Alternative Teacher Certification Program
The Alternative Teacher Certification Program (ATCP) at Houston Community College is a state-approved comprehensive educator preparation program (or EPP) that trains individuals for Texas standard certification in elementary and secondary education.
An EPP provides the training necessary for individuals without experience in a college-level teacher training program or with a major in another field, such as biology or art, to obtain the skills and knowledge necessary to be a classroom teacher.
The following items are needed to become a certified classroom teacher in Texas:
- Obtain or possess a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university
- Complete an approved Educator Preparation Program (EPP)
- Register, take and pass required state certification exams for the certificate sought
- Apply for state certification upon the EPP’s recommendation (Fingerprinting is required as part of a criminal background check)
- Obtain a Texas Classroom Teacher Standard Certificate awarded through TEA
Once certified, Texas Standard Certificates are renewable every five years, provided you have completed required continuing professional education (CPE) credits.
Don’t have a Bachelor’s degree? See Teacher Education for Associate of Arts in Teaching.
Have a Bachelor’s degree? Apply directly to the Alternative Teacher Certification Program.
Already a Certified Classroom Teacher? See Out-of-State Certified Educators, Out-of-Country Certified Educators, Renewing a Standard Certificate, or Additional Certification by Exam.
Degrees and Certificates
Learn more about the Degrees and Certificates offered by this program by visiting the HCC Catalog.
Visit the HCC CatalogHouston Community College — Alternative Teacher Certification Program is accredited by the State Board for Educator Certification (SBEC) and the Texas Education Agency (TEA).
The State Board for Educator Certification (SBEC) oversees all aspects of the preparation and certification as well as standards of conduct of public school educators. The Texas Education Agency is the state agency that oversees primary and secondary public education. TEA provides staff support to the SBEC board.
For additional information regarding EPP accreditation ratings, pass rates, and annual performance reports, please visit Consumer Information.
For information on Supply and Demand for teachers in Texas, please read the following report from the Texas Education Agency.
To view HCC’s Performance Over Time Reports, please click this link and scroll down the page until you see “Accountability System for Educator Preparation Annual Reports” with the latest reporting years. Please also see our recent status reports.
To file a complaint, refer to the Student Handbook for the complaints process. If the student is not satisfied with the complaint process or outcome, the student may file a complaint against the program with the Texas Education Agency. The official Texas Education Agency complaint process can be found at tea.texas.gov at the bottom of the page.
HCC's ATCP is considered an alternative certification program. It is designed primarily to prepare students for employment as an educator at the primary or secondary level. The program is offered as a “non-credit” program; therefore, no semester credit hours are awarded. Completion of the program requires 1-2 years. Students receive a recommendation for their Texas Standard Classroom Certificate upon successful completion of all program requirements.
Training includes:
- 277 contact hours of coursework
- 30 contact hours of field-based observation
- 42 contact hours of test preparation
- One academic year (2 consecutive semesters) of supervised internship as a teacher-of-record under a probationary certificate at a public, charter, or any school accredited by Texas Education Agency (TEA).
Elementary
- Core Subjects (EC-6)
Middle School
- Core Subjects (4-8)
- English Language Arts & Reading/Social Studies (4-8)
- Mathematics (4-8)
- Science (4-8)
- Social Studies (4-8)
High School/Secondary Grade Levels
- Life Science (7-12)
- Mathematics (7-12)
- Physical Science (6-12)
- Science (7-12)
- English Language Arts & Reading (7-12)
All Levels
- Special Education (EC-12)
- Physical Education (EC-12)
Supplemental (Not stand-alone certificates)
- Bilingual Education Supplemental-Spanish
- English as a Second Language (ESL) Supplemental
Even though you think you might not qualify, applying for financial aid and/or scholarships may help determine what resources are available to assist you with your educational goals.
Please see the Continuing Education Financial Aid Website for any available scholarships or grants approved for the Alternative Teacher Certification Program.
Individuals may qualify for the following:
- HCC Foundation Workforce Scholarship
- Troops to Teachers
- Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA)
- Applicants must be seeking Mathematics, Science, Special Education, or Bilingual Certification for WIOA funds. An Individual Referral/Cost Obligation Form will only be issued to students that have been admitted into the program. It is recommended students apply to Workforce Solutions' scholarship at least 30-45 days prior to the term start date but earlier if possible.
The Alternative Teacher Certification Program (ATCP) at HCC is a state-approved comprehensive educator preparation program (EPP) that trains individuals for Texas standard certification in elementary and secondary education.
