The HISD Alternative Certification Program is a one-year program dedicated to recruiting individuals from diverse educational and career backgrounds, who are passionate about students, teaching, and learning and want to be a certified Texas teacher.

This cohort is only open to all who are interested and hold the minium requirements. The application for this upcoming cohort opens July 3, 2024.

No.

Pre-Service is the coursework that will be provided for all candidates before entering the classroom. 

The coursework includes:

• TExES Exam Preparation in all content areas (online and via MS Teams)
• Coursework that prepares all people entering the classroom for the first time, such as lesson delivery, classroom management, lesson planning, etc. (face-to-face and via MS Teams)
• Field-Based Observations of effective classroom instruction

Certification Pathways:

• Core Subjects EC-6
• Core Subjects 4-8
• Bilingual Core Subjects EC-6 *Critical Shortage Area
• Languages Other Than English (LOTE-Spanish)
• ELAR 4-8 *Critical Shortage Area
• ELAR/Social Studies 4-8
• ELAR 7-12 *Critical Shortage Area
• History 7-12 
• Math 4-8 *Critical Shortage Area
• Math 7-12 *Critical Shortage Area
• Math/Science 4-8 *Critical Shortage Area
• Science 4-8 *Critical Shortage Area
• Life Science 7-12 *Critical Shortage Area
• Science 7-12 *Critical Shortage Area
• Social Studies 4-8
• Social Studies 7-12
• SPED Core Subjects EC-6
• SPED Core Subjects 4-8
• ESL Supplemental (Not Required but HIGHLY RECOMMENDED for Core Subjects and ELAR)

Yes

Yes.

You must have a minimum GPA of 2.5 on a conferred bachelor’s degree from an accredited college/university. You must not have taken any TExES Exam more than two times. If you are transferring from another program, you must be in good standing. If required, you must take and pass the TX-PACT Exam. You also must pass a formal interview.

Please check the website for the current application window.

No, during the first year of teaching, you will only be certified in one core content area. After you receive your standard certification you may add additional certifications.

Yes.

• You must complete at least 150 hours of coursework. 
• Also, you must complete at least 30 hours of observation (minimum of 15 in person and minimum of 15 on-line).

Transferring into Houston ISD ACP:

• HISD ACP does not accept transfer coursework from other programs. 

*This may not be applicable to military affiliated candidates and/or their family members. If you are a military affiliated candidate or dependent, please contact us regarding your specific situation.

An intern may be exited before the internship ends if he/she consistently fails to meet performance expectations. Before this happens, HISD ACP will do everything possible to counsel the intern to improve. Support may be enlisted from the campus administration team before an exit occurs. An intern will be exited in “bad standing” if exit is the result of termination and/or failure to meet performance expectations. An intern who is exited may be eligible to transfer to another program, and a training transcript will not be released until all program fees are paid in full. Note that HISD ACP is not responsible for executing or terminating a teaching contract.

For more information about transfers or for assistance with a transfer form please contact HISDACP@houstonisd.org.