Teacher Certification and Education Program
Do you have a degree and a heart for teaching?
Let us help you live your dream...
"Teaching touches lives...FOREVER!"
The Lone Star College-North Harris Teacher Certification and Education Program (LSC-North Harris TCEP), an alternative certification program, is the result of a collaborative effort between Lone Star College-North Harris and local school districts to provide quality, affordable teacher certification to assist in meeting the personnel needs of area school districts as well as the personal goals of our applicants who have a desire to make a difference in the lives of young people. Teaching touches lives forever!
Summer 2009 "Early Bird" Application Deadline is
April 1, 2009 at 4PM
We are now accepting applications for the Summer of 2009.
- Print your application.
- Gather your required documents.
- Do the required testing in reading, writing, and math (THEA or Compass).
- Apply early!
If you would like to apply for the LSC-North Harris
Teacher Certification and Education Program
and to take your PPR course
in Summer 2009, begin now gathering your documents.
Be sure you qualify: You must have a Bachelors degree or higher. You are NOT elegible for this program if you have completed three years of teaching in Texas (under Probationary Certification or an emergency/temporary permit) without becoming fully certified with the Standard Certificate.
Gather your related paperwork, (resume, recommendations, transcripts, score reports, essay, etc.). Next register in person or by FAX/phone - see below.
- Registering the application in person: Print an application registration form which is available at http://northharris.lonestar.edu/141745.pdf . Next go to the Continuing Education Building room 102 to register and finally to the business office in the Academic Building to pay the fee and get a receipt. Submit a copy of the registration form and paid receipt along with the completed application and ALL related documents to Winship Building room 116B. NOTE: if the office is closed, you can slip the documents under the door of WN116B.
- Registering by FAX/phone: Print an application registration form which is available at http://northharris.lonestar.edu/141745.pdf . FAX the form to 281-618-5633. Call 281-618-5634 to verify the registration. Then call the business office (281-618-5474) to make payment by credit card. When registering by FAX or phone, include a note with your application stating that your application registration was completed by FAX & phone instead of submitting a paid receipt. Submit the note and the completed application along with ALL related documents to Winship Building room 116B.
NOTE: if the office is closed, you can slip the documents under the door of WN116B.
You will be contacted to interview and to attend an orientation session if/when you are accepted.
Teacher Certification and Education Program
Office Location We are located in the Winship Building, rooms 116B and 116C. Use Winship's entrance nearest the library tower. We're just down the hall on the left. Coordinator's Office Hours
Mondays 9A-2P Tuesdays 9A-2P Wednesdays 12:00P-4:30P
Teacher Certification Information Sessions
Come hear about the program and have your questions answered...
6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
(view LSC-North Harris map)
LIBRARY is Building #1
Wednesday, December 10, 2008 in Library 103
Wednesday, January 14, 2009 in Library 103
Wednesday, February 11, 2009 in Library 103
Wednesday, March 18, 2009 in Library 103
Wednesday, April 15, 2009 in Library 103
Wednesday, May 13, 2009 in Library 103
Program Requirements
Eligibility Requirements
Applicants must have the following basic requirements to be eligible to apply to this program:
- a bachelor's degree from an accredited college/university
minimum GPA of 2.5 overall or on last 60 hours
required coursework in the “content area” for which you seek certification. (See "Admissions Requirements" in the "Application Forms" link on the left of this page.)
passing scores on the THEA or Compass test in reading, writing, and math taken WITHIN 5 YEARS prior to APPLICATION. (For more information on the THEA, go to http://www.thea.nesinc.com/ . For more information on the Compass call our office.) three recommendations
timely submission of all requested transcripts and other documents
You will NOT be eligible for this program if you have completed three years of teaching in Texas without becoming fully certified (for example on an emergency permit.)
The application fee is required to apply for ONE CONTENT AREA of the Teacher’s Certification and Education Program and is nonrefundable.
Allow 4 weeks for the application processing.
