TheAlternative Teacher Certification Program (ATCP) at Houston Community College is a state-approved comprehensive educator preparation program (or EPP) that trains individuals for Texas standard certification in elementary and secondary education.
An EPP provides the training necessary for individuals without experience in a college-level teacher training program or with a major in another field, such as biology or art, to obtain the skills and knowledge necessary to be a classroom teacher.
The followingitems are needed to become a certified classroom teacher in Texas:
- Obtain or possess a Bachelor’s degree from an accreditedcollege or university
- Complete an approved Educator Preparation Program (EPP)
- Register, take and pass required state certification exams for the certificate sought
- Apply for state certification upon the EPP’s recommendation (Fingerprinting is required as part of a criminal background check)
- Obtain a Texas Classroom Teacher Standard Certificate awarded through TEA
Once certified, Texas Standard Certificates are renewable every five years, provided you have completed required continuing professional education (CPE) credits.
Don’t have a Bachelor’s degree? See Teacher Education for Associate of Arts in Teaching.
Have a Bachelor’s degree? Apply directly to the Alternative Teacher Certification Program.
Already a Certified Classroom Teacher? See Out-of-State Certified Educators, Out-of-Country Certified Educators, Renewing a Standard Certificate, Additional Certification by Exam, or Professional Development Hours.
Houston Community College —Alternative Teacher Certification Program is accredited by the State Board for Educator Certification (SBEC) and the Texas Education Agency (TEA). The State Board for Educator Certification (SBEC) oversees all aspects of the preparation and certification as well as standards of conduct of public school educators. The Texas Education Agency is the state agency that oversees primary and secondary public education. TEA provides staff support to the SBEC board. For additional information regarding EPP accreditation ratings, pass rates, and annual performance reports, please visitConsumer Information. For information on Supply and Demandfor teachers in Texas, please read thefollowing report from the Texas Education Agency. To view HCC’s Performance Over Time Reports, please clickthis linkand scroll down the page until you see “Accountability System for Educator Preparation Annual Reports” with the latest reporting years. Please also see our recent status reports.
To file a complaint, refer to theStudent Handbookfor the complaints process. If the student is not satisfied with the complaint process or outcome, the student may file a complaint against the program with the Texas Education Agency. The official Texas Education Agency complaint process can be found attea.texas.govat the bottom of the page.
Mission The mission of the Houston Community College Alternative Teacher Certification Program (ATCP) is to provide aspiring educators with a quality education that equips program participants with the skills, competencies, knowledge, and cultural responsiveness necessary to provide effective student-centered classroom instruction to the twenty-first-century learner. Vision ATCP will transform K-12 Education by training, coaching, and mentoring highly qualified, effective classroom teachers to provide rigorous, data-driven, best practice instruction that will accommodate the needs of the twenty-first-century learner. HCC's ATCPis considered an alternative certification program. It is designed primarily to prepare students for employment as an educator at the primary or secondary level.Upon successful completion, candidates receive a recommendation for their Standard Texas Educator Certificate. ATCP- Course Schedule Primary and Secondary Certification Area Scheduling Sequence Course Plan by Certification Area: Rubric Number Course Description Contact Hours Tuition EC-6 Core Subjects; 4-8 Core Subjects; 4-8 ELAR; 4-8 ELAR/SS ACP 4103 Cognitive Development, Literacy Strategies, and Special Education 48 $422 ACP 4201 Pre-Service Field Observation *Contingent on campus availability 32 $422 ACP 4113 Content Preparation 48 $422 ACP 4203 Pedagogy for Curriculum and Instruction 48 $422 ACP 4213 Science of Teaching Reading I 24 $422 ACP 4303 Managing Culturally Diverse Classrooms 48 $422 ACP 4403 Professional Practices in an Educational Environment 48 $422 ACP 4513 Internship I 48 $422 ACP 4523 Internship II 48 $422 Total Certification Contact Hours / 416 Additional Supplemental Certification Bilingual or ESL ACP 5007 (Supplemental Certification Areas) Total Certification Contact Hours + Supplemental Certification Area 464 $422 Please note that courses should be taken in sequential order Estimated Cost of Course work (Additional state and program fees may apply) $4,220 Course Plan By Certification Area: Mathematics (4-8)/Science (4-8)/Social Studies (4-8)/Life Science (7-12)/Mathematics (7-12)/ Physical Science (6-12)/Science (7-12)/English Language Arts & Reading (7-12)/Special Education (EC-12)/Physical Education (EC-12 Rubric Number Course Description Contact Hours Tuition ACP 4103 Cognitive Development, Literacy Strategies, and Special Education 48 $422 ACP 4201 Pre-Service Field Observation *Contingent on campus scheduling and availability 32 $422 ACP 4113 Content Preparation 48 $422 ACP 4203 Pedagogy for Curriculum and Instruction 48 $422 ACP 5006 (Secondary & Non STR)) Foundations of Reading 24 $422 ACP 4303 Managing Culturally Diverse Classrooms 48 $422 ACP 4403 Professional Practices in an Educational Environment 48 $422 ACP 4513 Internship I 48 $422 ACP 4523 Internship II (Sat. 16 weeks) 48 $422 Total Certification Contact Hours 392 Additional Supplemental Certification Bilingual or ESL ACP 5007 (Supplemental Certification Areas) Total Certification Contact Hours + Supplemental Certification Area 440 $422 Please note that courses should be taken in sequential order Estimated Cost of Course work (Additional state and program fees may apply) $4,220
Elementary Middle School High School/Secondary Grade Levels All Levels Supplemental (Not stand-alone certificates)(Mandated for all students accepted into the program on/after March 2022: Candidates must choose one of the following supplemental areas to add to their core certification area.)
