Express Teacher Certification (ETC)
Irvin School of Education Certification Officer
The Express Teacher Certification (ETC) Program allows students who have completed a bachelor’s degree and who meet the requirements for admission into the HSU Teacher Preparation Program to complete teacher certification in a timely manner while earning graduate credit hours.
Cost of ETC Program
Students will pay the current HSU tuition rate. They may be eligible for financial aid to help with tuition costs. Contact the HSU Financial Aid Office for further information.
ETC Teacher Preparation Program Admission Requirements
Prior to admission to the ETC program, prospective ETC students must meet with the HSU certification officer to determine eligibility for the ETC program. At that time, the student must pay a $50 fee for the certification officer to review the student’s previous work and develop a postgraduate teacher certification plan. The ETC student must meet the requirements for admission into the HSU Teacher Preparation Program as follows:
- Overall GPA: minimum 2.8 (must be maintained throughout the program).
- Oral Proficiency: A or B in COMM 1301 or COMM 1302 or successful completion of program- approved oral proficiency exam.
- Content Field 12-15 hours: Students must have completed 12-15 hours in their content field. (15 hours for certification in math or science fields).
- English Language Proficiency: Students must demonstrate English language proficiency through an interview and/or successful completion of the TOEFEL exam.
- Interview: Students must complete a formal interview.
- Candidate must successfully pass the Pre-Admission Content Test (PACT) exam for their content field before admission and beginning any course work.
Content Field Requirements
ETC EC-6, 4-8, 7-12, & EC-12 students must pass the content field PACT TExES exam prior to admission to the ETC program. The State Board for Educator Certification (SBEC) allows degreed individuals who have not been enrolled in an Educator Preparation Program (EPP) to take Pre-Admission Content Test (PACT) to demonstrate content proficiency for possible admission into an EPP. Prospective ETC students must meet with the HSU certification officer to determine the appropriate PACT test to meet the content field requirements.
Note: Taking PACT does not ensure admittance into a program.
ETC for Students Seeking EC-12 or 7-12 Certification
Required Leveling Work
Required Courses
Total Undergraduate Hours (12-18 Credits)
Total Graduate Hours (9-15 Credits)
EDUC 5371: 15 hours of field experience
EDUC 4622: for Art, Music, PE, Spanish, and Theatre certification (no graduate equivalent)
EDUC 4623: for all 7-12 certification (no graduate equivalent)
Note: 15 graduate hours may be combined with a master’s degree in another field of study, if approved by graduate program director in that field.
Total Credit Hours: 27
ETC for Students Seeking 4-8 Certification
Required Leveling Work
Required Courses
| EDUC 5340 | Current Issues in Special Ed | 3 |
| EDUC 5371 | Organization and Magement for Teaching, In the Secondary Classroom | 3 |
| EDUC 5379 | The Professional Secondary Teacher | 3 |
Student Teaching
Total Undergraduate Hours (12-18 Credits)
Total Graduate Hours (9-15 Credits)
EDUC 4626: no graduate equivalent
Note: 15 graduate hours may be combined with a master’s degree in another field of study, if approved by graduate program director in that field.
Total Credit Hours: 27
ETC for Students Seeking EC-6 Certification
Content Field: EC-6 ETC students are required to pass the Pre-Admission Certification Test (PACT) in Core Subjects prior to admission to HSU Teacher Preparation Program. EC-6 ETC students may not have enough hours in the Core Subjects field to take the content field test prior to beginning the program. The program director will determine eligibility to take the PACT test.
Required Undergraduate Courses
| EDUC 3330 | Foundations of Learning and Development | 3 |
| EDUC 3338 | The Learning Environment | 3 |
| EDUC 4378 | Innovative Integrations | 3 |
| ECED 4311 | Theory and Foundations of Early, Childhood Education | 3 |
EDUC 3330: no graduate equivalent, 15 hours of field experience
EDUC 3338: no graduate equivalent
EDUC 4378: no graduate equivalent
ECED 4311: no graduate equivalent, 12 hours of field experience
Required Graduate Courses
Total Undergraduate Hours (12 Credits)
Total Graduate Hours (21-27 Credits)
READ 6308: 10 hours of field experience
READ 6309: 30 hours of field experience
EDUC 4320: required but will receive undergraduate credit
EDUC 4321: required but will receive undergraduate credit
Note: 15 graduate hours may be combined with a master’s degree in another field of study, if approved by graduate program director in that field.
Total Credit Hours: 39
Standard Teacher Certification
Notwithstanding the fact that a candidate has been retained in teacher education to the point of completing all academic requirements, University recommendation for certification is contingent upon evidence of having fulfilled all requirements and standards of the HSU teacher education program. This is determined by a final review of the candidate’s complete record as concerns: (1) academic record, (2) student teaching or internship, (3) professional ethics, and (4) passing the state-mandated credentialing exam.
No student is eligible to be recommended for certification if he/she fails to meet Irvin School of Education benchmarks. Application for certification must be made through the office of the University Certification Officer, Irvin School of Education. It is the responsibility of the student to file a request for a teaching certificate. All certification requirements are subject to TEA/SBEC standards, rules, and regulations.
The Texas Commissioner of Education has the authority to suspend, revoke, or refuse to issue a teaching certificate for a person who has been convicted of a felony or misdemeanor for a crime which directly relates to the duties and responsibilities of the teaching profession. TEA/SBEC will conduct a criminal record search of all certificate applicants.
To be approved for a standard renewable certificate in the State of Texas, students shall be required to achieve a satisfactory level of performance on one or more examinations in the areas of preparation. The content to be tested and the criteria for mastery shall be prescribed for each certification area by TEA/SBEC. Those who pass the required credentialing exams, successfully complete the ETC program will be eligible to be recommended to TEA/SBEC for teacher certification.