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Alternative Teacher Certification

Alternative Teacher Certification

Become a Certified Teacher in Texas!

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Have a bachelor’s degree and want to teach? We can help! Our high-quality alternative certification program, or ACP, will support you through the entire teacher certification process. To get started, fill out the interest form for our UH Alternative Certification Program for Aspiring Teachers.

Program Highlights

  • Learn effective teaching strategies from expert UH faculty.
  • Earn a full-time salary while working toward certification. (First-year teachers can earn $60,000 in the Houston region’s largest school districts.)
  • Receive regular coaching and mentoring during your first year in the classroom.
  • Engage in hybrid learning (face-to-face and online professional development).
  • Be prepared to pass your state certification exams!

Eligibility Requirements

  • Bachelor’s degree (by start date)
  • 2.50 GPA
  • Interest in teaching in the participating school districts
  • Don’t have a bachelor’s degree? Check out UH’s B.S. in teaching and learning degree program.

Competitive Cost

  • FREE to apply!
  • $200 enrollment fee upon acceptance
  • $9,500 total cost (estimated based on district partnerships)
    • $4,750 covered by the partner school district
    • $4,750 covered by candidate through payroll deduction

Timeline

  • Fall 2023: Complete the UH ACP interest form.
  • Spring 2024: Enroll in the UH ACP. Prepare for the TExES content and pedagogy exam and complete 30 hours of observations in schools.
  • Summer 2024: Attend the in-person UH ACP Summer Training.
  • Fall 2024: Begin working as a teaching of a record in a participating school district.
  • Fall 2024/Spring 2025: Receive ongoing professional development.
  • Summer 2025: Become a certified teacher after passing the TExES PPR (Pedagogy and Professional Responsibilities) exam.

Learn More

Hear from program participants and learn more about the UH ACP model in this in-depth story.

Questions?

Email Dr. Amber Thompson and Dr. Shea Culpepper at uhacp@central.uh.edu. And don’t forget to fill out the UH ACP interest form.

The UH ACP for Aspiring Teachers is supported by a grant from Houston Endowment.