1. Where am I now and where do I need to go?
Center for Arts and Science Education  
Timeline to Becoming a Certified Teacher!
Where am I now and where do I need to go?

2. CASE Staff www.academics.utep.edu
David Vasquez – College of Liberal Arts Teacher Preparation
Ana Lee Covey - College of Science Teacher Preparation
Ellen Esposito - College of Science Teacher Preparation
Dr. Michele Levy - Student Teaching and Induction
Dr. Amanda DeGraff - Student Data and Testing

3. Objectives for Today:
Prepare you for what to expect as you move towards graduation and certification
Answer any questions you may have about testing, student teaching, graduation, and certification 3

4. To Get Hired as a Teacher:
Take and pass UTEP required Content and PPR (Pedagogy and Professional Responsibility) Qualifying exams.
Take and pass Content and PPR TExES certification exams
Graduate from UTEP
Register and pay for your teaching license
Pass a background check

5. Timeline to Graduation

6. Applications to Teacher Education
In order to be accepted to the Teacher Education Program you must:
Have a ‘C’ or better in:
English 1311, 1312
Communication 1301/1302
Math 1319 or higher
Pass the TASP or THEA with:
230 on the Math
220 on the Writing
250 on the Reading
Complete 60 hours with a GPA of 2.5 or better

7. May 2010
May 2010
Sunday
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
APRIL 30 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31
End of Internship
Your Goal: Complete all exams and have a teaching contract by Graduation! 7 7

8. Qualifying Exams
In order to graduate you MUST receive a 78% on both of your qualifying exams
1 content exam – 2.5 hours long (science 5 hrs)
1 PPR exam – 2.5 hours long
You can begin taking your qualifying exams as soon as you have been admitted to teacher education
You MUST pass BOTH of the qualifying exams:
to receive a grade for student teaching
to graduate

9. UTEP Content qualifying exams
Content first
You’ve learned a majority of this material in your freshman, sophomore and junior level courses
Prepare as if for the MCAT or GRE – lots of study time!
Complete 6 documented hours of review offered by your college or at library
Timeline is important!

10. UTEP PPR qualifying exams
Pedagogy and Professional Responsibilities
The majority of this material is covered by your education courses
Prepare as if for the MCAT or GRE – lots of study time!
Complete 6 documented hours of review
Timeline is important!

11. January 2010 Content review Content review January 2010 11 11
Sunday
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
8 Deadline Paper-based TExES Content or PPR test 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31
Contact College to clear for graduation
Form a study group
ISD orientations
Most internships begin
Content review
Content review 11 11

12. February 2010 February 2010 Content Review Content Review
Sunday
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26
Paper-based TExES Content or PPR 27 28
Content Review
Content Review
Take Content Qualifying
Register TExES computer- based content
TExES computer -based content exam
Content Review
PPR Review

13. March 2010 March 2010 PPR Review PPR Review PPR Review 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
Sunday
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
Receive TExES score report 9 10 11 12 13
UTEP PPR qualifying exam 14 15 16 17
Register TExES computer- based TEXES PPR 18 19
Deadline to register for TExES PPR or Content 20
TExES PPR 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31
PPR Review
PPR Review
PPR Review

14. April 2010 April 2010 End of Internship 14 14
Sunday
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16
17 Paper-based TExES PPR or Content Exam 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30
Give feedback on teacher education program thru’ Survey Monkey
UTEP Teacher Job Fair
Pass all exams by this date!
End of Internship 14 14

15. May 2010 May 2010 15 15 TExES paper-based test results 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
Sunday
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17
TExES paper-based test results 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 15 15

16. How To Begin?
Gather your resources and study them before content reviews!
Preparation Handbooks
Registration Bulletin
Know how the test is scored p. 38

18. Registration Bulletin

19. Qualifying Exams - Studying
You must have 6 hours of review prior to every qualifying exam you take.
You should have much MORE than 6 hours.
Study for these exams like you would for your SAT or a final exam.
Review hours must be
documented with proof

