External Alternative Certification Program (ACP)

If you are interested in Houston ISD ACP, click here.

Thank you for your interest in teaching with the Houston Independent School District. We are committed to the success of every child and it is our goal to provide guidance and resources to help you on your journey of becoming a teacher through an Alternative Certification Program (ACP). ACPs offer a nontraditional route to certification that may allow you to teach while completing the necessary requirements to obtain full-state standard certification.

The below requirements are necessary for employment as a HISD teacher enrolled in one of the TEA approved programs.

• Hold a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university
• Submit a Letter of Acceptance (LOA) with no contingencies dated within the last three months
  • Complete TEA Pre-Service Requirements
  • Pass required exam(s)
• Submit Statement of Eligibility (SOE) form dated within the last three months
• Sign and submit the ACP Deduction Agreement Form
  • Form will be included with New Hire Forms and will be submitted through OneSource

 Once a recommendation for employment is completed you will be required to:

• Login to your existing TEAL account or complete the educator online account setup
  • Pay $78 TEA Certification Application Fee, for the appropriate certificate
    • Intern certificate
    • Probationary certificate
  • Pay $40.25 TEA Fingerprinting Application Fee
    • Pay $10 fee for scanning of fingerprints at the time of the appointment
  • Setup payment plan with your ACP for program fees
  • Issuance of certification within 60 days of employment
    • If not issued within 60 days, your contract will be void, and you will be transferred to the substitute teacher pool, which will affect your pay, benefits, and leave.

Effective 9/1/2017:

• To be eligible for an intern certificate, you must:
  • pass the content exam and any required supplemental exams
• To be eligible for a probationary certificate, you must:
  • pass the content exam, pedagogy professional responsibility (PPR) and any required supplemental exams

If you are interested in employment as a teacher, please apply to the district-wide teacher pool.  Your application will be screened for pool approval.  Be sure to upload a copy of your SOE and LOA to your application.  Once the pool is approved, you will be eligible to interview with principals and attend teacher job fairs.

If you have questions regarding becoming a certified Texas educator through an alternative certification program, click here to visit the TEA website.

If you have questions about HISD's certification process, please email certification@houstonisd.org or call 713-556-7300.