Procedures and Documents Necessary for Texas Certification
Based on Credentials from another country

Teachers from other countries who hold acceptable credentials from their country of origin can gain certification in Texas with the appropriate Texas certifications tests.  The appropriate exams are determined by the Texas State Board for Educators (SBEC) with the completion of a review of credentials.  The credential must be equivalent to a certificate issued by the State Board for Educators Certification (SBEC), and must not have been revoked, suspended, or pending such actions.  SBEC will evaluate an expired credential provided it was standard at the time of issuance.  A statement issued by the authorized licensing agency in another country specifying eligibility for standard certification upon completion of certain employment or examination requirements will have the same standing as a standard certificate. 

Step 1 – To apply for a review of credentials. All applicants must complete and submit the following items:

• Complete online application for “Educators certified in another state or country may apply for a review of credentials”.  Go to SBEC website www.sbec.state.tx.us.  Click ‘Online Services for Educators’ establish an account and following the directions for applying for review of credentials. 

• Print the remittance form and submit the remittance form with the $177.00 review of credentials fee to SBEC.

•  

• Submit to SBEC – An original, course-by-course evaluation for professional licensing of all college-level credits prepared by an acceptable credentials evaluation service.  The evaluation must be signed by an authorized representative of the evaluation service and must verify that the applicant:

  • Holds the equivalent of a bachelor’s degree granted by an accredited institution of higher education in the United States, including the month, day and year that the degree was conferred,

  • Has completed an educator preparation program, including a teaching practicum, and

  • Holds an appropriate educator certificate or credential issued by another country, including the effective date and validity period of the certificate, certification area(s), and grade level(s).

• An original written statement provided by the authorized licensing agency in the issuing country that the credential is in good standing, and has not been revoked, suspended, or sanctioned for misconduct and is not pending disciplinary or adverse action.  The statement must be in the English language or must be accompanied by a translation in English from an approved credential evaluation or translation service;

• Documentation of immigration/citizenship status (At this time, FBISD is only sponsoring applicants in our hard-to-fill areas of high school math, science composite, and Spanish); 

• Documentation of English language proficiency as evidence one of the following:

  • Completion of an undergraduate or graduate degree at an institution of higher education in the United States;

  • Completion of an undergraduate or graduate degree at an institution of higher education outside the United States where the primary language of instruction was English”

  • Completion of a state-approved educator preparation program within the United States;

  • Verification of three creditable years of teaching experience in an education setting within the United States or, if earned outside the United States, in an educational setting where the primary language of instruction was English; or

  • Verification of satisfactory scores on an English language proficiency exam(s) approved by SBEC.  The Test of Spoken English.

The Test of Spoken English (TSE), registration category TSE-P, administered by the Educational Testing Service (ETS) has been selected as the test to measure oral English language proficiency for Texas educator certification.  The State Board for Educator Certification approved a score of 50 on the TSE as the minimum level or oral English proficiency needed to perform the duties of a teacher in the Texas public schools.  A copy of the TSE Information Bulletin and registration form may be obtained by contacting ETS at (609) 771-7100.  Additional information about the TSE may be obtained from the TSE web site at www.toefl.org.  The SBEC code number for registration purposes is 8225.  Applicants must enter this number on the answer sheet when taking the exam or, for those who have previously taken the exam, on the Score Report Request Form.  These scores will then the reported to SBEC by ETS. 

To establish eligibility for the Standard Certificate, applicants must complete all requirements specified in the certification plan prepared by the SBEC. 

Step 2 – To be hired as a teacher with Fort Bend ISD 

When you receive the letter from SBEC stating that you qualify for a one year certificate you will then be eligible to be considered for employment. 

Questions? – Please contact SBEC at 1-888-863-5880 

More information can be found on the SBEC website at http://www.sbec.state.tx.us/SBECOnline/certinfo/forcredevalservice.asp.

I