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SFA Home / Education / Departments / Educator Certification / Alternative Certification

Probationary Certificates

One-Year Teaching Internship

The Probationary Certificate is aligned with the One-Year Teaching Internship at SFASU.  This is how it works:

• Upon Graduation, the individual applies for a Post Baccalaureate Initial Certification Plan.
• The Individual must meet all requirements for clear admission to the Educator Certification Program.
• Upon employment with the school district, the student applies for a one-year Probationary Certificate and pays a fee to the State Board for Educator Certification (SBEC).
• For eligible students, recommendations for Probationary Certificates will be made after the 21th class day at SFASU for the current school year.  The time frame will be within a 45 day period from the first day of instruction.
• The school district and intern must complete a packet of forms including a Probationary Certificate Application, an Intern Agreement, and a Principal Agreement.
• All completed forms must be received in the Educator Certification Office before clearance for a permit to register will be given.
• The school district assigns a trained mentor to the teaching intern.  SFASU provides mentor training each September and January, free of charge, but will accept mentor training provided by districts or Education Service Centers.  SFASU will pay the district mentor $300 per semester, for a total of $600.
• The university assigns a University Mentor who communicates regularly with the intern and provides on-site visits and consultation.
• The Teaching Intern enrolls in an internship course for two consecutive semesters, for a Pass or Fail grade. 
• Check the registration schedule for billing dates.  Contact the SFASU Business Office to make payment arrangements to avoid an automatic drop for non-payment of fees.
• At the end of the year, the mentors and district principal determine whether the individual receives a passing grade, successfully completing the one-year internship.

Upon successful completion of the internship, all coursework, and all required TExES/ExCET exams, the individual applies for a Standard Teaching Certificate.

Probationary Certificate

The Post Baccalaureate Initial Certification Program at SFASU is approved by the State Board for Educator Certification (SBEC) as an acceptable alternative route to certification under the federal "No Child Left Behind" law. This law requires schools that receive Title I funding to employ teachers in core academic subjects who are "highly qualified."

Core academic subjects include English, Reading, Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, Modern Languages, Government, Economics, Fine Arts (Art, Dance, Music, Theatre), History, and Geography. An individual employed on a probationary certificate, meeting the following requirements, is considered "highly qualified."

Requirements for Issuance of a Probationary Certificate

1. Applicant must hold at least a Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution of higher education.
2. Applicant must meet ALL requirements for admission to the Educator Certification Program, including passing the Pre-Admission Content Test.
   • SECONDARY (8-12) Applicant must have passed the TExES or ExCET exam for the content/teaching field.
   • ELEMENTARY (EC-6 or 4-8)   Applicant must have passed the TExES exam for the content/teaching field.
   • 4-8 CONTENT SPECIFIC CERTIFICATIONS AND SPECIAL EDUCATION CERTIFICATIONS   Student may require additional testing based on the NCLB’s interpretation of “highly qualified”.
3. Applicant's teaching assignment by his/her employer must match the teaching field and grade level on the certificate plan.
4. All forms necessary to make a recommendation for a probationary certificate must be on file in the Educator Certification office, including those completed by the employing school district.
5. Probationary certificates are valid for one calendar year from the date of issuance.
   • A certificate may be extended for two one-year terms following expiration of the initial term, if necessary and if approval criteria have been met.
   • An individual may not serve for more than three school years without obtaining an initial standard certification. This time period includes any permits which may have been issued

How to Apply for a Probationary Certificate

Step 1 Determine whether you are eligible for the program. Carefully read the Requirements for Issuance of a Probationary Certificate (above) to determine if you are eligible.

Step 2 Complete and submit the following forms to the Office of Educator Certification:

Click and print the form below:

• Probationary Certificate Application and Agreement Forms

Mail the completed forms to:

Stephen F. Austin State University
Office of Educator Certification
Box 6103 - SFA Station
Nacogdoches, TX 75962-6103

Step 3 Go to the SBEC website www.sbec.state.tx.us and set up an SBEC Online Account [click on "New User for Educators" on the right side of the screen and follow the instructions], and log in. If you already have an SBEC online account, log in.

Step 4 After you have logged in to your SBEC Online Account, click on "Applications" on the left side of the Educator Main Menu and select "Probationary Certification," then follow the instructions to apply for your certificate.

After you complete the on-line application -- which includes submitting the appropriate fee   and fingerprint fee and forms to SBEC -- a recommendation from SFA for the requested credential will be given. When the credential has been approved by SBEC, it may be viewed by returning to the SBEC website www.sbec.state.tx.us and clicking on "Official Record of Educator Certificates."

Requirements for Extension of a Probationary Certificate
A Probationary Certificate is issued for one year.  Under certain circumstances, a Probationary Certificate may be extended for an additional year.  Specific requirements for the extension are outlined below:

1. Applicant must be making reasonable progress to complete his/her certificate plan.  For example:
   • For a one-year extension, approximately one-half of the hours on the certificate plan must have been completed.
   • An individual may not serve for more than three school years without obtaining an initial standard certificate
2. Internship must be completed or in progress.
3. The employing school district must make a written request for extension to the SFASU Certificate Officer.
4. Complete and submit the required forms as outlined below.
   
   How to Apply for an Extension of a Probationary Certificate
   
   Step 1 To apply for an  Extension to an existing Probationary Certificate, complete and fax to the Educator Certification Office (936) 468-1577 the form on this link:  Extension of Probationary Certification Application form.
   Step 2 Go to the SBEC website  www.sbec.state.tx.us and log in.   Choose "Applications" on left side of screen, then "Probationary Certification."

After you complete the on-line application, which includes submitting the appropriate fee to SBEC and sending all necessary documentation to SFASU, the Certificate Officer will verify the information and make a recommendation for the requested credential.  When the credential has been approved by SBEC, it may be viewed by returning to the SBEC website www.sbec.state.tx.us and clicking on "Official Record of Educator Certificates."

For questions concerning extension of a Probationary Certificate, please contact, PBIC Manager (edcertpbic@sfasu.edu), in the Office of Educator Certification in the McKibben Education Building, Room 118, phone (936) 468-1740.

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