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UTEP Alternative Certification Program

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El Paso, TX
UTEP Alternative Certification Program

UTEP Miner Teacher Residency Alternative Certification Program. A post-baccalaureate pathway to teacher certification in Texas.

07/02/2025

Mini-lesson action shots!🎬

Every semester, students in TED 5310 develop a mini-lesson and practice teaching their peers. 🧑‍🏫 This cohort of students will enter the classroom as residents and interns for the 2025-26 school year.

06/27/2025

📢 Big news for future SPED & Bilingual teachers and teacher candidates! HB 2 was signed into law June 4th and includes fee waivers for certification exams and applications! 💸🎉

📎Tag a teacher or teacher candidate who needs this info! 👇

🔹 Exam Fee Waivers ($116–136 value):
Your first attempt at these exams is FREE:
• 161 – SPED EC–12 (until 8/31/25)
• 186 – SPED Specialist EC–12 (starting 9/2/25)
• 164 – Bilingual Education Supplemental
• 190 – BTLPT (Spanish)

📅 If testing between 6/4/25–7/31/25:
→ Register & pay as usual
→ Refunds will be sent automatically (starting 7/1)
📅 If testing 8/1/25 or later:
→ Exam fee is automatically waived at registration

⚠️ You will still need to pay fees for all retakes and unrelated exams.

📝 Application Fee Waiver ($78):
Until systems update, follow these steps:
1️⃣ Pass your exams
2️⃣ Submit your certification app
3️⃣ Send a TEA Help Desk ticket with subject line: “SPED or BIL Certification Application Fee Waiver Request per HB 2”
4️⃣ TEA staff will manually waive the fee

⚠️ Fingerprinting fees (~$40) still apply.

.e.s.o

06/20/2025

🗓️RSVP for the UTEP ACP Virtual Information Session being held on Tuesday, June 24th from 5:00 to 6:00 pm MDT.

RSVP: https://bit.ly/utepacp25

Join us to learn about the features of the UTEP ACP:

✅The option to earn an integrated, accelerated M.A. in Education
✅A one-year Residency or Internship in an El Paso school
✅Mentor teachers trained in co-teaching practices
✅Practice-based coursework taught by UTEP faculty
✅Coaching by school campus-based UTEP Site Coordinators
✅Wrap-around support for classroom practice, advising, testing, and certification

Fall 2025 Application Deadline: July 15, 2025

05/19/2025

🎓Congratulations to our Spring/Summer 2025 Graduates!✨

📜 Each of these students has earned a Master of Arts in Education, and most are also pursuing teacher certification. 🧑‍🏫

🧡We are SO proud of your accomplishments, and can't wait to see the impact you'll make in your own classrooms!💙

05/06/2025

05/05/2025

🗓️RSVP for the UTEP ACP Virtual Information Session being held on Tuesday, May 27th from 5:00 to 6:00 pm MDT.

RSVP: https://bit.ly/utepacp25

Join us to learn about the features of the UTEP ACP:

✅The option to earn an integrated, accelerated M.A. in Education
✅A one-year Residency or Internship in an El Paso school
✅Mentor teachers trained in co-teaching practices
✅Practice-based coursework taught by UTEP faculty
✅Coaching by school campus-based UTEP Site Coordinators
✅Wrap-around support for classroom practice, advising, testing, and certification

Fall 2025 Application Deadline: July 15, 2025

03/24/2025

💬 Did you know? You can join the ATPE for FREE as a student teacher or college student and start building your professional network while protecting your future career.

The Association of Texas Professional Educators (ATPE) offers the following membership benefits:

✨ $8 million in professional liability insurance (for student teachers)
✨ Access to legal support from experienced education attorneys
✨ Employment rights defense coverage – protection for salary disputes, dismissal claims, and more
✨ 180+ hours of free on-demand CPE courses
✨ Discounts on travel, theme parks, hotels, prescriptions, and more
✨ Award-winning publications to stay informed
✨ Advocacy at the Capitol for public education and educators' rights

Learn more at www.atpe.org/

03/05/2025

🗓️RSVP for the UTEP ACP Virtual Information Session being held on Thursday, March 20th from 5:00 to 6:00 pm MDT.

RSVP: https://bit.ly/acpspring25

Join us to learn about the features of the UTEP ACP:

✅The option to earn an integrated, accelerated M.A. in Education
✅A one-year Residency or Internship in an El Paso school
✅Mentor teachers trained in co-teaching practices
✅Practice-based coursework taught by UTEP faculty
✅Coaching by school campus-based UTEP Site Coordinators
✅Wrap-around support for classroom practice, advising, testing, and certification

Summer 2025 Application Deadline: April 15, 2025

03/03/2025

📢 Exciting news from one of our ACP Cohort 7 graduates🎉

🏆 Kimberly Esparza has been awarded the 2024-25 Rookie of the Year at Vale Middle School in Northside ISD! 👏✨

📚 Kimberly earned her teaching certificate in ELAR 7-12 and graduated with an MA in Education in 2024. She writes, “The observations, feedback, and mentorship provided through the ACP truly helped shape me into the educator I am today.”

🙌 We are SO proud of you, Kimberly!

🚀 Achievements like this prove time and again that UTEP-trained educators excel wherever they go!

02/20/2025

🚨Application Deadline Alert!

⭐ The priority application deadline for the ACP summer 2025 cohort is on March 1, 2025.

This deadline is for applicants who plan to pursue the M.A. in Education and the Resident Apprentice pathway.

Applicants in this pathway should also apply for the Charles Butt Scholarship (deadline: March 14th).

02/07/2025

🗓️RSVP for the UTEP ACP Virtual Information Session being held on Tuesday, February 18th from 5:00 to 6:00 pm MDT.

RSVP: https://bit.ly/acpspring25

Join us to learn about the features of the UTEP ACP:

✅The option to earn an integrated, accelerated M.A. in Education
✅A one-year Residency or Internship in an El Paso school
✅Mentor teachers trained in co-teaching practices
✅Practice-based coursework taught by UTEP faculty
✅Coaching by school campus-based UTEP Site Coordinators
✅Wrap-around support for classroom practice, advising, testing, and certification

Summer 2025 Application Deadlines: March 1 & April 15, 2025

01/08/2025

The Charles Butt Scholarship for Aspiring Teachers is now accepting applications for the 2025-2026 school year! 🎓✨

📚 What’s in it for you?

💰 Financial Support: Receive up to $10,000 per year to support your journey toward becoming a highly effective teacher.
🌱 Professional Development: Access workshops, learning sessions, and mentorship from expert educators to grow personally and professionally.
🤝 Networking Opportunities: Join a statewide community of scholars, mentors, and alumni who share your passion for education.

📋 Requirements

To be eligible for the Charles Butt Scholarship, you must meet the following requirements:

1️⃣ Apply to the ACP Program by March 1, 2025

2️⃣ Pursue the MA in Education with the Apprenticeship Pathway

3️⃣ Submit an Application to the Charles Butt Foundation

📅 IMPORTANT: You must apply to the ACP first! The deadline to apply to the ACP is March 1st. Don’t wait—this is your first step toward eligibility for the Charles Butt Scholarship!

Address

Education Building, 500 W. University Avenue
El Paso, TX
79968

Opening Hours

Monday	8am - 5pm
Tuesday	8am - 5pm
Wednesday	8am - 5pm
Thursday	8am - 5pm
Friday	8am - 5pm

Website

https://www.utep.edu/education/css/programs/alternative-certification/alternative-certification.html

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