| (a) The application for certification of a military
service member, military veteran, or military spouse, including an
application based upon certification by a jurisdiction other than
Texas that has certification requirements substantially similar to
the Texas certification requirements, shall be processed within 30
days of receipt of a complete application.
(b) As soon as practicable after the issuance of a
one-year certificate, Texas Education Agency (TEA) staff shall notify
a military service member, a military spouse, and a military veteran,
in writing or by email, of the requirements for obtaining a standard
Texas certificate.
(c) A military spouse who has been issued a one-year
certificate prior to September 1, 2017, under the provisions of this
chapter, is eligible for two additional years from the date of issuance,
not to exceed a total of three years maximum, to align with provisions
for a military spouse referenced in subsection (d) of this section.
(d) Effective September 1, 2017, a military spouse
shall be issued a three-year temporary certificate upon completion
of the review of credentials.
(e) Effective December 1, 2019, prior to beginning
employment, a military spouse must declare his or her intent to teach
in Texas with a license issued by another state department of education,
by submitting an application and required documents for a review of
credentials to the TEA and by completing the criminal background check.
TEA staff must provide approval for the military spouse to teach in
Texas a maximum of three years with credentials issued by another
state.
(f) Effective December 1, 2023, a military service
member shall be issued a three-year temporary certificate upon completion
of the review of credentials, or, prior to beginning employment, a
military service member must declare his or her intent to teach in
Texas with a license issued by another state department of education,
by submitting an application and required documents for a review of
credentials to the TEA and completing the criminal background check.
TEA staff must provide approval for the military service member to
teach in Texas a maximum of three years with credentials issued by
another state.
(g) A military service member, a military veteran,
or a military spouse shall be entitled to credit verified military
service, training, clinical and professional experience, or education
toward the training, education, work experience, or related requirements
(other than certification examinations) for educator certification.
TEA staff and educator preparation programs (EPPs) shall use information
from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs or other reliable sources
to assist in crediting applicable military service, training, or education
to certification requirements.
(h) A military service member pursuing certification
in career and technical education must meet requirements for the certificate,
but for career and technical education certificate areas requiring
experience and licensure, the military service member shall be entitled
to substitute military experience in the trade for the required license
or professional credential for the specific trade.
(i) A military service member, military spouse, and
military veteran shall complete educator examination requirements
for certificate issuance as outlined in Texas Education Code, Chapter
21, Subchapter B, and rules in the Texas Administrative Code, Title
19, Part 7, or qualify for an exemption from required Texas examinations
through provisions in §152.1001 of Part 2 of this title (relating
to Exceptions to Examination Requirements for Individuals Certified
Outside the State).
(j) A military service member and a military veteran
are exempt from certification application fees that are paid to the
state that lead to initial certification. These members of the military
community are exempt from paying the portion of the examination registration
fee that is paid to the TEA.
(k) A military service member and a military veteran
are exempt from certification application fees that are paid to the
state that lead to initial certification resulting from a review of
credentials, one-year certificate, or out-of-state standard certificate.
These members of the military community are exempt from paying the
portion of the examination registration fee that is paid to the TEA.
(l) A military spouse is exempt from certification
application fees that are paid to the state that lead to initial certification
resulting from a review of credentials, three-year temporary certificate,
or out-of-state standard certificate. This member of the military
community is exempt from paying the portion of the examination registration
fee that is paid to the TEA.
(m) As applicable to meet residency requirements and
establish acceptable identification for military-related fee exemption
and other provisions, a military service member, military spouse,
or military veteran can submit a copy of the permanent change of station
order for the military service member, military spouse, or military
veteran.
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| Source Note: The provisions of this §234.5 adopted to be effective August 28, 2016, 41 TexReg 6201; amended to be effective December 21, 2017, 42 TexReg 7142; amended to be effective December 22, 2019, 44 TexReg 7694; amended to be effective March 3, 2022, 47 TexReg 926; amended to be effective March 7, 2024, 49 TexReg 1278 |
