attend their placement for 100% of the school day. Clinical Teaching can only be completed during long (Fall or Spring) semesters and should be the last semester before intended graduation.

Clinical Teaching may not count as full-time status for financial aid purposes, depending on student-specific awards. Therefore, the student should plan ahead and consult UNT Student Accounting sfs.unt.edu before they intend to apply for Clinical Teaching to verify what financial aid will be available to them during the clinical teaching semester.

To be eligible for a clinical practice placement for both early field experiences and clinical teaching, students are responsible for applying the semester BEFORE by completing the Clinical Practice Application. Dates for the Clinical Practice Application are listed on the Clinical Practice Office webpage. Applications must be submitted by the designated deadline. For more information, please contact the Clinical Practice Office via email at COE-ClinicalPractice@unt.edu.

To be eligible to begin clinical teaching, students must meet the following requirements:

• Have been admitted to and accepted their admission offer to the UNT Teacher Education (TEd) Program; and
• Must be in residence at UNT and have earned at least 6 semester hours of resident credit in education at UNT; and

For EC–6 clinical teachers:

• Have completed all prerequisites and have a C or better in all course in the education major and any applicable certification-specific courses for bilingual and special education candidates; exclusive of student teaching and EDEE 4890  (as required for students seeking any EC–6 certification;
• Have a minimum GPA of 2.75 in each area: UNT core, the education major and any applicable certification-specific courses for bilingual and special education candidates. No courses taken during the clinical teaching term/semester can be used to determine eligibility to clinical teach; and
• Have passed all actual TExES content and supplemental exams required for their certificate. (This does not include the TExES Pedagogy and Professional Responsibilities, Science of Teaching Reading, or BTLPT exams.

For secondary and all-level clinical teachers:

• Have completed all the required course work in the teaching field;
• Have completed all prerequisites and have a grade of C or better in all education courses (DFST, EDCI, EDEC, EDEE, EDRE, EDUC, etc.); 
• Have a minimum GPA of 2.75 in each area (academic major and education/pedagogy courses) and in all college work completed at UNT, as well as a cumulative GPA of 2.75 for all colleges attended;
• Have passed all actual TExES content and supplemental exams required for their certificate. (This does not include the TExES Pedagogy and Professional Responsibilities.)

Admission, Review and Retention (ARR) Committee

Students not meeting eligibility requirements for admission to TEd or to Clinical Teaching may file an appeal with the Department of Teacher Education ARR Committee. To initiate an appeal, a student must complete the Admission, Retention and Review Appeal Form. The student completes the application and attaches the required materials and documents along with their appeal statement.

 

TExES Certification Exams

TExES Practice Test requirements

Teacher candidates (students who have been admitted to TEd) must take UNT-sponsored TExES practice exams. Practice exams are free of charge. TExES practice exams are offered four times in each long semester and twice during the summer. Visit the TExES Success Office (TSO) in Matthews Hall, Room 119, for further information about their required exams (940-369-8601) or visit the TSO webpage.

• EC-6 candidates must complete all practice tests before the end of PDS Block A.
• Secondary candidates must complete all practice exams prior to enrolling in EDCI 4840 .
• All-Level candidates must complete all practice exams by the end of the last semester of early field observations.

Exception: A candidate may be excused from the TExES Practice Exam requirement by presenting an official TExES Test Score Report indicating passing scores on each required exam.

 

TExES Exam Eligibility and Passing Policies

Access to register for all actual TExES exams is granted by the UNT TExES Success Office (TSO). Students must be formally admitted to the UNT Teacher Education Program and have met any program-specific practice testing requirements prior to being granted test permission for the actual TExES exams.

EC-6 candidates must pass all content and supplemental TExES Exams to be eligible to clinical teach, with the exception of the TExES Science of Teaching Reading and BTLPT. Take the Pedagogy and Professional Responsibilities TExES before or during clinical teaching to be eligible for recommendation.

Secondary and All-Level candidates must pass all content and supplemental TExES exams to be eligible to clinical teach. Take the TExES Pedagogy and Professional Responsibilities exam prior to or during clinical teaching to be eligible for recommendation.

A minimum of 12 semester hours must be completed in residence before a recommendation from UNT is made for any teaching certificate.