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Teacher Certification

    • Region 14's Alternative Certification Program offers a mix of online and face-to-face instruction. Our program delivery is approximately 50% online and 50% face-to-face. In-person attendance is required for all face-to-face sessions.
    • Face-to-face trainings are delivered by Region 14 Consultants who serve Region 14 School Districts as experts in their fields and receive continuous updates from TEA and other sources.
    • ACP consultants are only a phone call, email, or text away when interns have questions, concerns, or need support. All inquiries receive responses in 24 hours or less.

Welcome! We're Glad You're Here!

 

We have much to learn in so little time! In-person attendance is required for all face-to-face sessions (beginning in January each year) to ensure the best preparation possible in the time we have together. View a sample training schedule here.

Ready to teach? Discover how we can help. 

Watch our video to see how it works.

  • TEA Commendation

    Region 14 ACP was one of the few educator preparation programs to receive commendation from the Texas Education Agency. We received this honor for three consecutive years!

  • ACP In the News

    Alternative Certification programs in Abilene help fill teacher shortage

Certification Areas Offered & Content Area Proficiency

Certifications Offered:

PK - 3

EC - 6

4 - 8 Core

7 - 12 Mathematics

7 - 12 Science

Special Education EC - 12

College and/or University Coursework Required for Admission in Each of the Following Areas:

  •  

    Frequently Asked Questions about the EC - 3 Exam

    The EC - 3 exam is a rigorous exam that contains a written response and  covers content through 5th grade.

    Minimum of 12 semester hours (with coursework minimum GPA of 2.5) in a combination of the following:

    • English (minimum of 3 hours)
    • Mathematics (minimum of 3 hours)
    • Natural science (minimum 3 hours)
    • Social studies (minimum 3 hours--includes history, economics, and government)

                          OR

    Applicant has passed the Core Subjects EC-6 TExES Pre-Admission Content Test (PACT) prior to admission to the program.  To learn more about the PACT,  select the PACT Exam button in this section.

     

    A currently certified educator may be admitted into the EC - 3 preparation program.   If the educator holds a certificate listed in Texas Administrative Code Chapter 227 (see list below), the Educator Preparation Program must provide a minimum of 150 clock hours of coursework and/or training that is aligned to Early Childhood Educator Standards.  Some face-to - face coursework is required with no option for online access to this coursework.  No internship is required for these educators; To receive the PK - 3 certification, candidates must pass the Science of Teaching Reading exam.

    A currently certified educator who does not hold a certificate listed in Texas Administrative Code Chapter 227 (see list below) must complete 300 clock hours of coursework and serve an internship in an EC - 3 classroom.   Face-to-face coursework is required with no option for online access to coursework.

     

    • Certifications eligible for 150 hours of training with no internship:

    (1) Bilingual Generalist: Early Childhood-Grade 4;

    (2) Bilingual Generalist: Early Childhood-Grade 6;

    (3) Core Subjects: Early Childhood-Grade 6;

    (4) Early Childhood Education;

    (5) Elementary--General;

    (6) Elementary--General (Grades 1-6);

    (7) Elementary--General (Grades 1-8);

    (8) Elementary Early Childhood Education (Prekindergarten-Grade 6);

    (9) Elementary Self-Contained (Grades 1-8);

    (10) English as a Second Language Generalist: Early Childhood-Grade 4;

    (11) English as a Second Language Generalist: Early Childhood-Grade 6;

    (12) Generalist: Early Childhood-Grade 4;

    (13) Generalist: Early Childhood-Grade 6;

    (14) Kindergarten;

    (15) Prekindergarten-Grade 5--General;

    (16) Prekindergarten-Grade 6--General; or

    (17) Teacher of Young Children--General.

  • Minimum of 12 semester hours (with coursework minimum GPA of 2.5) in combination of the following:

    • English (minimum of 3 hours)
    • Mathematics (minimum of 3 hours)
    • Natural science (minimum 3 hours)
    • Social studies (minimum 3 hours--includes history, economics, and government)

                          OR

    Applicant has passed the Core Subjects EC-6 TExES Pre-Admission Content Test (PACT) prior to admission to the program.   To learn more about the PACT,  select the PACT Exam button in this section.

