Recommendation for Certification

 

After you have finished your coursework, passed student teaching, passed the certification examinations, submitted an electronic portfolio based on Texas educator standards, and your degree is posted, you are ready to be recommended for a teaching certificate. Before we can recommend you, you must apply online for your teaching certificate at www.sbec.state.tx.us.

The following GPA requirements apply to the student teaching semester and to recommendation for certification:

• 2.5 GPA in the professional education courses and a 2.5 GPA in the specialization/teaching field(s). Grades of Ds, F, or Is (incompletes) are not acceptable in the professional education courses or in the teaching field(s).
• An acceptable cumulative GPA is required: 2.7 for Early Childhood majors (EC-4 generalist) and 2.5 for Multidisciplinary Studies (Middle School, 4-8 ) and Multidisciplinary Science majors (8-12) and those seeking secondary (8-12) or all-level (EC-12) certification .

Other Requirements

• Successful completion of student teaching.
• All other degree requirements must be fulfilled, including completion of appropriate coursework and attaining the total number of hours stipulated for the degree.
• Degree posted
• Successful completion of your certification exams
• Electronic portfolio based on Texas educator standards (TaskStream)
• Submit the “Request for SBEC Recommendation” (PDF) to the Certification Office to expedite the process of your recommendation with SBEC.

TExES/ExCET and TOPT Examinations

To be recommended for a teaching certificate, you are required to pass the appropriate TExES exam. Individuals seeking a bilingual endorsement or pursuing foreign language teaching field certificate (Spanish or French only) must also pass the Texas Oral Proficiency Test (TOPT). In order to register for the TExES exam, you must request a barcode (the process through which you are identified as an approved Texas Tech teacher candidate to the testing company).

How to Apply for Your Certificate With SBEC (State Board for Educator Certification)

• Go online to http://www.sbec.state.tx.us/SBECOnline and click on “APPLY FOR MY CERTIFICATION” (in bold, red letters)
• Login … you created an account when you set up your profile with SBEC and registered for your certification exams.  Update your profile, especially your mailing address (required to mail your certificate to you) and email.
• Click on “Applications” (left side-bar menu)
• Select “Standard Certificate Texas Program”
• Enter requested information.  You will apply for a standard teaching certificate and you will write in the area(s) of certification (for example, 4-8 math/science or EC-4/Generalist and ESL)
• Make sure you choose “Texas Tech University – University Based” as the recommending entity.
• There is a fingerprinting fee.  You can either request the card for an inked fingerprint or use the electronic provider (faster, more accurate, but more expensive).  To use the electronic provider:
• Pay the $42.50 fingerprinting charge to SBEC and select electronic fingerprints.  SBEC will email you a “FAST pass.”
• Set up an appointment at www.ibtfingerprint.com
• Take the “FAST pass” and $9.95 to your appointment.
• Your name will appear on Tech’s electronic list of certification applicants.
• When you have finished your courses and passed your exams (all degrees, courses and tests must be posted), the certification office will recommend you.
• SBEC will complete the background check and then mail your certificate to you.
• You will receive email notifications as these steps progress.

You must meet the following requirements in order to be recommended for your certificate:

• All coursework must be completed and grades posted.
• Degree must be awarded and posted on your transcript.
• All required TExES/ExCET exams must be passed.
• SOME certifications (counselor, principal, diagnostician, etc) require a service record be mailed to us prior to recommendation.

Please remember:

• The application process may take 3-4 weeks from the time that you apply online.
• SBEC will process your application only after (a) your $77 payment has been received; (b) you have submitted your SBEC-initiated digital fingerprints with the $47 fee and SBEC has completed a national criminal background check; and (c) TTU has confirmed to SBEC that you have completed all requirements of its approved program and have recommended that they issue your certificate.
• Your certificate will be mailed to the address that you have on your SBEC profile.

Criminal Records Checks

Please note that the State of Texas implements national criminal background checks conducted by the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) on all applicants for initial teaching certificates. Upon completing the SBEC Online certification application, an educator candidate will be emailed information about obtaining digital fingerprinting (a document, FAST pass, which allows the candidate to use the vendor’s digital services and information on how to make an appointment for the service). The current SBEC fee for the background check is $47.00 and the vendor fee is $9.95 for the fingerprinting service.

***Undergraduate Catalog and Certification Changes***

Students seeking certification must meet all requirements stated in the appropriate undergraduate catalog, as well as any change in requirements mandated by state law or rule. Our office will keep you informed of any changes via email, the COE website, bulletin boards, etc.

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