20. Qualifying Exams – Review Hours
Review schedule is on CASE website
Review hours can be conducted at:
Library
College of Education
Ellen Esposito’s office (Math and Science)
Dr. Keith Ereckson’s office (History and Social Studies)
You can also attend content and PPR review sessions
Science –
You must take a 5 hour qualifying exam

21. Qualifying Exams - Registration
Registration for Content or PPR qualifying exams will ONLY be available 2 business days prior to the exam date.
FOR EXAMPLE:  Test date March 7, 2009.  Registration begins on March 5, 7:00 am.
Register at
in person at the Student Assessment & Testing Office (located in the Academic Advising Center Bldg, Suite 127)
call the TEST RESERVATION line at (915)
(Required for science) 

23. Qualifying exam – misc. Instant results Come prepared
Proof of 6 hours of review
Jacket
Water/snack (leave in locker)
Math – own calculator
New batteries!
Know how to clear the memory!

24. Certification Exams
You can begin taking your certification exams as soon as you have passed appropriate qualifying exam and have been admitted to Teacher Education
This means that if you set your timeline correctly, you should pass both of your certification exams before you graduate 
Many tests are computer based and offered almost every week. Some are offered only three times a year!!!

25. Certification Exams Offered Via Computer for 2009-2010
English as a Second Language Supplemental
Health EC–12
History 8–12
Life Science 8-12
Mathematics 8–12
Music EC–12
Pedagogy and Professional Responsibilities EC–12
Pedagogy and Professional Responsibilities 8–12
Physical Education EC–12
Science 8–12

26. TExES Paper Testing Dates

27. TExES Registration
Once you have passed, you will be cleared to take the appropriate state certification exam.
Step 1: OBTAIN YOUR TEA ID NUMBER
The TEA ID number is used to register for your state certification exam.
Go to Look for the section that reads Educator Login and click on “NEW USER?” 
Supply all the necessary information to complete your educator profile including up- to-date and telephone contact numbers then proceed to Step 2.

28. TExES Registration You have two registration options:
Step 2: REGISTER FOR YOUR STATE CERTIFICATION EXAM
You have two registration options:
ONLINE REGISTRATION:  Go to Follow on-screen instructions and register for the exam you are eligible to take.
TELEPHONE REGISTRATION: Call to register for eligible exams.

29. Certification Exams
To become certified you must receive a score of at least 240 on your state content exam and state PPR exam.
These exams are each 5 hours long
These exams cost $120 per exam
1 Content + 1 PPR = $240
Every time you fail you must spend another $120
$35 Late registration fee (paper-based tests); $75 Emergency registration fee (paper-based tests)

30. Studying for all 4 of your Exams
The qualifying exam is practice for your certification exam.
The time you spend studying for them helps prepare you for your certification exams.
Consider using the following study materials:
ETC test preparation handbooks
Cliff notes
Laminated Reference Guides
TAKS tests
State end of course exams

31. Study Groups Consider forming a study group
Create your own group, one will not appear from nowhere.
Find other interested students:
Ask classmates you know and those you don’t
Announce the formation of a group at the start of class
Talk to your professors

32. Create Study Group Ground Rules
Be on time, respectful of others, cell phones, etc.
Be prepared
Have homework, preparation handbooks, calculators
Have questions about the subject ready to discuss
Bring class notes and textbooks that will help with the session
Have regular meetings – weekly, bi-weekly, monthly based on your timeline.
This is a study group, NOT a social group

33. Short term sacrifice for long term gain

34. Student Teaching
You will apply for student teaching the semester before you intend to be a student teacher
Dr. Michele Levy does the placements for Secondary and All-Levels
Before you can be placed you must be admitted to the Teacher Education Program

35. Student Teaching Attend student teaching orientations
CASE - Secondary
College of Education
School District
Student teaching is a FULL-TIME position
Plan ahead
From 8 am – 4 (or 5) pm you cannot work or take other classes.

36. University Career Services
Craig Thompson – Associate Director
Your contact for teaching jobs locally and across the country
Job Mine
Complete your job mine account so we can better serve you
You will need references and a resume!