Field Based Teacher Certification Program

Preparing Tomorrow's Teachers Today

Undergraduate Teacher Certification Procedures:                                                                                

Upon deciding that you wish to pursue a teaching certificate as you earn your bachelor's degree, you need to:

Meet with an advisor to draw up your advisement guide/degree audit. If you wish to earn a certificate in Early Childhood - 4th Grade, you may consult an advisor in the Department of Elementary Education. If you wish to earn a certificate in 4th - 8th Grade Math, Science, or Math/Science, you may consult an advisor in the Department of Elementary Education. If you wish to earn a certificate in 4th - 8th Grade English Language Arts & Reading or Social Studies, you must consult the corresponding academic department. If you wish to ear a certificate in 8-12th Grade or All Level, you must consult the corresponding academic department.

Your advisement guide/degree audit will indicate the coursework necessary to meet your degree and certification requirements. Keep a copy for your records and turn the original into the CECAS office (Education North, Room 204).

Requirements for Field-based Teacher Education Program                                                                   

The committee is composed of Texas A&M University-Commerce faculty directly involved with educator preparation and are appointed by the Chair of the Committee.  The Committee Chair is appointed by the Dean of the College of Education and Human Services.  The Committee is responsible for establishing educator preparation admission and retention requirements, as well as hearing student appeals. For more information regarding the program click the provided link below.

 TEARAC Admission and Retention Requirements for Field-Based Teacher Education Program

               Admission To The Field-Based Program

              Appeal of Admission Criteria

              Retention in the Field-Based Program

              Due Process Rights in the Field-Based Program

              Certification in the Field-Based Program

Deadline for Application for Internship                                                                                                

At the beginning of the semester prior to beginning internship, you must apply to the Teacher Education Program.  Applications for internship are available in the CECAS office at the beginning of the fall and spring semesters.  Each semester, please refer to this website to find out the deadline for applying to the Teacher Education Program.  Traditionally, the deadline for applying is by the end of the second week of each fall and spring semester.

Interview                                                                                                                                         

An essential part of the application process is a successful interview with a field-based school district. The following thirteen districts are partners in the field-based program.  Unless otherwise indicated, they interview all certification levels and accept interns in both the fall and spring semesters. (All placements are tentative until prerequisites have been met.)  

              Northeast Texas Area:

Commerce

Cooper

Greenville

Paris area(Paris, Chisum, and North Lamar)

Sulphur Springs

Mt. Pleasant

                Metroplex Area:

Mesquite (fall entry for elementary, secondary fall and spring)

Plano (spring entry for elementary, no secondary)

Dallas (spring entry for elementary, secondary fall and spring)

Rockwall (spring entry for elementary, secondary fall and spring)

                Central Texas:

                                          Navarro Partnership Program (elementary only)

                 Note:  Sites are subject to elimination or combining based on numbers.  

Course Loads and Semester Schedules for ELED and SHED                                                               

During the final year of university preparation for teacher certification, the intern/resident will register and complete requirements for the following courses each semester.  By nature of the teaching and learning process and the emphasis on interdisciplinary teaching, the seminars will focus on the total process of teaching and learning from a unified and thematic approach throughout the intern and resident semesters.  This delineation of courses is for administrative purposes and to fulfill other certification requirements.  The curriculum and content of the field-based program extends beyond the scope of these courses.

Currently, ELED offers a one year, two-semester field-based program.

              You will be in the public school five days a week, and will be pulled for seminar as required.

TExES/ExCET TEST                                                                                                                         

Every individual seeking Texas certification as an educator is required to pass the appropriate state certification exams, ExCET or TExES. Students need to contact their department for eligibility.  Registration bulletins are available in the ExCET office, Education North 205.  Study guides are available on the ExCET/TExES website.  Click here to download study guides.

Application For Certification                                                                                                              

When you have successfully completed all your coursework and requirements for certification and passed the appropriate ExCET/TExES tests, you may apply for certification. This is an online process only. Click on the appropriate link to learn more:

Apply For Certification