Teacher Certification

Admission to the College of Education & Health Professions teacher certification program is admission to a professional program and must be applied for apart from admission to the university. Admission to teacher education applies to all teacher education students: elementary, middle, and secondary. Prospective candidates are encouraged to contact the Educator Preparation Office in the College of Education & Health Professions before making plans to enter any program that leads to teacher certification. Application for admission to teacher education is made through the Educator Preparation Office during the semester prior to enrollment in the first professional education course.

Specific Requirements for Admission and Retention To a Teacher Certification Program

The following are the specific requirements for admission to the Teacher Certification Program:

1. Completion of 54 semester hours prior to enrollment in Professional Education Courses.
2. TSI complete or exempt.
3. Complete Nelson-Denny Reading Assessment. Must receive a stanine score of 3 or above to be admitted. Students will be allowed one retake on the Nelson-Denny if score falls in the 2 or 1 stanine.
4. Complete face-to-face interview with faculty.
5. Overall GPA of 2.5 in 6 semester hours of lower-division English; semester hours must be in Composition.
6. Overall GPA of 2.5 in all lower-division courses that apply to teacher certification.
7. Provide criminal background check results to Educator Preparation Office.
8. Lower division courses must be completed before admission to Teacher Education. (Post-Baccalaureate students see “POST-BACCALAUREATES” section for certification admission requirements.)

NOTE: All potential certificate applicants with criminal felony or misdemeanor convictions should contact the Educator Preparation Office for information.

Student Success, Retention and Professional Support (Growth Plan)

The Teacher Education Program faculty participates in ongoing examination of student progress. Students are required to meet Professional Disposition Standards. If a student has difficulty meeting the Professional Disposition Standards faculty shall provide support and prepare a Professional Growth Plan to meet individual student needs. Further information is available from the faculty advisor or visit: www.uhv.edu/education/future-students/texas-teacher-certification/.

The following are the specific requirements for retention in the Teacher Certification Program:

1. GPA of 2.5 in all courses on degree. All UHV courses must be a grade of “C” or better.
2. Evidence of the characteristics, behaviors and attitudes appropriate to the teaching profession.

Residency Standards and Admissions

Prerequisites for Residency

1. Residency General Requirements

• Admission to the teacher education program. The completion of a minimum of 50 clock hours of scheduled and assigned observation/practicum in an accredited school. These observation hours are to be documented on an observation log that can be obtained from Block I instructors or Educator Preparation Office. All candidates seeking certification are required to successfully complete all TExES Academy program requirements.
• After admission to teacher education and before applying for residency, a degree plan must be on file.
• Candidates desiring to register for residency are required to check with the School District in which they will perform their residency to determine if that School District requires a check for the disease of tuberculosis. If the School District requires such a check, the candidate will follow that School District’s process for completing and then reporting the results of the test to the appropriate school district representative.
• Grades in all teacher education courses must be “C” or better.
• Completion of all lower division English courses used on the degree plan required 6-9 semester hours of English with an average grade of 2.5.

2. Residency for Specific areas
   1. Elementary Education
      1. A minimum of 12 semester hours of credit in teacher education courses earned at UH-Victoria. Exceptions must be approved by the Dean or the Dean’s designee.
      2. An overall GPA of at least 2.5 and an average of 2.5 in all UHV courses.
      3. A candidate enrolled in ESED 4303 , ESED 4304  and CUIN 4307  (residency and the professional seminar) should be in the last two semesters before graduation.
      4. Residents earning EC-6 certification must complete 750 hours of classroom teaching over the course of two semesters.
   2. Middle School Education
      1. A minimum of 12 semester hours of credit in teacher education courses earned at UH-Victoria in teacher education courses. Exceptions must be approved by the Dean or the Dean’s designee.
      2. An overall GPA of at least 2.5 and an average of 2.5 in all UHV courses.
      3. A candidate enrolled in MSED 4303 , MSED 4304 , and CUIN 4307   (residency and the professional seminar) should be in the last two semesters before graduation.
      4. Residents earning 4-8 certification must complete 750 hours of classroom teaching over the course of two semesters.
   3. Secondary Education
      1. A minimum of 12 semester hours of credit in teacher education courses earned at UH-Victoria.
      2. Satisfactory completion of designated teacher education courses except residency.
      3. An overall GPA of at least 2.5 and an average of 2.5 in all UHV courses.
      4. A candidate enrolled in SEDU 4303 , SEDU 4304  and CUIN 4307  (residency and the professional seminar) should be in the last two semesters before graduation.
      5. Residents earning 7-12 certification must complete 750 hours of classroom teaching over the course of two semesters.

Admission to Residency (In addition to current residency admission requirements). Students must take and pass the following prior to Residency.

1. Residents who earn a Residency Certificate are not required to take the state EC-12 PPR exam.
2. Residents who earn a standard teaching certificate must pass the state EC-12 PPR exam prior to beginning the residency.
3. All residents must pass the Core Subjects/Content state exam that is appropriate for the certification area prior to beginning the second semester of the residency.
4. Residents earning EC-6 or 4-8 teacher certification must pass the state Science of Teaching Reading exam before the end of the second residency.
5. All residents must complete UHV practice exam requirements for all state certification exams in order to receive UHV approval to register for any state exam.

Residency Application

Residency requires participation in the activities of an assigned accredited school. Residents attend their PK-12 campus 3 days per week in the first residency semester and 4 days per week in the second residency semester. Elementary Education residency (ESED 4303 , ESED 4304 , CUIN 4307  Professional Seminar I, CUIN 4309  Professional Seminar II) or Middle School Education residency (MSED 4303 , MSED 4304 , CUIN 4307   - Professional Seminar I, CUIN 4309  Professional Seminar II) requires an assignment of 750 hours.

Secondary residency (SEDU 4303 , SEDU 4304 , CUIN 4307  Professional Seminar I, CUIN 4309  Professional Seminar II) requires an assignment of 750 hours.

The online residency application, found on the JagsTeach Residency website, must be completed and submitted by March 1 for placement during the subsequent fall semester, and by September 15 for placement during the spring semester. Applications will be accepted for one (1) month after due date if accompanied by the $100 Late Fee. After April 1 or October 15, absolutely no applications will be accepted.