Program closed This program is no longer accepting students, applications, or enrollments.
Teachers for the 21st Century, Texas Teacher Preparation Program, established 2004

Admission requirements

Who the program admitted.

The criteria applicants had to meet before entering pre-service training. Provided as a historical reference; the program is closed and no longer reviewing applications.

Core criteria

The baseline every applicant met

Admission followed the Texas Administrative Code requirements for educator preparation programs, together with the program's own screening guidance. Candidates who did not meet a criterion outright could be considered under the limited exception provisions available to programs at the time.

  • A bachelor's degree or higher from an accredited institution of higher education
  • An overall grade point average that met the state minimum for program admission
  • Demonstrated content knowledge in the intended certification area, by coursework or by examination
  • Oral and written English language proficiency
  • An admission interview with program staff

Application steps

  1. Submit the application and official transcripts
  2. Transcript review against the intended certification area
  3. Admission interview
  4. Acceptance and enrollment agreement
  5. Fingerprinting and criminal history clearance
  6. Begin pre-service training

Content hours

Coursework expectations by certification area

Each certification area carried its own credit-hour expectation. The figures below reflect the program's published screening guidance; the full area-by-area breakdown is on the certification areas page.

Elementary & core

12–15credit hours across English, mathematics, science, and social studies

Secondary content

12–18credit hours in the content area, with an upper-division component

Supplemental areas

Variessupplemental certificates added to a base certification area
See every certification area

Military applicants

Service members, veterans, and military spouses

Texas maintains certification provisions for active-duty service members, veterans, and military spouses, including credit for military service and training where it aligns with certification requirements. Applicants with a military background were screened against the same content-knowledge standard, with service records and military training considered alongside transcripts.

What was reviewed

  • Official transcripts and any military training records
  • Occupational specialties relevant to the intended certification area
  • Eligibility for expedited review under state provisions

Current TEA guidance

Certification rules for military-connected applicants are set and updated by the Texas Education Agency, not by this program. The current guidance is published directly by TEA.

TEA military & veteran certification

Screening & clearance

Before a candidate entered a classroom

Criminal history and fingerprinting

All candidates completed national criminal history fingerprinting through the Texas Education Agency's process before classroom placement. Applicants concerned about eligibility could request a preliminary criminal history evaluation from TEA before applying to any preparation program.

TEA fingerprinting process

Transcript evaluation

Transcripts were evaluated against the intended certification area to confirm both the degree requirement and the content-hour expectation. Coursework from institutions outside the United States required a credential evaluation from an approved service.

Certification examinations

Candidates prepared for and sat the state content examination for their certification area along with the Pedagogy and Professional Responsibilities (PPR) exam. Exam preparation ran through pre-service training and continued into the internship.

See reported pass rates

Placement and employment

Admission to the program did not guarantee employment. Candidates were supported through placement assistance, but hiring decisions belonged to partner districts, and an internship began only once a district issued a teaching assignment.

A note on this page. Figures and criteria reflect the program's own admission guidance as it operated. Official Texas Education Agency requirements are set in the Texas Administrative Code, differ by certificate area, and change over time. For current requirements, consult TEA directly.

Next

From admission to certification

Requirements were the first gate. The program cycle page follows the whole route from acceptance through full Texas certification.

Program cycle Curriculum