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EDUCATOR PREPARATION PROGRAM ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

Undergraduate students who aim to become Texas certified teachers must apply for admission to the Educator Preparation Program (EPP) while they are working on their bachelor’s degree. During their first semester at UTEP, students should make an appointment with a Center for Student Success (CSS) program advisor to discuss EPP admission requirements, such as testing and minimum GPA. Admission to the EPP is restricted to students who meet the criteria set by the College of Education, therefore it is vital that students stay informed of current admission requirements.

EPP admission requirements vary by college. To view the admission requirements checklist, please click on the appropriate college link below for your major.

Application Submission

Students may submit their EPP application packet by scheduling an appointment with a CSS program advisor who will review their documents. After review and final approval of the packet, EPP applicants must attend the EPP Admission Workshop. Admission into the EPP is not secured until attending the workshop.

Background Checks

As part of the EPP, candidates are required to pass background checks to be eligible for field-based experiences (observation hours), clinical teaching (student teaching), and applying for their standard teaching certificate.

Pursuant to the Texas Education Code TEC, §22.0835, candidates must undergo a criminal history background check prior to student teaching; and pursuant to the TEC, §22.083, candidates must undergo a criminal history background check prior to employment as an educator. A candidate may be ineligible for issuance of a certificate on completion of the EPP if an individual has been convicted of an offense.

A person who is enrolled or planning to enroll in an educator preparation program or planning to take a certification examination may request a  evaluation letter regarding the person's potential ineligibility for certification due to a conviction or deferred adjudication for a felony or misdemeanor offense.

Requirements for Social Security Numbers

Effective August 1, 2015, MorphoTrust, the Texas Department of Public Safety fingerprinting vendor, can no longer utilize P-numbers for completion of the fingerprinting process. As a result, candidates attempting to be fingerprinted using a non-valid 9-digit number will not be allowed to complete the fingerprinting process, which required for the background check necessary for teacher certification in Texas. Information for international students is available at the  and at the UTEP Office of International Programs.

New Changes Now in Effect

Qualifying Exam Passing Scores: Effective September 1, 2018, the minimum passing score for all Qualifying Exams will increase to 78%. 

EPP Application Essay: Effective January 16, 2018, students applying to the Educator Preparation Program have to complete an essay as part of their application packet. The essay will replace the previously required Recommendation Rating Forms.

Texas Educator Examination Program: Beginning September 1, 2018, The Texas Educator Certification Examination Program will transition to a new vendor, Pearson. For more information, go to .

TEA Technology Fee: Effective September 1, 2017, the State Board of Educator Certification (SBEC) requires the implementation of an Accountability System for Educator Preparation Programs (ASEP) technology fee, as required by 19 TAC 229.9(7). This fee is required for each candidate seeking certification; the candidate must pay a $55 fee when admitted to the program for the 2016-2017 and 2017-2018 years. For the 2018-2019 academic year and beyond, candidates will pay a fee of $35 after admission to the EPP. The fee will appear in students’ upcoming semester’s tuition and fees UTEP statement.

College of Liberal Arts Students Only: Effective August 27, 2018, prior to EPP admission, students must complete courses within all Core Curriculum components. Additionally, students must pass the Qualifying Content Exam within three attempts.

College of Education Students Only: Effective August 27, 2018, the name of the program has changed from Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies (BIS) to Bachelor of Arts in Applied Learning and Development (BA-ALD).

Qualifying Content Exam: Effective September 1, 2017, passing the Qualifying Content Exam is part of the EPP admission requirements. Students pursuing the EC-12 Special Education concentration and following Catalog term 2017-2018 or older are exempt from this requirement for admission purposes. Students pursuing the EC-12 Special Education concentration and following Catalog term 2018-2019 or older are required to pass the qualifying content exam prior to admission into the Educator Preparation Program (EPP).