V.O.I.C.E. - Victoria Online Initial Certification for Educators

The VOICE program is an alternate route to teacher certification for all grades designed to meet the requirements of "No Child Left Behind" and is totally online. To be accepted into this program, applicants must meet the following requirements:

• Bachelor's Degree completion
• Pass the THEA or have a minimum GRE exam score of 800 (verbal & Quantitative sections)
• Pass a criminal background check
• 2.75 GPA in last 60 hours of coursework
• Official transcripts from that university on file
• Maintain a 3.0 GPA in the VOICE program with no more than two "C’s"
• Provide a letter of standing if you were previously in an Initial Teacher Certification Program
• A diagnostic content area exam. This diagnostic tool will determine if remediation is necessary. Additional coursework may be required based on the diagnostic and/or the actual TExES exam.
• If you are seeking grades 8-12 certification, you must have 24 hours (12 of which must be upper division) in the content area you wish to teach. 2.75 GPA in content area courses is required.
• There is a non-refundable $60 service charge to apply for this program.
• All Teacher Certification candidates must pass all UHV courses required for teacher certification with a "C" or better after June 1, 2008.

VOICE students may use classes taken in the VOICE program toward a Master's Degree in Curriculum and instruction Elementary Education or a Master's Degree in Curriculum and Instruction Secondary Education. For information about these degrees, consult with a certification analyst. In addition, upon approval from your reading faculty advisor, VOICE courses may be substituted for C&I common core courses for those students seeking Master of Education in Curriculum & Instruction with Reading Specialist Certification or Master Reading Teacher Certification.

INTERNSHIP

Postbacalaureate education students on a certification plan who secure a teaching position at an accredited school in the area and at the level that they are seeking certification may do an internship instead of student teaching. The student must qualify for the teacher education program before entering into an internship.

All Teacher Certification candidates must pass all UHV courses required for teacher certification with a "C" or better effective June 1, 2008.

To serve an internship, the student must apply through the Teacher Education Records Office (TERO), complete all necessary paper work, contact the Director of Field Experience, and enroll in the appropriate courses. An Internship provides high-quality professional development that is sustained, intensive, and classroom-focused in order to have a positive and lasting impact on classroom instruction before and while teaching. It also allows the candidate to assume the functions as a teacher of record for a specified period of time while providing supervision that consists of structured guidance and regular ongoing support so that the candidate can demonstrate satisfactory progress toward full certification as prescribed by the State.

Students are responsible for applying for a probationary certificate with SBEC ( www.sbec.state.tx.us ).