Principal Certification Program
Texas A&M University-Commerce

State Board of Educator Certification (SBEC) Requirements

  •  Successful completion of an approved PRINCIPAL preparation program;
  •  Successful completion of required TExES exam 068 Principal;
  •  Master's degree from an accredited institution of higher education;
  •  Two school years of classroom teaching experience in a public or accredited private school;
         Texas A&M University-Commerce requires full teacher certification.

    • Requirements of Educational Leadership Office

            In order to be fully admitted to the Principal Certification Program, candidates must submit the following items to the Department of Educational Leadership, Texas A&M University-Commerce, PO Box 3011, Commerce, TX 75429-3011:

  •  Confirmation page from online application (Principal Internship in Educational Administration);
  •  Original Principal certification plan.
  •  One OFFICIAL copy of all graduate transcripts (if applicable); transcript must show the conferring of Master’s degree (if      applicable);.
  •  Professional recommendation (s) from a fully certified school administrator.
  •  Copy of Texas teaching certificate or a plan leading to Texas teacher certification.
  •  Evidence of full admission to the Master’s Degree Program at Texas A&M University-Commerce or evidence of a completed      master’s degree from an accredited institution.
  •  Evidence of meeting departmental requirements on the Graduate Record Examination.
  •  Copy of Teacher Service record from district personnel office indicating at least two years of classroom teaching experience; and
  •  $50.00 application fee

    • Categories for Principal Certification

    I. DEGREE SEEKING

    For candidates who do not hold a master's degree in any field. Candidates must apply for admission to Master of Science or Master of Education in Educational Administration.

    For candidates completing a Master's degree in Educational Leadership, satisfactory performance on the department's comprehensive examination for the Master's degree is required. The comprehensive examination should be taken during the last semester of coursework (that is, the completion of 36 required hours), including all required courses for the Educational Leadership Master's degree.

    The department's retake policy coincides with that of the Graduate School (see general requirements for the Master's degree for more information).

    NOTE: Admission to the Graduate School, transfer requirements, campus coursework requirements, etc., for Master's degrees are outlined in the Texas A&M University-Commerce Graduate Catalog. Students are referred to the catalog for specific information. Students are responsible for knowing and understanding the content and policies or the Graduate Catalog.

    II. CERTIFICATION ONLY

    For candidates who hold a master's degree. These candidates are seeking to add Principal certification but not a master's degree in Educational Administration.

    A certification plan will be written for these candidates. A certification plan must be completed upon admission to the program. This plan may be completed by any Educational Leadership faculty member and must be approved by the department head and certification officer.

    Application to the Graduate School

    Both categories of PRINICIPALS must apply to the graduate school at www.tamuc.edu/gradschool prior to taking coursework.

    I. DEGREE SEEKING

            Choose the application for Master's program and complete all steps.

    II. CERTIFICATION ONLY

            Choose the application for Educator Certification (State k-12) and complete all steps.

    Requirements for Employment

            All candidates must be admitted to the Principal program by making application through the Center of Educator Certification and Academic Services. Candidates seeking employment as an Assistant Principal/Principal have the options listed below.

      I. Emergency Permit (applies to degree seeking and certification only students)

      •  Minimum of 24 graduate hours, including a minimum of 12 in "educational leadership";


      • P-form (shows deficiencies which must be met prior to full professional certification) on file in Certification Office. The deficiencies specified are on the student’s departmental degree plan or certification plan;
      •  Have a minimum of three years of classroom teaching experience;


      •  Provide school district with P-form and up-to-date transcript showing completion of the state required hours.
      II. Probationary Certificate as an Assistant Principal (applies to degree seeking and certification only students)

      •  Fully admitted to the certification program;
      •  Completed at least the four core courses: EDAD 615, 626, 595 AND 574 in the Texas A&M University-Commerce  Department of Educational Leadership;
      •  Achieved a GPA of 3.5 or higher in the core courses; and
      •  Present letter from the district Human Resources Director stating that the individual has been employed in a position  that requires the probationary certificate.