Application Requirements
All applicants must meet the required standards established by the State Board for Educator Certification, the LSC-North Harris TCEP Advisory Board, and Lone Star College-North Harris in order to be admitted into the Lone Star College - North Harris Teacher Certification and Education Program (LSC-North Harris TCEP). Candidates seeking admission will also be required to meet state and college qualifying exam requirements in reading, writing, and mathematics on a THEA (For more information go to http://www.thea.nesinc.com/) or Compass test.
Candidates are required to submit the following materials to be considered for admission:
- A completed application form signed by the candidate. Applications are available at our office (WN116B-C) or in the "Application Forms" link on the left of this page under "Application & Information". The register either in person or by phone or FAX - see #2 or #3.
- Registering in person: Print an application registration form which is available at http://northharris.lonestar.edu/141745.pdf . Next go to the Continuing Education Building room 102 to register and finally to the business office in the Academic Building to pay the fee and get a receipt. Submit a copy of the registration form and paid receipt along with the completed application and ALL related documents to Winship Building room 116B. NOTE: if the office is closed, you can slip the documents under the door of WN116B.
- Registering by FAX/phone: Print an application registration form which is available at http://northharris.lonestar.edu/141745.pdf . FAX the form to 281-618-5633. Call 281-618-5634 to verify the registration. Then call the business office (281-618-5474) to make payment by credit card. When registering by FAX or phone, include a note with your application stating that your application registration was completed by FAX & phone instead of submitting a paid receipt. NOTE: if the office is closed, you can slip the documents under the door of WN116B.
OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPTS from ALL colleges/universities attended MUST BE INCLUDED with application even if they are shown on the transcript of another institution. (Have them SENT TO YOU and submit them unopened at the time you submit your applicaiton.) One must show degree and date conferred. All candidates must hold a bachelor's degree or higher. Foreign transcripts must be evaluated by a licensed credentialing agency.
- Include an explanation letter if your GPA is under 2.5 either overall or on last 60 hours.
- Official passing score report in reading, writing, and math on either the THEA (TASP), COMPASS, SAT, GRE, ACT, ASSET, or Praxis. (must have been taken within the last five years) PASSING SCORE REPORT MUST ACCOMPANY APPLICATION. (Exempt ONLY if degree was received within last 5 years with GPA of 3.0+ from a college/university in the USA.) For more information go to http://www.thea.nesinc.com/.
- Resume showing education, work experience, technology competencies, etc.
- 3 professional references with contact information - mailed or FAXed directly from person recommending. (Forms are available in the Application Forms link and in the "Application & Information" file.)
- A 200+ word essay discussing this question: Why do you want to be a teacher?
- An explanation of any criminal history
- If English is your second language, submit evidence that you are at ESOL Level 3 or above (ESL level 5 or above).
- If your only degree was from a non-English speaking college/university outside the USA and you have no college work from a US college/university, submit a score report with a score of at least 26 on the speaking portions of the Test of English as a Foreign Language Internet-Based Test (TOEFL-iBT). For more information go to http://www.englishjobmaze.com/exam-tse.htm .
Program Costs (non-refundable)
All fees associated with the LSC-North Harris TCEP are due at the time you register for each part of the program.
| Application Fee | Paid to LSC-NH at time of application | $40.00 |
| THEA exam Fee | Paid to the examining entity | $29.00 |
| PPR course expenses: Choose either Continuing Education OR College Credit route to satisfying the PPR course requirement: | | |
| Books | | varies |
| Continuing Education Route: Course tuition-paid to LSC-NH-one semester College Credit Route: EDUC 1301 & EDUC 2301 (Specific sessions of each course taken at LSC-North Harris only, on Saturdays only, back to back.) | $756.00 $288.00 |
| PPR exam fee-paid to the state | $120.00 |
| Internship course expenses: | | |
| Course tuition-paid to LSC-NH (total for 2 sem.) | $1,850.00 |
| Fingerprinting-paid to the state | $47.00 |
| Probationary Certificate-paid to the state | $52.00 |
| Content exam fee-paid to the state | $120.00 |
| Standard Certificate-paid to the state | $77.00 |
| Mentor Fee-paid to the mentor (through the school/district) | $500-$800 |
The Pedagogy and Professional Responsibilities component of our program is offered two ways:
1. One way to satisfy the PPR requirement is through COLLEGE CREDIT classes EDUC 1301 and EDUC 2301 (specific class sections only) taken back-to-back on Saturdays at the LSC-North Harris campus taught by LSC-North Harris instructors only. (<$300) 6 hours college credit.
