Teacher Certification

Admission to the School of Education and Human Development teacher certification program is admission to a professional program and must be applied for apart from admission to the university.

Admission to teacher education applies to all teacher education students, both elementary and secondary. Prospective students are encouraged to contact the Teachers Education Records Office in the School of Education and Human Development before making plans to enter any program that leads to teacher certification.

Application for admission to teacher education is made through the Teacher Education Records Office during the semester prior to enrollment in the first professional education course.

Denial of a request for admission means that the student does not show sufficient promise of success as a teacher to justify admission to the teacher education program at this institution. Upon the applicant’s request, a student who has been denied admission to the program will be permitted to appeal. Information for appeal procedures may be obtained in the Teacher Education Records Office.

Testing Requirements
All persons admitted to the teacher certification program must achieve a satisfactory level of performance on a competency examination of basic skills. The basic skills areas have been identified as mathematics, reading, writing-composition and critical thinking.

The Texas Academic Skills Program (TASP) test, now called the Texas Higher Education Assessment (THEA), will serve as one criterion for admission to the teacher education program. For information concerning this test, contact the Teacher Education Records Office.

Requirements for Admission and Retention
To a Teacher Certification Program

There are specific requirements for admission into the teacher certification program at UH-Victoria. The criteria for admission are the following:

1. Completion of 54 semester hours prior to enrollment to Professional Education Courses.
2. Passage of the THEA (formerly TASP) test.
3. GPA of 2.5 in 9 semester hours of lower division English; 6 semester hours must be in composition.
4. GPA of 2.5 in courses that apply to degree. Beginning June 1, 2008, all UHV courses must be a grade of "C" or better.
5. GPA of 2.5 in all lower division courses that apply to teacher certification
6. Pass a background check ($1.00 service charge).
7. Evidence of the characteristics, behaviors and attitudes appropriate to the teaching profession.
8. Lower division courses must be completed before admission to Teacher Education.

(Postbaccalaureates students see "POSTBACCALAUREATES" section for certification admission requirements.)

NOTE: All potential certificate applicants with criminal felony or misdemeanor convictions should contact the Certification Officer immediately to seek clarification of their certification status.