Teacher certification program

International Candidates

We welcome your interest in applying here at INSPIRE TEXAS | Educator Certification by Region 4. Please read carefully the information within this section if your background and education are from Puerto Rico or a foreign country.

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Getting Started

If you are applying for bilingual teacher certification and your bachelor’s degree or equivalent comes from a non-English-speaking university outside the United States, the following is required:

Application Requirements

A four- or five-year university degree: Degree from an accredited college or university in the United States or equivalent.
A four- or five-year university degree from outside of the U.S. must be evaluated, verified, and deemed equivalent to a bachelor’s degree by an approved credential evaluation service. When requesting your credential evaluation from one of the approved TEA evaluation companies, please make sure to request it to include, GRADE by GRADE, GPA, and VERIFICATION. Please visit TEA website for a list of approved credential evaluation companies.
GPA: 2.75 Grade Point Average (GPA) or equivalent.
English Language Proficiency Assessment: Must be demonstrated before preservice training by one of the following:
1. Completion of an undergraduate or graduate degree at an institution of higher education in the United States.
2. Verification of satisfactory score on the Test of English as a Foreign Language-Internet Based Test (TOEFL iBT). Applicant must take all four portions (Listening, Speaking, Reading, and Writing) for a score to be calculated. All four sections must meet the folowwing criteria: The acceptable passing score on the Speaking portion is 24; Listening is 22; Reading is 22; and Writing is 21. To have scores submitted directly to Region 4, use our institution code 4805.
3. Please register at the Education Testing Center (ETS)
4. Information concerning the Texas Education Agency English language proficiency requirements, including new score requirements for the Test of English as a Foreign Language - Internet Based Test (TOEFL-iBT)
5. List of countries outside of the United States approved by the State for Educator Certification (SBEC).

** INSPIRE TEXAS/Educator Certification by Region 4 offers preparation and test administration for the TOEFL exam.

05. Credit hours in content areas:

Core Subjects EC–6, Special Education, ESL, and Bilingual EC–6 areas of certification: 24 total college hours including English, mathematics, science, and social studies with a minimum of 3 college hours in each subject.
Core Subjects 4–8 , Special Education, ESL, and Bilingual 4–8 areas of certification: 36 total college hours including English, mathematics, science, and social studies with a minimum of 6 college hours in each subject.
Mathematics 4–8 and/or 8–12: 30 college hours in mathematics. 15 semester hours must be in at least one teachable subject.
Composite Science 4–8 and/or 8–12: 30 college hours in science. 15 semester hours must be in at least one teachable subject.
Documents Needed
1. Copy of “diploma” and copy of “cédula profesional” (Only for Mexico graduates)
2. Copy of diploma stating that a bachelor’s degree was conferred
3. Original transcripts from all universities attended
4. Original credential evaluation (if available)
5. Criminal history record (“Carta de no-antecedentes penales”)
6. Copy of front page of passport or official U.S. ID
7. Three letters of recommendation
8. A self-addressed, stamped envelope to return transcripts (one SASE per mailing)

PLEASE Mail MATERIALS TO:

INSPIRE TEXAS | Educator Certification by Region 4
7145 West Tidwell Road
Houston, Texas 77092

EMAIL TO:

INTERNATIONAL@esc4.net

(Please do not include any message in the body of the email.)

PLEASE ALLOW 10 DAYS FOR DOCUMENT REVIEW:

After your application is submitted and documents received, you will be notified via email of your acceptance into the program and the certification areas for which you are eligible. When you receive your notification, choose the training date that works best for you.

Getting certified

TExES Content Exam
All teacher candidates must pass the designated state certification content exam. Test permission for all content exams is given after the completion of the 240 Tutoring or Certify Teacher practice exam and a score of at least 80% is obtained.

Pedagogy Exam (edTPA)
All INSPIRE TEXAS candidates will take the new pedagogy performance assessment edTPA, and must pass it to receive a standard teaching certificate.

Fees

Upon acceptance into the PRESERVICE program (Phase 2), you will have the option of paying your training fee in full, or installments. The PRACTICUM (Internship or Clinical Teaching Assignment Phase 3), is not due until you accept your first teaching job or clinical assignment.

INSPIRE TEXAS FEES (Effective FEBRUARY 2, 2021)

University Courses

If candidate needs university courses to meet the minimum credit hour requirements, those will be paid directly to the university, and courses are $200 each.

$200

Prerequisites (OPTIONAL, if candidate needs help passing the TOEFL)

We offer two courses to support candidates pass the TOEFL iBT

Effective Writing for Educators (EWE) 5 weeks online, $250
TOEFL Review Course 6 weeks online $295

If candidate has the English ability to pass the TOEFL on their own, they will not need these two courses.

Preservice Training (Pay in full or installments)

$100 discount on this fee if paid in full at registration

$1,300

Once you begin your teaching assignment, either as a salaried intern or as a clinical teacher,
the following fees go into effect:

Internship

_{Based on initial employment date, we will provide the best installment plan possible}

$5,280

Clinical Teaching Deductions from your earnings will be made when you become a salaried teacher.*

* Clinical Teaching Application Fee - $100.00 *is applied toward the clinical teaching fee unless the candidate cancels the placement.

Clinical Teaching Fee is payable in monthly installments over duration of assignment

$2,800

ADDITIONAL FEES REQUIRED FOR CERTIFICATION

TOEFL iBT	Var ies by Location
Certification Tests	per exam $131
Probationary/Intern Teacher Certificate fee	$78
Standard Teacher Certificate fee	$78
Criminal History Check Fee	$52

NOTE: Textbooks and materials fees will depend on syllabus requirements.

Timelines

Application and Documents Submission Deadline	Prerequisite Training
April 12, 2021	April 22, 2021–July 11, 2021
July 12, 2021	July 22, 2021–October 10, 2021
October 11, 2021	October 21, 2021–January 9, 2022

FREE TEACHER INFORMATION MEETINGS

Any questions? Many questions? Seek answers about the certification process by attending a free information meeting. Learn about our programs, admissions, costs, alumni experiences, and more. We know it’s a significant step, and we want you to be in the best position to make a well-informed decision.