The State Board for Educator Certification (SBEC) was created by the Texas Legislature in 1995 to recognize public school educators as professionals and to grant educators the authority to govern the standards of their profession. The Board oversees all aspects of the preparation, certification, and standards of conduct of public school educators.

In Texas, each professional level employee (teacher, counselor, or administrator) serving in a Texas public school must hold the appropriate Texas credential or be working on Texas certification. To serve as an Administrator in Texas, you must hold the appropriate Administrative Certificate, which is the Standard Certificate or the Temporary Certificate.

University Based Administrator Programs

To qualify for an Administrator Certificate, you must initially have the following:

• A valid Texas classroom certificate,
• Have at least two years of acceptable classroom teaching experience, and
• Complete an administrator program through a university approved to offer administrative certification.

If you have not yet completed all requirements for the Standard Certificate, you may qualify for a Temporary Certificate, which is valid for five years and is nonrenewable. During this five-year period, you may serve as a Principal or Assistant Principal in a Texas public school while you are completing the remaining hours required by a university and the required Texas Examination of Educator Standards (TExES).

To obtain a Temporary Certificate, you must contact a university of your choice. The university will determine if you qualify for the Temporary Certificate. If you meet the requirements, you must apply online and submit a $77 fee to the SBEC. Once the application is processed, the university will recommend you to the SBEC for the Temporary Certificate.

You may contact one of these universities for more information:

Dr. Martha Ovando - (512) 471-7551
University of Texas @ Austin
Dept. of Educational Administration

Program Coordinator – (512) 245-2575
Texas State University
Educational Administration and Psychological Services

Region XIII Education Service Center (RESC) – Principal Certification Network (PCN)

The Region 13 Education Service Center offers a Principal Certification program that provides a system for the selection, training, and certification of principals. The Principal Certification Network (PCN) is a 15-month on-line course program. The content of each course if facilitated through a combination of on-site work and on-line activities that allows candidates to progress through the program as a cohort group. The program’s primary objective is to develop and deliver a high quality certification program designed to prepare aspiring educational leaders for the Principalship.

The Entry requirements for the Principal Certification Network (PCN) are as follows:

• A valid Texas teacher certificate
• 2 years teaching experience
• Graduate degree with a GPA of 3.0 or higher
• 3 years leadership experience

For additional information regarding the PCN visit the Region XIII ESC website at www.esc13.net/pcn or, contact

Linda Nissen, PCN Program Manager - (512) 919-5238 or linda.nissen@esc13.txed.net
Region XIII Principal Certification Network (PCN)

Individuals who meet eligibility requirements and are enrolled in the Region XIII PCN are eligible for probationary certification through the State Board for Educator Certification. The probationary certificate is issued for one calendar year and may be renewed for two additional years, if necessary.

Certification as an Administrator from another State

A person with a standard out-of-state or out-of-country Administrator Certificate must apply for a Texas certificate to be employed as an administrator in a public school. The out-of-state/country certificate must be a standard certificate with no course deficiencies, and must not have been revoked or suspended. The certificate can be expired as long as it was standard at the time it was issued.

An applicant with a standard out-of-state administrator certificate must apply online to the State for evaluation. The SBEC will evaluate only those areas listed on the out-of-state certificate and once completed, a Texas One-Year Certificate will be issued. During the validity of this One-Year Certificate, the appropriate Examination for the Texas Examination of Educator Standards (TExES) exam must be completed. The One-Year Certificate is valid for 12 months and is nonrenewable. For additional information, you may contact the SBEC at 1-888-863-5880.