Alternative Teacher Certification

Accelerated Alternative Teacher Certification Pathway

Non-Accelerated Alternative Teacher Certification Pathway

• Application

  • completed online application

  Review important information about the online application.

• Application Fee

  • $20 nonrefundable application fee
    or
  • $60 nonrefundable application fee for applications with international credentials
    and
  • $35 nonrefundable Texas Education Agency technology fee (if offered admission)
  • $75 nonrefundable teacher certification plan fee (if offered admission)

  There are additional fees associated with certification programs to be paid after admission. Review important information about the additional fees to be paid.

• Transcripts & GPA

  • baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited university (Non-U.S. degrees must be equivalent to a four-year U.S. Bachelor’s degree. In most cases, three-year degrees are not considered. Visit our International FAQs for more information.)
  • a copy of an official transcript from each institution where course credit was granted
  • a 2.75 overall GPA for your mostly recently completed baccalaureate/master's degree or a 2.75 GPA in your last 60 hours of your most recently completed baccalaureate degree*

  Effective Fall 2024

  • baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited university (Non-U.S. degrees must be equivalent to a four-year U.S. Bachelor’s degree. In most cases, three-year degrees are not considered. Visit our International FAQs for more information.)
  • a copy of an official transcript from each institution where course credit was granted
  • a 2.75 overall GPA for your mostly recently completed baccalaureate/master's degree or a 2.75 GPA in your last 60 hours of your most recently completed baccalaureate degree*

  *Accelerated Alternative Teacher Certification Applicants - If your GPA is lower than 2.75, you can still be admitted if you pass a resume review and the Pre-Admission Content Test (PACT) that is required for your certification area. For more information, contact altcert@txstate.edu

  Review important information about transcripts. Official transcripts, sent directly from your institution, will be required if admission is granted.

• Test Scores

  GRE Scores

  • GRE not required

  Pre-Admission Content Test (PACT)

  • Most applicants will not be required to take the PACT.
  • Two types of applicants are required to pass the respective PACT of their credential area for admission: 
    • Applicants with lower than 2.75 GPA
    • Applicants who have not completed at least 12 semester credit hours in the secondary subject area (e.g., Math, French, etc.) of the certificate the applicant is seeking (15 hours if seeking certification in math or science above 7th grade).
    • If you have questions about whether you need to take the PACT, please email altcert@txstate.edu

  TOEFL Scores*

  Applicants are required to submit TOEFL scores that meet the minimum program requirements below unless they have earned a bachelor’s degree or higher from a regionally accredited U.S. institution or one of the exempt countries found on the TEA standards and Texas State University standards.

  • official TOEFL iBT scores with minimum individual scores of
    • 22 listening
    • 22 reading
    • 24 speaking
    • 21 writing

  *Exceptions are made for students who have earned a Bachelor’s degree or higher from an institution of higher education in India. These students must meet the following requirements:

  • official TOEFL iBT scores required with a 78 overall
  • official PTE scores required with a 52 overall
  • official IELTS (academic) scores required with a 6.5 overall and
  • minimum individual module scores of 6.0
  • official Duolingo scores required with a 110 overall
  • official TOEFL Essentials scores required with an 8.5 overall
  • Review important information about official test scores.
  • This program does not offer admission if the scores above are not met.

  This program does not offer admission if the scores above are not met. 
  
  Review important information about official test scores.

• Documents & Other Requirements

  • If you are currently enrolled or have previously been enrolled in an Educator Preparation Program, you will need to submit an EPP Candidate Transfer Form along with your application. 
  • If you currently have an emergency permit, you will need to submit a copy with your official application. 
  • If you plan to apply for the Accelerated Alternative Teacher Certification Pathway in a secondary content area (e.g., Math, French, etc.) and are worried that you may not have the appropriate academic background, email altcert@txstate.edu to get pre-application advising.