SBEC Certification Requirements | What is SBEC program?
SBEC Certification Requirements | What is SBEC program? The State Board for Educator Certification (SBEC) was created by the Texas Legislature to recognize public school educators as professionals and grant educators the authority to govern the standards of their profession. The board oversees all aspects of the preparation, certification, and standards of conduct of public school educators.
The Texas Education Agency, the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, a college of education dean, and a person with knowledge of an alternative certification program not connected to a higher education institution is represented by one of the four nonvoting members of the SBEC, which has 15 members total.
The 15 SBEC members include 11 voting members appointed by the governor to six-year terms: four classroom teachers, one counselor, two administrators, and four citizens. Four non-voting members also serve on the board: the governor appoints a dean of a college of education and a person who has experience working for and knowledge of an alternative educator preparation program, the Commissioner of Education appoints a staff member of the Texas Education Agency, and the Commissioner of Higher Education appoints a staff member of the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.
How to Become a Classroom Teacher in Texas
- Obtain a Bachelor’s Degree: – You must earn a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university.The Texas Administrative Code requires that candidates completing a Texas program must have a degree from a university that is accredited by an accrediting agency recognized by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB).
- Health Science Technology and Trades & Industrial Education certifications are exempt from the Bachelor’s degree requirement.
- U.S. Department of Education Database for Accredited Colleges and Universities.
- Complete an Educator Preparation Program: – You must complete an Approved Educator Preparation Program. If you do not hold a degree you must complete a university program. If you hold a degree you may contact an Alternative Certification Program or Post Baccalaureate program.
- Pass Certification Exams: – You must pass the appropriate teacher certification exams. Contact your program for exam approval.
- Submit a State Application: – You must apply to be certified after all requirements are met. Do not apply until you have verified with your program that you are eligible.
- Complete Fingerprinting: – All first-time applicants must be fingerprinted as part of a national criminal background check.
SBEC Certification Requirements
- Candidates must pass the science of teaching reading certification exam to receive certification to teach kindergarten through grade six.
- Teachers who add new certificate areas should be aware that all certificates are renewable and subject to continuing education requirements.
- A TCTA-initiated law permits teachers who are already qualified to advance to another topic or level simply by passing the relevant certification exam; no educator preparation program or additional college credit hours are required.
- For every renewal cycle, there is a 200-hour CPE requirement for certifications in the categories of counselor, librarian, educational diagnostician, and master teacher.
- Teachers of visually impaired students, holders of the EC-3 certificate, and holders of certificates falling under a different category than classroom teachers.
- The additional CPE hours needed by the new certificate for the balance of the renewal cycle might be prorated by educators who add another class of certificate during the cycle.
Renewal Requirements for SBEC Certification
Continuing professional education (CPE) is required to renew a standard certificate. Your certificate will be set to inactive status if you do not renew by the expiration date. CPE hours are required, even if your certificate has already been set to inactive status. Certificates cannot be renewed by completing examinations.
- If you hold an administrative and/or student services certificate you must complete 200 CPE hours.
- No more than 200 CPE hours are required, even if you hold multiple certificates, such as: classroom, administrative and student services certificates.
- Classroom teachers must complete 150 CPE hours.
- No more than 150 CPE hours are required, even if you hold multiple classroom certificate areas.
What Is An SBEC Certification program?
The Texas Legislature created the SBEC to recognize public school educators as professionals and offer educators the authority to manage the standards of their profession. It works with the Texas Education Agency (TEA) to develop and inform standards for teacher certification. Based on the particular form of certification granted by the Texas Education Agency that they are pursuing, teachers certified in the state of Texas are certified following the requirements established by the SBEC.
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