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Prior to admission to an educator preparation program leading to the District School Superintendent Certificate, an individual must meet the following requirements:

• must hold a master's degree from a university that is accredited by an accrediting agency recognized by the )
• hold a Principal certificate or the equivalent issued by the TEA, another state or country or,
• completed the  and been approved by the TEA to substitute managerial experience in lieu of a principal certificate
• successfully complete an 
• successfully complete the required exam

For more information please visit and the webpage.

Transfer Courses on the Program of Study

Upon the recommendation of the Graduate Advisor or Program Director, students pursuing a School Superintendent Certification Program may transfer up to six semester credit hours from an accredited institution toward the fulfillment of the District School Superintendent Certification Program.

Applicants who wish to pursue a Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) degree program in Educational Leadership and Administration can also pursue a District School Superintendent Certificate. In addition to the requirements for the Ed.D. program, applicants will also need to meet the admission requirements for the certification (see below for requirements for certification). For further information about the Ed.D. program with a certificate as a Texas Superintendent, see the Department of Educational Leadership and Foundations website.

Applicants seeking admission to the District School Superintendent Certification Program must complete the following prior to the semester in which they first plan to enroll.

• Application for admission to the UTEP Graduate School;
• Completion of a master’s degree from an accredited university;
• Master’s degree transcripts: Attainment of a graduate cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA) of at least 3.00;
• Written Letter of Intent: A written statement by the applicant describing personal and professional goals as related to the focus of the District School Superintendent Certification Program;
• Three professional letters of recommendation from current or recent supervisors;
• Valid Texas teaching and principal certificates;
• District Service record showing teaching experience and a minimum of two years of school or central office administrative experience;
• An updated curriculum vitae/resume;
• Interview: An interview will be conducted after the application review is finalized.

Screen 1 – Application Packet Review: The admission criteria will be reviewed holistically using a rubric to assess the potential of the applicant in terms of readiness and commitment to leadership at the superintendent level.

Screen 2 - Interview: Successful applicants of Screen 1 will be invited for an interview. The interview will determine commitment to the superintendent certificate program as well as fit to the program.

TEA Required Technology Fee

Candidates will pay a $35 Technology Fee to TEA for the  as required by TAC 229.9.7.

Admission Deadlines

The Department of Educational Leadership and Foundations accepts applications for admission according to the following priority deadlines:

• Fall Admission – May 15
• Rolling admissions for students currently enrolled in the Ed.D. program.

Criminal Background Information

Students who participate in internships with agencies or school districts requiring background checks must successfully pass the background check in order to complete this requirement.

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 preliminary criminal history evaluation letter regarding the person's potential ineligibility for certification due to a conviction or deferred adjudication for a felony or misdemeanor offense 

Upon admission, students should contact the Department of Educational Leadership and Foundations to schedule an advising appointment with the program director for an initial advising session. This first session will introduce students to departmental courses and the development of a degree/certification plan. Later, students will be oriented to program outcomes, graduate-level expectations and course requirements.

Student advising is a critical component of the department’s graduate-level experience. Faculty advisers will provide students with initial, in-progress, and exit individualized or group advising to help develop the student’s academic abilities, career goals, and educational interests to ensure overall scholastic, personal and professional success. Superintendent Certification plans must be approved by the faculty advisor, the director of the Superintendent Preparation Program Committee, and the certification officer. After completing all the program requirements, students are able to register for the TExES Superintendent Exam (195).

For questions or information on advising please contact the department at edlf@utep.edu.

The Department of Educational Leadership and Foundations offers a District School Superintendent Preparation/Certification Program. This certification program is designed as a follow-through educational leadership experience to the principal preparation program to prepare students for executive-level positions in school districts, and for the TExES Superintendent Exam (195). Students enrolled in the program are required to complete the following courses:

• EDAD 6381 School Organization, Reform and Renewal
• EDAD 6382 Educational Finance
• EDAD 6384 Educational Facilities Management
• EDAD 6386 Educational Policy Development
• EDAD 6388 Central Office Administration
• EDAD 6389 School Superintendent Internship

Superintendent Certification plans must be approved by the faculty adviser, the director of the Superintendent Preparation Program Committee, and the certification officer. After completing the program requirements, students must pass with 80 percent or greater the TExES Qualifying Examination. After this, candidates may register for the TExES Superintendent Exam (195).

Students pursuing the Texas School Superintendent Certification will be required to complete program requirement, training certificates, and professional documents before applying for the TExES School Superintendent Certificate to include the following:

• Master’s degree in Educational Leadership
• Curriculum vitae / resume
• Texas principal certificate;
• Service record reflecting two years as a school principal
• Successful mastery (>=80%) on the ;
• Successful mastery (>=240 scale score) on the ;
• Certificates from required trainings

195 – TExES School Superintendent

Candidates take the (195) School Superintendent to be certified as a Texas school superintendent.