(a) The only credits and degrees acceptable for certification of educators are those earned from and conferred by accredited institutions of higher education. All credit hour requirements for certification are semester credit hours or their equivalent.

(b) An applicant for a Texas educator certificate must:

(1) be at least 18 years of age;

(2) submit to the criminal history review required by the Texas Education Code (TEC), §22.0831, not be disqualified by the TEC, §21.058, §21.060, or other Texas statute, and not be subject to administrative denial pursuant to §249.12 of this title (relating to Administrative Denial; Appeal) or a pending proceeding under Chapter 249 of this title (relating to Disciplinary Proceedings, Sanctions, and Contested Cases);

(3) not be disqualified by federal law;

(4) be willing to support and defend the constitutions of the United States and Texas;

(5) be able to communicate, listen, read, write, and comprehend the English language sufficiently to use it easily and readily in daily communication and teaching. English language proficiency shall be evidenced by one of the following: (A) completion of an undergraduate or graduate degree at an accredited institution of higher education in the United States; or (B) verification of minimum scaled scores on the Test of English as a Foreign Language internet-Based Test (TOEFL iBT) of 24 for speaking, 22 for listening, 22 for reading, and 21 for writing; or (C) an undergraduate or graduate degree that was earned at an institution of higher education in a country outside of the United States listed in the figure provided in this subparagraph.

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(6) successfully complete appropriate examinations prescribed in §230.21 of this title (relating to Educator Assessment) for the educator certificate sought; and

(7) satisfy one or more of the following requirements: (A) complete the requirements for certification specified in this chapter, Chapter 233 of this title (relating to Categories of Classroom Teaching Certificates), Chapter 239 of this title (relating to Student Services Certificates), Chapter 241 of this title (relating to Certification as Principal), or Chapter 242 of this title (relating to Superintendent Certificate), and be recommended for certification by an approved educator preparation program (EPP); (B) qualify under Subchapter H of this chapter (relating to Texas Educator Certificates Based on Certification and College Credentials from Other States or Territories of the United States); (C) qualify under §230.105 of this title (relating to Issuance of Additional Certificates Based on Examination); (D) qualify for a career and technical education certificate based on skill and experience specified in §233.14 of this title (relating to Career and Technical Education (Certificates requiring experience and preparation in a skill area)); or (E) qualify under Chapter 245 of this title (relating to Certification of Educators from Other Countries).

(c) An educator who has received a State Board for Educator Certification (SBEC)-issued standard certificate shall not be required to demonstrate English language proficiency as prescribed in subsection (b)(5)(B) and (C) of this section for purposes of admission into an EPP to obtain additional SBEC-issued certifications.

Source Note: The provisions of this §230.11 adopted to be effective August 12, 2012, 37 TexReg 5753; amended to be effective December 27, 2016, 41 TexReg 10309; amended to be effective October 17, 2017, 42 TexReg 5680; amended to be effective March 3, 2022, 47 TexReg 925