2. The other way to satisfy the PPR requirement is through a CONTINUING EDUCATION course ($756):
Pedagogy and Professional Responsibilities EC-12
This course is designed to provide the prospective teacher candidate with knowledge of methods and materials for instructing EC-12 students. A variety of “focused” instructional approaches to developing strategies, problem diagnosis, and assessment will be explored. Prospective teacher candidates will acquire skills in a variety of current topics in educational classrooms including: Learner-Centered Instruction, Cooperative Learning, Authentic Assessment, Portfolio Assessment, Multi-age Classrooms, Integration of Curriculum, Meeting Learning Style Needs, The Lesson Cycle, and Technology Applications. This course is required of all students enrolled in the Lone Star College-North Harris Teacher Certification and Education Program (LSC-NH TCEP). All students are required to pass state TExES content area and PPR exams for educators to receive Texas Teacher Certification.
108 Contact Hours
Teacher Certification Internship
The internship is designed to provide pre-service candidates (Interns) with hands-on experience related to every aspect of the teaching profession. Interns serve under a Probationary Certification issued by the state at the recommendation of Lone Star College-North Harris Teacher Certification and Education Program. Internship will consist of observations and individual, small group, and whole-class instruction, as well as experiences with the myriad non-instructional responsibilities of educators. Throughout the Internship, the candidate will develop critical reflective thinking skills to become a self-confident and effective practitioner. Interns will serve their internship for one school year during which they are an employee of the hiring school district. After all requirements are met, the Intern will be issued a Standard Texas Teacher Certificate.
96 Contact Hours
Certification is offered in the following areas:
| Approved Certificate Areas for Lone Star College-North Harris Teacher Certification Program |
| All-Level Art (Grades PK-12) |
| Art (Grades EC-12) |
| Bilingual Education Supplemental-Spanish (Grades 4-8) |
| Bilingual Education Supplemental-Spanish (Grades EC-4) |
| Bilingual Generalist-Spanish (Grades 4-8) |
| Bilingual Generalist-Spanish (Grades EC-4) |
| Chemistry (Grades 8-12) |
| Dance (Grades 8-12) |
| English Language Arts and Reading (Grades 4-8) |
| English Language Arts and Reading (Grades 8-12) |
| English Language Arts and Reading/Social Studies (Grades 4-8) |
| English as a Second Language Generalist (Grades 4-8) |
| English as a Second Language Generalist (Grades EC-4) |
| English as a Second Language Supplemental (Grades NA) |
| Generalist (Grades 4-8) |
| Generalist (Grades EC-4) |
| Health (Grades EC-12) |
| History (Grades 8-12) |
| Journalism (Grades 8-12) |
| Life Sciences (Grades 8-12) |
| Marketing Education (Vocational Experience) (Grades 8-12) |
| Mathematics (Grades 4-8) |
| Mathematics (Grades 8-12) |
| Mathematics/Science (Grades 4-8) |
| Music (Grades EC-12) |
| Physical Education (Grades EC-12) |
| Physical Sciences (Grades 8-12) |
| Physics/Mathematics (Grades 8-12) |
| Science (Grades 4-8) |
| Science (Grades 8-12) |
| Secondary Dance (Grades 6-12) |
| Secondary German (Grades 6-12) |
| Secondary Journalism (Grades 6-12) |
| Secondary Spanish (Grades 6-12) |
| Secondary Speech Communications (Grades 6-12) |
| Social Studies (Grades 4-8) |
| Social Studies (Grades 8-12) |
| Special Education (Grades EC-12) |
| Speech (Grades 8-12) |
| Technology Applications (Grades 8-12) |
| Technology Education (Grades 6-12) |