Alternative Certification Program: Superintendent Certification
Overview
The Superintendent Alternative Certification Program (ACP) provides a path towards earning the State Board of Educator Certification issued Superintendent Certification. The student must complete the 15 credit hours outlined below. After completing the program courses and the practicum, the student must pass the Superintendent TExES to be certified.
Admission Requirements
To be admitted to the superintendent alternative certification program, prospective candidates must first meet all requirements for graduate admission to UT Rio Grande Valley.
- Master’s or higher degree from a regionally accredited institution in the United States or a recognized international equivalent in a similar or related field.
- Undergraduate GPA of at least 3.0 in the last 60 semester credit hours.
- Copy of Educator Certificate showing Principal Certificate.
- Two letters of recommendation with at least one from a superintendent or assistant superintendent.
- Resume.
- A Personal Statement of Leadership and career aspirations.
- A photocopy of the student’s Teacher Service Record.
- Two years administrative experience.
- Personal Interview.
Application for admission must be submitted prior to the published deadline. The application is available at www.utrgv.edu/gradapply.
Probationary Certificate
The department will only recommend for probationary certificate those students who are formally admitted to the program and who have been offered a position of superintendent by a school board. In order to hold the probationary certificate, the student must be enrolled in coursework, including the internship at UTRGV. The term of the Probationary Certificate is for a one year period, renewable for a total of two years.
Certification
Once program requirements have been completed and students have taken a benchmark exam, students will be eligible to take the state Superintendent TExES exam. Program finishers who have passed the certification exam should pursue certification immediately. If TEA certification standards change between the time a candidate completes the program and applies for certification, the candidate will be required to meet the new standards before being certified. This may mean taking additional courses or completing additional requirements.
Program Requirements
Required Courses - 15 Hours
| EDUL 7312 | Socio-Political Problems of the Superintendent | 3 |
| EDUL 7313 | Ethics and Decision Making | 3 |
| EDUL 7314 | The Superintendent | 3 |
| EDUL 7315 | Texas School Finance and Facilities Administration | 3 |
| EDUL 7398 | Superintendent Leadership Seminar and Practicum | 3 |
Total Credit Hours: 15