Alternative Teacher Certification Program

The Alternative Teacher Certification Program (ATCP) at Houston Community College is a state-approved comprehensive educator preparation program (or EPP) that trains individuals for Texas standard certification in elementary and secondary education.

An EPP provides the training necessary for individuals without experience in a college-level teacher training program or with a major in another field, such as biology or art, to obtain the skills and knowledge necessary to be a classroom teacher.

The following items are needed to become a certified classroom teacher in Texas:

1. Obtain or possess a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university
2. Complete an approved Educator Preparation Program (EPP)
3. Transfer applicants must complete a one-page, double-spaced substantive essay outlining their request for transfer in the the HCC-ATCP program. The application will not be considered complete if the essay is not one-page and double-spaced, no more, no less. If accepted, the applicant must submit a transfer request form.
4. Complete 30 clock-hours of pre-service observations. Up to 15 clock-hours of pre-service observations may be satisfied by serving as a long-term substitute. Please contact program office for further details.
5. Apply for state certification upon the EPP’s recommendation (Fingerprinting is required as part of a criminal background check)
6. Obtain a Texas Classroom Teacher Standard Certificate awarded through TEA
7. Students who entered the program from August 2023 forward, will be afforded 3 years to complete the program. This date is calculated based on the end date of their first ATCP class.

• Students who entered the program prior to August 2023 will have 3 years to complete the program. This date is calculated based on the end date of their first ATCP class.
• If a student has already been in the program for 3 years or greater, that student will have until January 31st, 2025, to be recommended for standard certification.
• Any situations that fall outside of that which is enumerated herein will be discussed with the student on a case-by-case basis and resolutions will be outlined on a student completer agreement.

Once certified, Texas Standard Certificates are renewable every five years, provided you have completed required continuing professional education (CPE) credits.

Houston Community College — Alternative Teacher Certification Program is accredited by the State Board for Educator Certification (SBEC) and the Texas Education Agency (TEA).

The State Board for Educator Certification (SBEC) oversees all aspects of the preparation and certification as well as standards of conduct of public school educators. The Texas Education Agency is the state agency that oversees primary and secondary public education. TEA provides staff support to the SBEC board.

For additional information regarding EPP accreditation ratings, pass rates, and annual performance reports, please visit Consumer Information.

To view HCC’s Performance Over Time Reports, please click this link and scroll down the page until you see “Accountability System for Educator Preparation Annual Reports” with the latest reporting years. Please also see our recent status reports.

To file a complaint, refer to the Student Handbook for the complaints process. If the student is not satisfied with the complaint process or outcome, the student may file a complaint against the program with the Texas Education Agency. The official Texas Education Agency complaint process can be found at tea.texas.gov at the bottom of the page.

Mission

The mission of the Houston Community College Alternative Teacher Certification Program (ATCP) is to provide aspiring educators with a quality education that equips program participants with the skills, competencies, knowledge, and cultural responsiveness necessary to provide effective student-centered classroom instruction to the twenty-first-century learner.

Vision

ATCP will transform K-12 Education by training, coaching, and mentoring highly qualified, effective classroom teachers to provide rigorous, data-driven, best practice instruction that will accommodate the needs of the twenty-first-century learner.

HCC's ATCP is considered an alternative certification program. It is designed primarily to prepare students for employment as an educator at the primary or secondary level. Upon successful completion, candidates receive a recommendation for their Standard Texas Educator Certificate.

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