      III. Probationary Certificate as a Principal
      •  Fully admitted to the certification program;


      •  Completed at least the four core courses: EDAD 615, 626, 595 AND 574 in the Texas A&M University-Commerce  Department of Educational Leadership;


      •  Achieved a GPA of 3.5 or higher in the core courses;


      •  Hold a valid Master's degree;


      •  Present letter from the district Human Resources Director stating that the individual has been employed in a position that requires the probationary certificate.

         EMPLOYMENT AND SUPERVISION:   Individuals seeking a probationary certificate for School Counselor  must provide documentation to the Department of Counseling, signed by the appropriate school district representative,  to confirm:

         a) Employment as a School Counselor in a specified school, and

         b) Assignment of a fully certified professional school counselor who is a full-time employee at the school and who has  at least two years of experience as a fully certified school counselor to provide on-site supervision. This documentation  must include the name, Certificate/TEA ID number and years of experience of the assigned supervisor.

         TEACHING EXPERIENCE: The individual seeking a probationary certificate for School Counselor must have a  minimum of two years of teaching experience documented with the individual's service record on file in the Certification  Office.

    RENEWAL: The emergency permit/probationary certificate for School Counselor may be renewed for an additional year (not to exceed 3 years in combination) with the completion of an additional 6 semester credit hours (fewer, if less than 6 hours remain) of courses from Texas A&M University-Commerce toward the fulfillment of the departmental degree plan or deficiency plan and continued employment. Continued employment must be in a school district (not necessarily the same district each year) in a position requiring such certification. The Department of Counseling will certify the progress of the candidate annually.

    COMPLETION OF REQUIREMENTS: By the end of the third year working on an emergency permit and/or probationary certificate, the individual should have completed all academic requirements for certification, including the Master's Comprehensive Examination. If the academic requirements are not met in 3 years, the student may continue course work to meet requirements but emergency permit/probationary certification may not be extended.

    FILING FOR CERTIFICATION: Once all requirements for certification have been met, you will apply to the State Board of Educator for certification. Please go to http://teachcert.tamuc.edu/teacher and follow the link "file for certification".

    TEST APPROVAL: The Texas Examination of Educator Standards (TExES) is required for all persons seeking Principal certification. The State Board of Educator Certification rules require that persons seeking Principal certification perform satisfactorily on the TExES Principal (068) examination to ensure that each educator has the necessary content and professional knowledge to be a principal in Texas public schools. The following rules apply for candidates to test:

    I. DEGREE SEEKING

    •  Successful completion of Educational Leadership Department's comprehensive examination for the Master's degree;
    •  Enrolled in the final semester of their certification program; and
    •  Completed all courses required for the TExES examination.

    II. CERTIFICATION ONLY

    •  Approved certification plan on file;
    •  Enrolled in the final semester of their certification program; and
    •  Completed all courses required for the TExES examination.

    The department reserves the right to require all students to take a TExES Review Session and/or successfully complete a departmental assessment as conditions for receiving approval to take the TExES Principal (068) examination.

    FILING FOR CERTIFICATION: Once all requirements for certification have been met, you MUST apply to the State Board of Educator for certification. Please go to http://teachcert.tamuc.edu/teacher and follow the link "file for certification".

    STANDARD CERTIFICATE RENEWAL:  Individuals issued the Standard Principal Certificate on or after September 1, 1999 are subject to the rule for Certificate Renewal and continuing Professional Education Requirements which are elaborated in Title 19, Chapter 232 of the Texas Administrative Code. All individuals holding a valid Texas professional Administrator Certificate prior to September 1, 1999 and who are employed as Principals or Assistant Principals must complete the assessment described in Title 19, Chapter 241.35 of the Texas Administrative Code.

    FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: Please contact Sam Roberson, Assistant Professor, Education Leadership, Education North 103, at 903.886.5604, or via email at Sam_Roberson@tamuc.edu with questions or concerns.