Step 5: Request Certification Plan

According to the Texas Education Agency (TEA), completion of an Educator Preparation Program requires a Certification Plan. All CMED, TRP, and Stand-Alone Teacher Certification students must apply for a Certification Plan.

• Certification Plan: The Certification Plan is a Texas Education Agency (TEA) required document that specifies the coursework, student teaching or internship, and tests that teacher candidates must complete to be eligible for teacher certification in the state of Texas.
• A note about secondary and all-level Certification Plans: your transcript will be officially evaluated by a faculty member from the appropriate department to determine if you are required to take additional undergraduate subject-specific coursework.
  • These additional undergraduate courses are referred to on your Certification Plan as Content courses.
  • The undergraduate Content courses may not be available online or in the evening, and some are only offered once a year in the fall or spring.
  • Please be aware that state requirements for certification differ from university requirements for degree completion; therefore, even if you have a degree in the field for which you are seeking certification, you should expect to take (or possibly repeat) some additional undergraduate Content courses.

There are several non-refundable fees that may or may not be covered by financial aid, scholarships, Veterans benefits, etc. You are responsible for understanding the costs and making arrangements accordingly. 

• For Certification Plan fees and costs, see Program Costs.

Only CMED, TRP, and Stand-Alone Teacher Certification students need a Certification Plan. Undergraduate students must not apply for a Certification Plan. Please see table below to determine if you need a Certification Plan:

Please allow a few weeks to receive your Certification Plan.

• While you await your own Certification Plan, you can register for classes by using our Example Certification Plans.

A background check is not required for a Certification Plan. However, please be aware the Texas Education Agency (TEA) requires multiple background checks for progression through the Educator Preparation Program. Based on information recorded in your criminal history, you may be ineligible for issuance of a certificate upon completion of the Educator Preparation Program. If you have a criminal history, the Office of Educator Preparation (OEP) recommends you

1. pay for a Preliminary Criminal History Evaluation from the Texas Education Agency,

2. schedule an appointment for free legal counseling services through Texas State University’s Attorney for Students, and

3. disclose this information to the Office of Educator Preparation.

Before you apply for a Certification Plan, make sure you have been admitted to Texas State University as a student enrolled in a major or program that includes teacher certification.

Before the Office of Educator Preparation will prepare your Certification Plan, a staff member will check to ensure you have been formally admitted to the Educator Preparation Program.

If you are seeking certification as a student in the CMED, TRP, or Stand-Alone Teacher Certification program, you will apply for a Certification Plan immediately upon Admittance to the Educator Preparation Program.

1. Visit the Application for a Certification Plan.
2. Complete the application and pay the fee.
3. Please allow up to 10 business days (two weeks) for a response.

The Office of Educator Preparation will send your Certification Plan as a PDF file to your BobcatMail.

• This email will carry detailed, time-sensitive instructions about the Certification Plan.
• Check your BobcatMail daily, even on weekends and over holidays.

If you simply need an updated copy of your Certification Plan, email a request to the Office of Educator Preparation (include your Student ID).