ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS
Applicants who have never been admitted into a Texas approved Educator Preparation Program (EPP) must meet the following requirements to be considered for acceptance into the ACP:
- Conferred baccalaureate degree from an institution that is recognized by one of the regional accrediting agencies
- Cumulative GPA of 2.75 or higher or a minimum GPA of 2.75 in the last 60 semester credit hours (SCH)
- Pass the Pre-admission Content Test (PACT) for the desired certification area. More information can be found about PACT registration can be found here.
- International students are required to pass the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL): https://www.ets.org/toefl/test-takers/ibt/take/
- Minimum passing scores per TEA: 24 for speaking, 22 for listening, 22 for reading, 21 for writing
- Attend a scheduled interview with College of Education Faculty/Leadership
APPLICATION PROCESS
Prospective candidates must apply to the College of Education:
- Submit the UTEP Miner Teacher Residence Alternative Certification Program Application, and attach the following documents:
- TX PACT score report (if score report is pending at time of application, send to acp@utep.edu once issued)
- Essay. Refer to Prompts for ACP Application Essay
- Resume
- Names and contact information for three professional references
- Official transcripts
- Undergraduate transcripts are required for all applicants
- Graduate transcripts should be included if any graduate coursework has been completed
- Transcripts issued by a non-US entity must be evaluated by a foreign credential evaluation service
- Candidates who are admitted to the College of Education will be instructed to apply to the UTEP Graduate School
For more information, please contact us here.
Background Checks
As part of the EPP, candidates are required to pass background checks to be eligible for field-based experiences (observation hours), clinical teaching, and applying for their standard teaching certificate.
Pursuant to the Texas Education Code TEC, §22.0835, candidates must undergo a criminal history background check prior to student teaching; and pursuant to the TEC, §22.083, candidates must undergo a criminal history background check prior to employment as an educator. A candidate may be ineligible for issuance of a certificate on completion of the EPP if an individual has been convicted of an offense.
A person who is enrolled or planning to enroll in an educator preparation program or planning to take a certification examination may request a preliminary criminal history evaluation letter regarding the person's potential ineligibility for certification due to a conviction or deferred adjudication for a felony or misdemeanor offense.
