Department of Graduate Education

Dr. Darla Baggett, Chair of Global Education

Professor: Dr. Darla Baggett

Acceptance Requirements
Field Experience
State Certification Exams
Teacher Certification
Principal Certification

Requirements for Acceptance into the Educator Preparation Program (EPP)

Per Texas Education Agency guidelines, students seeking certification must be admitted into the Educator Preparation Program (EPP). This is separate from being admitted to the University. After a student is admitted to the University, education students must meet the following requirements in order to be admitted into the EPP:

Teacher Certification

Overall cumulative GPA or 2.75
OR
2.75 in the last 60 hours
OR
Written documentation that work, business, or career experiences demonstrates achievement equivalent to academic achievement represented by the GPA requirement.

Provide a well-written response to a series of questions relating to education. Content, writing mechanics, style, and clarity will be considered in the admission decision.

Principal as Instructional Leader Certification

Applicants seeking Principal as Instructional Leader certification must first be admitted into the University and then must be admitted into the Educator Preparation Program (EPP).

Conferred Bachelor degree
Overall minimum GPA of 2.75 OR 2.75 in the last 60 hours OR GRE scores as follows:

Verbal Reasoning	Quantitative Reasoning	Analytical Writing
143-157	140-155	3.0-4.5

TEA service record indicating years of teaching experience. (This can be obtained from the HR offices of the school district.)
Completed application including essay questions
Two references from persons familiar with the professional leadership capabilities of the candidate

TEACHER CERTIFICATION FIELD EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENT

Observation Experience Requirement:

The educator preparation program requires 30 clock-hours of field-based experience to be completed prior to assignment to clinical teaching or internship. Information concerning field-based experience will be provided by the Certification Director upon admission to the EPP.

Clinical Teaching:

The Clinical Teaching course is taken in the final fall or spring semester of the student’s major courses. Students complete the traditional 14-week clinical teaching assignment by enrolling in Clinical Teaching. Student placements will be arranged by LETU personnel in the area where the student lives.

Internship:

Students opting to complete an internship will need to gain employment at a TEA-approved public, charter, or private school district that will accept them on a probationary certificate. These students must enroll in an internship for two semesters.

Students are required to document and submit 30 hours of observations and reflections prior to being eligible for a probationary certificate.

Professional Communication And Demeanor:

Students must have a record of professional behavior, effective communication and respectful interactions with others that reflect the established community behavior expectations and Christian mission and values of the university. This proficiency must be verified prior to beginning field experience.

STATE CERTIFICATION EXAMINATIONS

Internship:

Students enrolled in the Teacher Leadership Strand 2 must have all state exams passed prior to being eligible for Clinical Teaching or an Internship. Approval to take state exams requires passing LeTourneau practice exams with a minimum of 75%.

TEACHER CERTIFICATION

Students who pass the PPR and each content exam (including Science of Teaching Reading if applicable) with a score of 75% or above will be issued a test approval that will allow them to take the state TExES certification exams.

Principal Certification

Students who want Texas Principal Certification must be Texas certified teachers with a minimum of two years teaching experience to be eligible to participate in the principal; certification exam process.

Majors

Master of Education