About Post-Baccalaureate / Professional / Certification

Admission to Teacher Certification

Note: If you are a secondary student seeking certification as an undergraduate, please visit this link for more information: http://coehd.utsa.edu/Students/Advising/Admin_U_T_C.htm

UTSA is approved by the State Board for Educator Certification to recommend students for teaching certificates in various post baccalaureate degree areas. Students seeking a standard teaching certificate or seeking certification endorsements should apply for admission to the certification program through the College of Education and Human Development (COEHD) Advising and Certification Center. Applicants may be either master degree-seeking or special students. Students wishing to add additional teaching fields to their standard teaching certificate or graduate students seeking professional certification must also coordinate with the Center.

Specific information regarding admission requirements to the Teacher Certification Post Baccalaureate programs may be obtained in the COEHD Advising and Certification Center. Requirements for admission to the post baccalaureate Teacher Certification Program include:

1. Attend a Teacher Certification Information Meeting
2. Be admitted to UTSA (to apply to the university, please visit this link: http://www.utsa.edu/admissions/
3. Maintain your assigned UTSA e-mail address
4. Hold a Bachelor's degree from an accredited University
5. Meet minimum GPA requirements (on a 4.0 scale)

   a) Cumulative of 2.5 or better; or
   b) 2.75 or higher in the last 60 hours; or
   c) Enrolling in 12 semester hours of upper division UTSA coursework (chosen with advisor approval and excluding restricted Education courses), earning a B or better in each course, and thereafter maintaining a 2.75 GPA in all coursework taken at UTSA or elsewhere leading to certification. A student selecting this option must meet the GPA requirement within four consecutive long semesters of initially enrolling in certification coursework after consulting with a COEHD advisor

6. Submit an application to the UTSA Post-Baccalaureate Teacher Certification Program
7. Submit an authorization for a Texas Department of Public Safety criminal background report*
8. Have evidence of:

a) public speaking sills
b) critical thinking skills
c) reading skills
d) writing skills
e) math skills

Evidence must be shown by professional training or earning at least a C in related coursework.

* Criminal History Checks. UTSA students must submit to a criminal history check every semester they interact directly with any minor(s) or legal adult(s) of diminished capacity. Results will be shared with Independent School Districts (ISD) and/or the receiving agency. Students who are unable to provide a clear criminal background check may not be able to complete the Teacher Certification Program. In accordance with Article 6252-13c, Texas Civil Statutes, the State Board for Educator Certification (SBEC) may suspend or revoke a teacher certificate or refuse to issue a teacher certificate for a person who has been convicted of a felony or misdemeanor for a crime that directly relates to the duties and responsibilities of the teaching profession.

Students are encouraged to initiate and maintain contact with a certification officer in the COEHD Advising and Certification Center in order to stay informed of certification requirements.