Alternative Certification Program: Practitioner Reflection-Based Educator Preparation Academy
Program Overview
The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley Alternative Certification Program (ACP), Practitioner Reflection-Based Educator Preparation Academy (PREP-A) provides a path to initial teacher certification for individuals who have earned a bachelor's degree. PREP-A offers initial certification for secondary/high school teaching areas of English, Social Studies, History, Math, Life Science and Science (7-12 grade levels).
Admission requirements for this program beyond university admission requirements.
Admission to the program requires admission to the university and the teacher preparation program. All admission requirements are in accordance with Texas Administrative Code rules §227.10, §228.40. §230.11. §233, and the HEA Title II accountability requirements. All applicants must meet the current certification requirements at the time of admission. The ACP admission requirements are:
• Hold a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution of higher education verified through official transcript from accredited university.
• Minimum GPA of 2.75; may be verified as posted on official transcript from accredited university or in the last 60 semester hours of coursework attempted.
• Interview.
• Criminal Background Check. Pursuant to the Texas Education Code (TEC), §22.083, candidates must undergo criminal history background check prior to employment as an educator. Pursuant to the TEC, §22.0835, candidates must undergo a criminal history background check prior to clinical teaching/internship.
• A bachelor's degree in the subject area in which certification is sought; OR twelve completed semester credit hours in the subject area in which the certification is sought, OR fifteen competed semester credit hours if math or science are certification is sought; OR pass the respective TX-PACT exam in the subject area as a predictor of future success in the content area for which certification is sought.
• Interview.
For applicants from out-of-country:
• Hold a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution of higher education (transcripts evaluated by foreign evaluation service). The degree held by an applicant from another country must be, at a minimum, equivalent to a baccalaureate degree issued by an institution of higher education in the United States accredited or otherwise approved by an accrediting organization recognized by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. §245.1 (b).
Internship or Year-long Clinical Teaching Residency
Internship Option
Candidates must be eligible for an Intern or Probationary Certificate. Intern teachers are employed as teachers of record, with full salary and benefits. Intern teachers are responsible for securing their own teaching position for the school year with an accredited Texas public school.
Students are eligible for hire when they have passed the content TExES test (s) even if the student is still completing coursework. During the teaching internship, an intern is certified with an Intern or Probationary Certificate, and in enrolled in the program. Throughout the intern year, an on-site mentor teacher and university field supervisor provides coaching and support.
Yearlong Residency Option
Residents are not employed as teachers, and do not typically receive a salary and benefits. Residents are placed in an appropriate classroom working under the supervision of an experienced mentor teacher.
Program Requirements - 21 hours
Required - 15 hours
Students must complete the following five didactic courses:
| EDUC 3301 | The Teaching Profession and Student Learning in Contemporary Schools | 3 |
| EDUC 3302 | Knowledge of Student Development and Learning | 3 |
| EDUC 3304 | Instructional Planning and Assessment in Culturally Sustaining Classrooms | 3 |
| EDUC 3306 | Evidence-Based Teaching in Positive Learning Environments | 3 |
| READ 4305 | Disciplinary Literacy in the Classroom | 3 |
Clinical Requirements - Choose 6 hours
Clinical requirements can be fulfilled through one of two options below depending on the teacher candidate's job status:
| EDCI 4331 | Clinical Teaching Residency I for Elementary Teachers (EC-6) | 3 |
| And | |
| EDCI 4332 | Clinical Teaching Residency II for Elementary Teachers (EC-6) | 3 |
| Or | |
| EDUC 4325 | ACP Internship I | 3 |
| And | |
| EDUC 4326 | ACP Internship II | 3 |