     

     

  • Minimum of 12 semester hours (with coursework minimum GPA of 2.5) in combination of the following:

    • English (minimum of 3 hours)
    • Mathematics (minimum of 3 hours)
    • Natural science (minimum 3 hours)
    • Social studies (minimum 3 hours--includes history, economics, and government)
    • Remaining 9 hours comprised of any above listed subjects

                           OR

    Applicant has passed the Core Subjects 4-8 TExES Pre-Admission Content Test (PACT)  prior to admission to the program.    To find about more about  the PACT,  select the PACT Exam button in this section.​​​​​​

  • Minimum of 15 semester hours (with coursework minimum GPA of 2.5) in mathematics

                            OR

    Applicant has passed a Mathematics 7-12 TExES Pre-Admission Content Test (PACT)  prior to admission to the program.   To learn more about the PACT,  select the PACT Exam button in this section.

     

  • Minimum of 15 semester hours (with coursework minimum GPA of 2.5) in mathematics

                            OR

    Applicant has passed a Mathematics 7-12 TExES Pre-Admission Content Test (PACT)  prior to admission to the program.   To learn more about the PACT,  select the PACT Exam button in this section.

     

  • Pre-Admission Content Test (General Information)

    Register for a PACT Exam Here

     

  • Interested? Apply Here

    Candidates will submit official copies of transcripts from each college or university attended to the following:

    Region 14 ESC - ACP
    Attn: Candice Escobar
    1850 Highway 351
    Abilene, TX 79601

     

    The word 'START' is displayed in large white letters in front of train tracks.

    Apply Here

    ENROLLMENT FOR JULY - DECEMBER 2025 

    *INTERVIEWS WILL NOT BE ARRANGED UNTIL MARCH 2025

     

  • Candice Escobar, ACP Specialist

    Region 14 Education Service Center

    Alternative Certification Program

    Phone: (325) 675-8605

    cescobar@esc14.net

  • Stephanie Scott, Program Facilitator

    Center for Certification and State Initiatives

    Region 14 Education Service Center

    (325) 675-7036

    sscott@esc14.net

  • Mentor Training Video 

    Mentor Training Acknowledgment (Video Verification Form)  Please complete this form to document participation and verify CPE credit.

    Quick Links

  • Degree

    •  Must hold a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university.

    GPA

    • Minimum grade-point average (GPA) of 2.5 overall or 2.5 on the last sixty (60) university hours OR
    • If GPA does  not meet minimum entry requirements, candidates will prove proficiency in basic reading, written communication, and mathematics by taking and passing  PACT (Pre-Admission Content Test)
    • If the applicant has not completed at least 12 semester credit hours in the subject area of the certificate the applicant is seeking (15 hours if seeking certification in math or science above 7th grade).
    • Per 19 TAC 227.10(a)(3)(B), a  candidate submitting a transcript from a university that uses competency-based grading (pass/fail), must pass a Pre-Admission Content Test (PACT) prior to admission to an educator preparation program

    Previous Exam History

    • Applicant's previous TExES exam history will be reviewed as part of the application evaluation

    Application Documents

    •  Applications are submitted online.  Apply here
      • A criminal background check and references are required as part of the application

    Official Transcripts

    •  You  must send official transcripts that count toward your degree from all colleges and/or universities you have attended

                 Send by mail

                Candice Escobar, 1850 Hwy 351, Abilene TX, 79601

                Or send by email to

                cescobar@esc14.net

    Candidate with a degree from a foreign institution

    If previously enrolled in another education preparation program

    If you hold a teaching certificate from another state



     

    Meeting application requirements does not guarantee acceptance into Region 14’s Alternative Certification Program

     

    NOTE:  Acceptance into Region 14’s Alternative Certification Program does not guarantee employment by any school district.  Each applicant must secure his/her own employment for the paid internship

     

    • A military service member or military veteran candidate may receive credit hours for verified military service or coursework toward related requirements (other than certification examinations) for educator certification provided that the military service or coursework is directly related to the certificate being sought and does not constitute coursework required for demonstration of content-area proficiency as part of the application process.

     

    • Candidates may receive credit hours for prior coursework in education taken within the previous three years, provided that the coursework was provided by an approved EPP or an accredited institution of higher education and is directly related to the certificate being sought. Candidates may also receive credit for graduate or post-graduate coursework taken concurrently with Region 14 ACP coursework if directly related to the certificate being sought and provided by an accredited institution of higher education.