- Bilingual Education Supplemental-Spanish
- English as a Second Language (ESL) Supplemental
Even though you think you might not qualify, applying for financial aid and/or scholarships may help determine what resources are available to assist you with your educational goals. Please see the Continuing EducationFinancial Aid Website for any available scholarships or grants approved for the Alternative Teacher Certification Program. Individuals may qualify for the following:
For more information contact 713.718.8522 | vmassonline@hccs.edu
The Alternative Teacher Certification Program (ATCP) at HCC is a state-approved comprehensive educator preparation program (EPP) that trains individuals for Texas standard certification in elementary and secondary education.
Online resources
New Student Orientation Combined Shape Created with Sketch. Virtual Information Session Combined Shape Created with Sketch.Additional Resources
- Texas Education Agency(TEA)/State Board for Educator Certification(SBEC)
- Texas Educator's Code of Ethics (Texas Administrative Code)
- TEKS (Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills)
- THECB (Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board)
- TExES (Texas Examinations of Educator Standards)
- TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language)
- ATCP Student Handbook
If a student is not satisfied with the complaint process or outcome, the student may file a complaint against the program with the Texas Education Agency. The official Texas Education Agency complaint process can be foundhttp://tea.texas.gov/About_TEA/Contact_Us/Complaints/
Description | Due Date | Cost | |
ACTP Tuition | Same asHCC payment deadlines. | **tuition assessed per class Contact program for more information | |
Books | Varies according to certification area | Cost not included in tuition | |
TEA Technology Fee | Upon enrollment - payable to Texas Education Agency | $55.00 | |
Other fees associated with completing the requirements for Teacher Certification by TEA (such as exams, background checks, finger printing, etc.) are outside of Program costs or expenses and are managed by other organizations. HCC ATCP keeps an updated requirements list with current costs and provides this information to students. However, HCC cannot guarantee that costs have not been changed recently by other organizations.
Accord to the Texas Education Code chapter 227.1 (b):
Educator preparation programs (EPPs) shall inform all applicants that:
(1) pursuant to the Texas Education Code (TEC), §22.083, candidates must undergo a criminal history background check prior to employment as an educator; and
(2) pursuant to the TEC, §22.0835, candidates must undergo a criminal history background check prior to clinical teaching.
Accord to the Texas Education Code chapter 227.1 (d):
EPPs shall notify, in writing by mail, personal delivery, facsimile, email, or an electronic notification, each applicant to and enrollee in the EPP of the following regardless of whether the applicant or enrollee has been convicted of an offense:
(1) the potential ineligibility of an individual who has been convicted of an offense for issuance of a certificate on completion of the EPP;
(2) the current State Board for Educator Certification (SBEC) rules prescribed in §249.16 of this title (relating to Eligibility of Persons with Criminal History for a Certificate under Texas Occupations Code, Chapter 53, and Texas Education Code, Chapter 21); and
(3) the right to request a criminal history evaluation letter as provided in Chapter 227, Subchapter B, of this title (relating to Preliminary Evaluation of Certification Eligibility).
According to TAC 19 Section 228.35(1)(5)(A), each educator preparation program is required to develop and implement specific criteria and procedures that allow:
(a) Military service members or military veteran candidates to credit verified military service, training, or education toward the training, education, work experience or related requirements (other than certification examinations) for educator certification requirements, provided that the military service, training, or education is directly related to the certificate being sought.
Further information is available at VMASS Resource Centers on campus, on the website at www.hccs.edu/support-services/veteran-affairs, or by phone at 713-718-8522.
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