Online resources
New Student Orientation Virtual Information SessionAdditional Resources
Program Plan
The Program offers a route to certification that allows you to teach while completing the requirements.
|
COURSEWORK |
Clock Hours |
School Weeks |
|
ACP 4103 Cognitive Development, Literacy Strategies, & Special Education |
48 hours |
8 weeks |
|
ACP 4113 Content Test Preparation |
43 hours |
8 weeks |
|
ACP 4201 Pre-Service Field-based Observation |
30 hours |
8 weeks |
|
ACP 4203 Pedagogy for Curriculum and Instruction |
48 hours |
8 weeks |
|
ACP 4213 Science of Teaching Reading I |
42 hours |
8 weeks |
|
ACP 4223 Science of Teaching Reading II |
42 hours |
8 weeks |
|
ACP 4303 Managing Culturally Diverse Classrooms |
48 hours |
8 weeks |
|
ATCP 4313 Pedagogy and Professional Responsibilities (PPR) Test Preparation |
42 hours |
8 weeks |
|
ACP 4403 Professional Practices in an Educational Environment |
48 hours
|
8 weeks |
|
ACP 4513 Internship I (FA) |
48 hours |
16 weeks |
|
ACP 4523 Internship II (SPR) |
48 hours |
16 weeks |
Resources
- Texas Education Agency(TEA)/State Board for Educator Certification(SBEC)
- Texas Educator's Code of Ethics (Texas Administrative Code)
- TEKS (Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills)
- THECB (Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board)
- TExES (Texas Examinations of Educator Standards)
- TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language)
If a student is not satisfied with the complaint process or outcome, the student may file a complaint against the program with the Texas Education Agency. The official Texas Education Agency complaint process can be found http://tea.texas.gov/About_TEA/Contact_Us/Complaints/
Program Cost
|
Description |
Due Date |
Cost |
|
|
ACTP Tuition |
Same as HCC payment deadlines. |
**tuition assessed per class Contact program for more information |
|
|
Books |
Varies according to certification area |
Cost not included in tuition
|
|
|
TEA Technology Fee |
Upon enrollment - payable to Texas Education Agency |
$55.00 |
|
Other fees associated with completing the requirements for Teacher Certification by TEA (such as exams, background checks, finger printing, etc.) are outside of Program costs or expenses and are managed by other organizations. HCC ATCP keeps an updated requirements list with current costs and provides this information to students. However, HCC cannot guarantee that costs have not been changed recently by other organizations.
Information Session
The Alternative Teacher Certification Program will host an information session to recruit potential candidates to enroll in our upcoming enrollment sessions set for Summer 2021 and Fall 2021. Application Deadline for Summer Term 2021 is May 7, 2021. The application deadline for Fall Term 2021 is July 23, 2021. Interested candidates must have a 2.5 GPA and a Bachelors's degree from an accredited college or university. Use the contact information below to submit an inquiry.
Information Sessions are scheduled for the following dates:
| Session | Date | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Summer | June 21, 2021 | 7:00 PM |
| Fall | August 23, 2021 | 7:00 PM |
Background Check / Program Eligibility
Accord to the Texas Education Code chapter 227.1 (b):
Educator preparation programs (EPPs) shall inform all applicants that:
(1) pursuant to the Texas Education Code (TEC), §22.083, candidates must undergo a criminal history background check prior to employment as an educator; and
(2) pursuant to the TEC, §22.0835, candidates must undergo a criminal history background check prior to clinical teaching.
Accord to the Texas Education Code chapter 227.1 (d):
EPPs shall notify, in writing by mail, personal delivery, facsimile, email, or an electronic notification, each applicant to and enrollee in the EPP of the following regardless of whether the applicant or enrollee has been convicted of an offense:
(1) the potential ineligibility of an individual who has been convicted of an offense for issuance of a certificate on completion of the EPP;
(2) the current State Board for Educator Certification (SBEC) rules prescribed in §249.16 of this title (relating to Eligibility of Persons with Criminal History for a Certificate under Texas Occupations Code, Chapter 53, and Texas Education Code, Chapter 21); and
(3) the right to request a criminal history evaluation letter as provided in Chapter 227, Subchapter B, of this title (relating to Preliminary Evaluation of Certification Eligibility).
Texas Education Code 227
HCC Veteran Information
Repeating Courses for Veteran and Military-Affiliated Students
Repeating Courses for Veteran and Military-Affiliated Students using VA educational or Hazlewood Act benefits may not retake a course in which a passing grade or a temporary grade of “I” is awarded. It is ultimately the responsibility of the student to know which course(s) has/have been completed. Students may check their progress by logging into their student account and viewing their advisement report (iAAR). The HCC VMASS District office is required to notify the VA of any course duplications, and appropriate changes will be made when a student has taken a class that has been deemed successfully completed.
HCCS Student Handbook p. 42
Veterans Services
Transfer / Veteran & Military-Affiliated Students:
Transfer students should submit all academic transcripts from both accredited and non-accredited schools (to include military technical school credits/transcripts). All academic transcripts (from both accredited and/or non-accredited schools) should be received and evaluated by HCC prior to selecting courses (when possible). Further information is available at VMASS Resource Centers on campus, on the website at www.hccs.edu/support-services/veteran-affairs, or by phone at 713-718-8522.
HCCS Student Handbook p. 63
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