     

  • Year One, Session 1

    • July to January - Instruction delivered online
      • Preparation for TExES content certification exams
      • 50 clock hours of field experience (observations and hands-on experience)

    Year One, Session 2

    • January to the first Saturday in June
      • Instruction delivered primarily face-to-face with added online training for the Science of Teaching Reading if applicable
      • Face-to-face classes meet from 9 - 4 one Saturday per month and Tuesdays from 5:30 - 8:30  p.m. (Schedule Found Here)
        • In-person attendance is required for face-to-face sessions
      • Preparation for these TExES exams:  Pedagogy and Professional Responsibilities (PPR),  Science of Teaching Reading (STR)*, and Special Education EC-12.
      • Science of Teaching Reading (STR) coursework delivered online upon completion of online content-area preparation

    Year One, Summer

    • June - July
      • Ethics for Educators delivered online (required by TEA)
      • Gifted and Talented courses (12 clock hours) delivered online 
      • Complete Session 1 requirements as needed

    Year Two

    • August - November:  Face-to-face classes meet one Saturday (9-4 pm) per month. 
    • Candidates may begin an internship (paid teaching position) with an intern or probationary certificate after satisfying these requirements:
      • Securing a teaching position
      • Completing a minimum of 150 hours of instruction through Region 14 ACP
      • Completing 50 hours of field-based experience
      • To obtain a probationary certificate, the intern has passed these exams: the appropriate content certification area, the STR (if applicable), and the PPR
      • To obtain an intern certificate, the intern has passed these exams: the appropriate content certification area and the STR
        • Those on intern certificates must pass PPR during the internship
    • Candidates may opt to complete an unpaid clinical teaching placement (similar to student teaching in a traditional educator preparation program) to satisfy the internship requirement

     

    *Those pursuing EC - 3, EC - 6, and 4 - 8  content teaching certifications must pass the Science of Teaching Reading (STR) exam beginning January 1, 2021.

     

  • Cost of the Program

    • $6,135.00, including the following non-refundable charges:
      • $100.00 application fee
      • $55.00 Texas Education fee upon acceptance
      • $1,500.00 down payment upon program acceptance, which includes the cost of textbooks and enrollment in online coursework
      • The remaining $4,500.00 non-refundable program fee will be prorated over 10 months once the candidate secures a teaching position
    • Additional fees
      • To cover the cost of travel or the cost to contract with out-of-region field supervisors, an out-of-region fee of $1,500 beyond the cost of the program will be assessed for interns serving an internship outside of Region 14. 
      • To prove testing readiness as required by the  Texas Education Agency, candidates will purchase subscriptions to online test preparation sites (at a discounted cost through Region 14). 
      • Candidates pay TExES registration fees, certification fees, and fingerprinting fees.

    NOTE:  Fees and charges can change at any time when state law changes or when TEA mandates affect Region 14’s program costs.

    • Region 14 ESC's Teacher ACP program is approved through the CAL loan program.  For information, visit  College Access Loan (CAL).
    • Military Spouses are eligible for tuition assistance.  Visit MyCAA, a component of SECO (Spouse Education Career Opportunities).  Call Military OneSource to speak to a Career Coach at 800-342-9647.
    • The Texas Education Agency waives certain fees for eligible military service members, military veterans, and military spouses. Please follow this link for the step-by-step application instructions and list of fees eligible to be waived.
    • Alternative Certification Program interns do not qualify for Veteran's Administration education support

    • Completion of all training requirements
    • Satisfactory completion of all assignments and projects
    • Successful completion of all required certification examinations
    • Recommendation from both the intern’s administrator and the Region 14 field supervisor
    • Payment of all program costs, testing and certification fees, and TEA fingerprinting fees 

    Teaching certification received through Region 14’s Alternative Certification Program is recognized throughout the state of Texas.  These certificates are commensurate to certificates earned in traditional university programs.

     

  • Pre-Observation Form (Fill out only if you have scheduled a date with our field supervisors)

     

    Online Down-Payment Form  Down Payment Form 

    Online Form for Other Payments  Program Payments Form

    Session Schedule Cohort Schedule

    Policy Manual  ACP Policy Manual 

    Payroll Deduction Form (PDF) Payroll Deduction Form Online (Jotform)

    Personal Payment Form Personal Pay Form

    TExES Exam Registration PACT Exam Registration

    Applying for Certification

     

    Job Packet

     

    Online Payment Links

    *Please do not enter payments via these forms until you have signed and submitted a program acceptance letter to the program coordinator.

    ACP Down Payment Form

    • Upon submitting your acceptance letter, you are welcome to make your down payment here.

    ACP Program Fees Payment Form

    • For students who would like to pay down their program balance prior to setting up a payroll deduction with their district
    • For students on an intern or probationary certificate who have made a Personal Payment Arrangement with Region 14 ACP.
    • Reach out to Candice Escobar if you have questions about this payment option.

Texas Education Code §227.1. General Provisions.

(b)(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.

Further, the EPP shall notify each applicant of

(d)(1)the potential ineligibility of an individual who has been convicted of an offense for issuance of a certificate on completion of the EPP, and (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).