1. (a) General provisions. Texas Education Code (TEC), §21.052(a-1), permits the commissioner of education to adopt rules establishing exceptions to the examination requirements prescribed by TEC, §21.052(a)(3), for an educator from outside the state to obtain a certificate in Texas.

2. (b) Definitions. The following words and terms, when used in this section, shall have the following meanings, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

   1. (1) Standard certificate--A type of certificate issued to an individual who has met all requirements for a given class of certification, as specified in §230.33 of this title (relating to Classes of Certificates).
   2. (2) Professional class--A term that refers to certificates for duties other than classroom teacher (e.g., superintendent, principal, school counselor, school librarian, educational diagnostician, reading specialist, and master teacher).
   3. (3) Texas review of credentials--An internal process completed by Texas Education Agency (TEA) to determine the certificate areas an applicant is eligible to pursue in Texas based on certificates issued by another state department of education or another country. Applicants must submit an online application for a review of credentials, application fee, and required documents specified in the application and on the TEA website, based on certificates issued in another state or country.
   4. (4) Examination--A standardized test or assessment required by statute or State Board for Educator Certification rule that governs an individual's admission to an educator preparation program, certification as an educator, continuation as an educator, or advancement as an educator.
   5. (5) Teacher service record--The basic document (form FIN-115) or a similar form completed in support of the number of years of professional service claimed for salary increment purposes and both the state's sick and personal leave program data for all personnel. It is the responsibility of the issuing school district or charter school to ensure that service records are true and correct and that all service recorded on the service record was performed.

3. (c) Minimum requirements.

   1. (1) Applicants must meet the following general requirements for certification to be considered for an exception to the required examinations for issuance of state licensure:

      1. (A) obtain a bachelor's degree from an institution of higher education that, at the time it conferred the degree, was accredited or otherwise approved by an accrediting organization recognized by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board;
      2. (B) complete a state-approved educator preparation program, including student teaching or a teaching practicum, in the state where the standard certificate was issued;
      3. (C) pass the examinations required by the state department of education or country of licensure for issuance of the standard certificate;
      4. (D) hold a standard certificate issued by the state department of education or country of licensure that is equivalent to a Texas standard classroom or professional class certificate;
      5. (E) for an applicant certified as a classroom teacher, have one academic year of verifiable, full-time experience serving in the role and documented on a service record; and
      6. (F) for an applicant certified in a professional class area only, have two academic years of verifiable, full-time experience serving in the role and documented on a service record.

   2. (2) Applicants from outside the state that meet requirements specified in subsection (c)(1) of this section must apply online for a review of credentials by the TEA and submit the following documents prior to being considered for an exception to the examination requirements for state licensure.

      1. (A) For candidates certified in another state, each applicant must submit the following:

         1. (i) official transcript(s) showing degree(s) conferred and date(s);
         2. (ii) official score report(s) for required examinations passed for issuance of the state certificate; and
         3. (iii) copy of standard certificate(s) issued by the state department(s) of education that clearly indicates the subject area(s) and grade levels of certification.

      2. (B) For candidates licensed to teach in another country, each applicant must submit the following, and all documentation must be written in the English language or must be accompanied by a translation in the English language from a foreign credential evaluation service recognized by the TEA or an accredited translation service:

         1. (i) original detailed report or course-by-course evaluation for professional licensing of all college-level credits prepared by a foreign credential evaluation service recognized by the TEA. The evaluation must verify that the individual:

            1. (I) holds, at a minimum, the equivalent of a baccalaureate degree issued by an accredited institution in the United States as specified in §245.1(b) of this title (relating to General Provisions), including the date that the degree was conferred; and
            2. (II) has completed an educator preparation program, including a teaching practicum;
         2. (ii) demonstration of English language proficiency as specified in §230.11(b)(5) of this title (relating to General Requirements);
         3. (iii) letter of professional standing from the country that issued licensure to teach that confirms the educator certificate(s) or other credential(s) are currently in good standing and have not been revoked, suspended, or sanctioned for misconduct and are not pending disciplinary or adverse action;
         4. (iv) official transcripts of any additional college credits and/or degrees earned in the United States;
         5. (v) copies of any standard certificates issued by the country of licensure or another state department of education; and
         6. (vi) official score report(s) for required examinations passed for issuance of the standard certificate in the country of licensure or another state.

4. (d) Approval process.

   1. (1) TEA will review and verify all required documentation submitted as part of the Texas review of credentials. An individual who does not submit all required documents for the review at the time of the application will have one year from the original date of application to submit all required documents, or the individual will be required to reapply online and resubmit the application fee for a Texas review of credentials.
   2. (2) Applicants certified in a professional class other than classroom teacher (e.g., principal, superintendent, school counselor, school librarian, educational diagnostician, and master teacher) are required to provide a completed teacher service record that verifies and documents two years of experience in the role aligned with the professional class certificate area.
   3. (3) Once all required documentation has been submitted, reviewed, and verified to meet the Texas certification criteria, the applicant will be issued an exemption from state examination requirements by TEA in accordance with minimum requirements established by the commissioner of education as specified in this section.
   4. (4) Upon completion of the Texas review of credentials, TEA will notify applicants of the Texas certificate areas for which they qualify and examination requirements from which they have been exempted (if applicable) and will specify final actions the applicants must complete to obtain their licensures in this state.
   5. (5) If the required documentation does not meet the Texas certification requirements, the applicant will be denied exemption from the state examination requirements and will be required to successfully complete the applicable examination(s) for issuance of the Texas standard certificate(s).

Source Note:The provisions of this §152.1001 adopted to be effective May 3, 2018, 43 TexReg 2585.