How does iteach Texas identify my content area?
iteach Texas is required to identify a content area (subject) for each candidate enrolled in our alternative teacher certification program. But how does iteach Texas do that? And, what does that actually mean?
What do we review?
As part of the admission process, effective January 27, 2020, passing a TExES content test is no longer an admission requirement. However, iteach Texas must identify a content area for enrollment. The following methods will be used to identify content areas for enrollment in the order below:
- Previous TExES passed
- We will review any previously passed exams and use past, passed exam as the area for admitted subject.
- This does not include TXPACT tests.
- An academic major in a certification field
- We will review your transcripts to confirm you have the required hours for an area.
- 15 Hours for Middle School Single Subjects
- We can identify the following areas based on 15 hours in the content area Math, English, Science or Social Studies:
- 4-8 Math,
- 4-8 English,
- 4-8 Science,
- 4-8 Social Studies.
- Only courses identified as English, Math, Science, and Social Studies course by the college (ENGL, MATH, SCI, Social Studies) will be used in the evaluation process for these hours.
- We can identify the following areas based on 15 hours in the content area Math, English, Science or Social Studies:
- Combination 12 Hours
- We can identify the following areas based on a combination of 12 hours of English, math, science, and social studies (with a minimum of 3 hours in each content):
- EC – 6 Core Subjects,
- 4-8 Core Subjects, or
- EC – 12 Special Education.
- We can identify the following areas based on a combination of 12 hours of English, math, science, and social studies (with a minimum of 3 hours in each content):
What does that mean?
You must have an identified area of certification to enroll in iteach Texas. Once enrolled, you can immediately request test approval in your identified area of enrollment. However, you are not bound to this one area for certification, nor required to test in it.
You can be provided a one-time test approval in another certification area upon the completion of a Passage Preparation course, which all iteach Texas candidates have free access to.
Please note: You are not required to test in the area identified for admission and you can begin the coursework without first passing an exam.
Frequently Ask Questions
Below are some of the most common questions we have received.
Must I take and pass a TXPACT test for admission to iteach.
No, the TXPACT is not a state certification test. The new TXPACT exams contain questions assessing subject-matter knowledge only, as opposed to the TExES certification exams that include questions assessing both subject-matter knowledge and pedagogical content knowledge.
All candidates for certification must take and pass the TExES certificate test in their content area prior to being hired.
However, if you do not have a degree in a content area, but have significant hours under that content, iteach may consider the results of a TXPACT test in conjunction with hours in identifying a content area for admissions.
What courses are considered in the required 15 hours?
Only courses identified as English, Math, Science, and Social Studies course by the college (ENGL, MATH, SCI, SS) will be used in the evaluation process for these 15 hours.
Am I required to pay for Passage Preparation?
No. Candidates who elect to participate in the $99 a month payment plan are automatically enrolled in Passage Preparation.
I want to teach high school English. I have a degree in English. Do I need to take the TXPACT test?
No, with a degree in English, we would be be able to identify English as your content area for program admission.
I want to teach either EC -6 Core Subject, 4-8 Core Subjects or Special Education students but I do not have any math hours on my transcripts. How can I be enrolled in iteach Texas?
You would need to take and pass the TxPACT test #700 TX PACT Essential Academic Skills test.
I have a degree in Business so Business would be identified for program admission, but I want to teach Math. Do I have to test in Business?
No, you are not required to test in the content area identified. You may test in an area outside of your identified content area once you have successfully completed test prep. You are limited to a one-time test approval in any area outside of your identified content area.