Certification and Testing

TAMUK annually provides the Texas Education Agency and State Board for Educator Certification information about our programs.Click here to learn more about our accreditation status and performance.

• Program Curriculum- Technology in Teacher Preparation at TAMUK

Policies

1. Fingerprint and Background Check

Pursuant to the Texas Education Code [19 TAC §227.1(b)(1)], candidates must undergo a criminal history background check prior to employment as an educator; and Pursuant to the [19 TAC §227.1(b)(2)], candidates must undergo a criminal history background check prior to clinical teaching.

Preliminary Evaluation of Teacher Eligibility

Per HB 1508 effective September 1, 2017, all applicants to teacher preparation should be aware of the following:

1. An individual who has been convicted of an offense may be ineligible for issuance of an occupational license upon completion of an educational program.
2. A person may request a criminal history evaluation letter regarding the personal eligibility for a license issued by the licensing authority.

To learn more about the requirements involved in a Preliminary History Criminal Evaluation, please contact the Certification Coordinator or visit https://tea.texas.gov/texas-educators/investigations.

Passing Scores Required Before Student Teaching

Effective January 1, 2020, all candidates accepted into the undergraduate traditional educator preparation program will be required to pass the content area exam for the grade level and subject area of the teaching certificate & STR (if applicable to certificate) sought to qualify for admission to student teaching according to established deadlines:

April 15th for fall semester student teaching and October 15th for spring semester student teaching. 

Passing Scores Required Before Internship

Passing scores are required on TExES exams prior to placement in Superintendent or Principal internship courses. For more information, please click here.

As of September 1, 2015, candidates for all certification areas will be limited to five (5) total attempts on any certification test.

Grounds for Dismissal from the Educator Preparation Program

TAC §228.20(h) All EPPs shall have a published exit policy for dismissal of candidates that is reviewed and signed by candidates upon admission.

Texas A&M University-Kingsville is committed to educating, graduating, and certifying candidates who will be effective educators. Evidence of potential effectiveness includes academic, dispositional, professional, and personal qualities. Teacher candidates are carefully assessed throughout the educator preparation program for teaching dispositions as well as teaching skills and successful course completion. If a candidate’s major or overall GPA falls below the required GPA or other issues arise concerning a candidate’s fitness, ability, and/or demonstration of the ability to teach, the teacher candidate may be dismissed from the program.

Reasons candidates may be removed from the Educator Preparation Program may include, but not be limited to, the following, at the discretion of a committee consisting of faculty and EPP representatives:

• Failure to maintain a minimum 2.75 grade point average both overall and in major area of study.
• Standard of Conduct/Educator Code of Ethics violation.
• Failure to make continual progress towards program completion/being inactive for more than 1 year (including no communication with the EPP Staff).
• Failure to earn a minimum of a “C” in all teacher education courses.
• Failure to become certified within five years of graduation/finishing.
• Failure to follow all attendance, dress code, and other guidelines.
• After finishing the program, a significant change in the standards or test requirements for the certification field in which the student prepared and the candidate has not successfully completed all required certification testing.
• School/district requests that the candidate be removed from a field/clinical teaching assignment.

Contact Information:

Samantha N. LaRue
Administrative Associate III
College of Education & Human Performance
Texas A&M University – Kingsville
Rhode Hall – 112
O: (361) 593-4172
E: Samantha.Larue@tamuk.edu