Checklist for Qualifying for a Teaching Certificate
To qualify for a teaching certificate, students must meet the requirements of both McMurry University and the State Board for Educator Certification (SBEC). Students must follow several essential steps to satisfy these dual requirements. These steps include:
- Demonstrate basic skills in reading, written communication, and mathematics.
- Apply for admission to the teacher education program at the conclusion of CURR 2110.
- File a degree plan with the appropriate major and minor in the Registrar’s Office no later than the sophomore year.
- Apply for admission to clinical teaching. Admission requirements are outlined in a subsequent section of the catalog.
- Achieve a satisfactory score on the certification examinations the State Board of Education prescribed. Content of the tests will generally cover the areas of professional education and the individual’s teaching field(s) or areas of endorsement.
- Apply for certification with the Texas Education Agency (TEA) before graduation.
Essential details on each of these steps are outlined in subsequent catalog sections. Students are urged to read the catalog carefully and consult closely with their faculty advisors in planning their programs of study.
Admission Information
Criteria for Admission
Admission Procedure
McMurry Requirements for Certification
Successful completion and passing of all certification tests in your area as required by the State of Texas. If a student does not pass on the first attempt, the student must wait 30 days before taking the test again. The State allows 5 attempts per certification test.
Fingerprinting and background checks are required.
Application for certification must be completed before a student can be recommended for a standard certificate
Field Experiences and Criminal History Checks
The Department wants each McMurry student to have as much classroom experience as possible. In many classes, there will be a field experience component that is embedded. This will include hand-on learning experiences in local schools. The number of hours of field experiences vary by courses.
Prior to clinical teaching and all field-based experiences, students will undergo school district criminal history checks. The state of Texas also requires a criminal background check before an individual can receive a Texas teacher certification. Information regarding requirements for certification may be found on the TEA website.
Texas Administrative Code (TAC) 227.101c) states that a person who is enrolled or planning to enroll in a State Board of Educator Certification-approved educator preparation program or planning to take a certification examination may request a preliminary criminal history evaluation letter regarding the person’s potential ineligibility for certification due to a conviction or deferred adjudication for a felony or misdemeanor offense.
For more information about the Preliminary Criminal History Evaluation, click below.