Alternative Teacher Certification | College of Education

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Upcoming Events

2026 Info Sessions
📝 About: Discover how you can launch a rewarding teaching career with a starting salary of over $62,000, along with comprehensive health and retirement benefits.
📍 Location: Zoom
💵 Cost: Free to attend
🕒Dates and times:
- REGISTER: Thursday, January 22 at 12 - 1 p.m.
- REGISTER: Monday, February 2 at 5 - 6 p.m.
- REGISTER: Thursday, February 12 at 12 - 1 p.m.
- REGISTER: Tuesday, February 24 at 12 - 1 p.m.
*Info sessions contain the same content. Please join the session that best fits your schedule.

ACP Application Deadline
📝 About: Apply to UH's Alternative Certification Program and begin teaching in August of 2026.
📍 Location: ACP Portal
💵 Cost: Free to apply
⏰ Deadline: Saturday, January 10, 2026.
⏳APPLY NOW — Space is limited!

Teaching Math or Science?
📝 About: Aspiring middle school math and science teachers teaching at Title I campuses in Houston ISD, KIPP-Houston, and Spring ISD, could have their ACP costs covered.
📍 Learn more
💵 Cost: Free to apply
⏰ Priority deadline: Saturday, January 10, 2026.
🕒 APPLY NOW — This application must be completed in addition to the ACP application.

Apply now!

FAST FACT: UH has certified over 4,500 educators.

Male student raising his hand in the classroom

WHY CHOOSE THE UH ACP?

Developed by the UH College of Education’s award-winning teacher education program
Hybrid: Face-to-face and online professional development delivered by UH faculty
Intensive coaching and mentoring from experienced educators
Strong school district partnerships to ensure full-time employment
Cohort model to allow for shared learning with other participants
Earn a full-time salary while working toward certification

Minimum Eligibility Requirements

Bachelor’s degree
2.50 GPA
All previous transcripts

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FAST FACT: Teachers can earn $62,000 - $65,000 in the first year.

TESTIMONIALS FROM PARTICIPANTS

Read more about the program.

Prepared for Success

Tiana Banks (summer ’24): “I find it really easy to relate to my students thanks to the preparation I received at the University of Houston.”
Teaching is Fulfilling

Aaron Edson (summer ’24): “Teaching is a fulfilling career. I’m glad I chose this program and became an educator!”
Building Relationships

Brook Powell (summer ’24): “I started teaching because I wanted to foster a love for reading and writing in my students. But I learned that teaching is about building relationships with the students.”