Teacher Certification Program
Do you have a degree and a heart for teaching?
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"Teach Every Student How to Think ... Not What to Think"
The North Harris College Teacher Certification (TCP) Program, an alternative certification program, is the result of a collaborative effort between North Harris College 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!
FALL 2007
Fall 2007 Applications
If you would like to apply for the Teacher Certification Program and to begin your classwork in August of 2007, we are ready for you! Complete an application (located in the documents link on the left side of this page), gather your related paperwork (resume, recommendations, transcripts, score reports, etc.), and submit them on or before August 22, 2007.
Be sure to read all of the information in the "Application & Information" document! You will be contacted to interview and to attend an orientation session if/when you are accepted.
Teacher Certification Information Sessions
6:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Community Education Building
Room CE101 (view NHC map) Building #7
August 14, 2007
September 11, 2007
October 9, 2007
November 13, 2007
December 4, 2007
Program Requirements
Eligibility Requirements
Applicants must have the following basic requirements to be eligible to apply to this program:
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-TCP" in the DOCUMENTS link on the left of this page.)
passing scores on the THEA or Compass test in reading, writing, and math taken WITHIN 5 YEARS OF APPLICATION.
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 NHC TCP Advisory Board, and North Harris College in order to be admitted into the North Harris College Teacher Certification Program (TCP). Candidates seeking admission will also be required to meet state and college qualifying exam requirements in reading, writing, and mathematics on a THEA 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 or in the DOCUMENTS link on the left of this page as "Application & Information".
- A paid receipt for program registration and payment of $40.00 application fee (Go to CMED 102 to get a registration form, then go to admissions to register and the business office next door to pay fee.)
- OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPTS from ALL colleges/universities attended MUST BE INCLUDED with application (Have them SENT TO YOU and submit them unopened at the time you submit your applicaiton.) One must show degree and date conferred.
- Include an explanation letter if your GPA is under 2.5 either overall or on last 60 hours.
- Official passing score report for either the THEA(TASP), SAT, GRE, ACT, ASSET, Praxis, or COMPASS. (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.)
- 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 DOCUMENTS link in "Application & Information".)
- 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 ESL Level 5 or above.
If your degree was from outside the USA, submit score report with score of at least 50 for the TOSE (Test of Spoken English). Information is available online at http://www.englishjobmaze.com/exam-tse.htm .
Program Costs
All fees associated with the NHC TCP are due at time you register for each part of the program. ü Application fee: $40.00
ü THEA/Compass $29.00
ü Pedagogy and Professional Responsibilities (PPR) class:
o Books: varies
o Course enrollment: $756.00
o State TExES exams:
Content area- $82.00
PPR- $82.00
ü Internship Course
o Course Enrollment: $1850.00
o Fingerprinting: $47.00
o Probationary Certification Cost: $52.00
o Standard Certification: $77.00
(Plus Mentoring Fee paid by intern to mentor through district - $500.00)
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 Alternative Teacher Certification Program (TCP). 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 North Harris College. 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