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

• If requesting electronic transcript copies, have them sent to: cescobar@esc14.net
• Send Additional Documents Securely

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

• Region 14 Teacher Certification Program Policy Manual

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

• You must have transcripts evaluated by Foreign Credentials Service of America, (512) 459-8428, showing degree earned and GPA. Please select the evaluation for Professional Licensing or Certification
• Take the TOEFL  (Test of English as a Foreign Language) scoring a minimum of 24 for speaking, 22 for listening, 22 for reading, and 21 for writing sections of the TOEFL.  TAC§230.11)
• TEA English Language Proficiency Requirements

If previously enrolled in another education preparation program

• Candidate Transfer Form required if an applicant has been enrolled in another educator preparation program

If you hold a teaching certificate from another state

• Find helpful information from TEA Information for Out of State Certified Educators

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.

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

• Cover
• Information Sheet
• Administrator Letter
• Principal Letter of Agreement
• Extra Curricular Agreement
• Mentor Information & Agreement

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.