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College of Education

Certifications

Certification and Licensure Outside of Texas

Each state has its own set of professional licensures and certifications with specific requirements to obtain them, such as curriculum, field experiences, fingerprinting and standardized exams. In Texas, we abide by the rules and regulations set forth by the Texas Education Agency and approved by the State Board for Educator Certification and the State Board of Education.

Certification: The University of Houston is accredited by the Texas Education Agency (TEA) and offers programs that prepare students for a recommendation for certification in the state of Texas as:

  • classroom teachers
  • reading specialists
  • school counselors
  • educational diagnosticians
  • principals
  • superintendents

Professional Licensure: UH also provides graduate level degree programs that can lead to licensure for psychologists in academic and non-academic positions in Texas and other states and provinces.

Disclosure

As of November 1, 2019, the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Postsecondary Education posted their final regulations to be effective as of July 1, 2020. Section § 668.43 Institutional Information has additions and revisions to it. It says that all educational programs that lead to a professional license or certification must disclose if completion of that program would be sufficient to meet licensure requirements in a State for that same occupation including:

  • A list of all States for which the institution has determined that its curriculum meets the State educational requirements for licensure or certification;
  • A list of all States for which the institution has determined that its curriculum does not meet the State educational requirements for licensure or certification; and
  • A list of all States for which the institution has not made a determination that its curriculum meets the State educational requirements for licensure or certification.

UH Disclosure and Recommendations

The University of Houston is unable to determine certification eligibility and program completion requirements outside the University. There is not an official centralized listing of all states’ requirements. It is therefore recommended that:

  • If you are interested in how licensure and/or certification requirements in other states compare to Texas’ requirements that you visit the U.S. Department of Education’s State Departments of Education Directory to aid your search.
  • Current and prospective students who do not wish to apply for a Texas certification and/or are seeking employment outside of Texas as an educator should check with the specific state’s department of education to determine if the University of Houston’s educator preparation program meets that state’s certification regulations.

FAQs

  • How do I find out about programs in the UH College of Education that lead to certification or licensure in Texas?

  Visit our certification webpage to find requirements and contact information for program directors.

  • What do I do if I hold an out-of-state educator certification and want to work as an educator in Texas?

  Please visit TEA’s webpage for the credential review process.