ACT-Houston
Houston 832-200-0552
Dallas 214-267-2222Austin 1-877-286-0024
Alternative Certification for Teachers
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Is ACT Houston an ACP?
A: Yes, ACT Houston is a private Alternative Certification Program (ACP), fully accredited by the State Board for Educator Certification (SBEC). It was founded on March 3, 2003 in Houston under the guidance of ACT RGV (Rio Grande Valley) and operates on a clock-hour system. The Program Directors of ACT Houston are Dr. Debbie Dunlap, Dr. Bobette Dunn, and Dr. Vicki Johnston, who worked together during their long careers in Fort Bend ISD -- more than 75 years total! Dr. Dunlap was a teacher, middle and high school principal; Dr. Dunn was a teacher and curriculum administrator; Dr. Johnston was a teacher, counselor, and middle school principal. All three are passionate and enthusiastic about bringing new teachers into this profession. You will meet them personally, for they are in the office every day. They guide you through the certification process and make decisions in your best interest. Plus, all those that work with ACT in Houston, Dallas, and Austin have educational backgrounds as teachers and principals!
Q: What exactly is an ACP?
A: An Alternative Certification Program is an alternate route to earning a Standard Certificate. Alternative Certification began in Texas in 1986 as a creation of the Texas Legislature, in an attempt to help ease the critical shortage of teachers in the state. Today there are about 150 alternative certification programs in Texas. And nearly every state has alternative certification. In fact, the majority of new teachers in Texas obtain their certification through an alternative certification program. ACT Houston with its satellite programs in Dallas and Austin is one of the state’s top providers of teachers.
Q: Are all ACPs alike?
A: No, no, no! There are a wide variety of programs: university-based, sponsored by school districts, distance learning, online, etc. ACT Houston encourages you to visit the SBEC website at www.sbec.state.tx.us and view the accredited programs in Houston, Dallas, and Austin. Then select the one that best fits your schedule and needs. ACT Houston also encourages you to schedule an appointment to meet with us and learn about the ACT Houston program – no charge for the appointment and no pressure to enroll. We are here to provide information and help you understand the certification process, before making a decision. Then when you select the ACT Houston program, you will find that we focus on building a relationship with you, providing you with the highest quality preparation, and personally working with you during your preparation for entering the classroom and throughout your first year of teaching.
Note: Other programs may be named ACT and may seem similar to ACT Houston, but they are not part of ACT Houston and its Dallas & Austin locations: ACT Houston-at Dallas and ACT Houston-at Austin.
Q: What type of preparation does ACT Houston provide for learning how to teach?
A: The ACT Houston Preparation Program Institute provides research-based instruction designed to help you develop skills and learn strategies that are essential for making a smooth transition into teaching. Preparation Program Institutes are offered several times each year. These Institutes are about 7-8 weeks long, with evening and weekend classes that are very interactive. Institute sessions are grouped according to certification grade levels and are taught by master teachers from local school districts. Class sizes are small, perhaps 8-18 students. Instruction time is dedicated to helping you learn what you need to know and be able to do in order to be effective with students. The cost of the Institute includes all books and materials, as well as test preps for the TExES Content Exam. Each ACT Houston location has several campuses. Houston campuses are in southwest, north, and southeast Houston. Dallas has campuses in Carrollton, North Oak Cliff, and Arlington. Austin’s campus is in central Austin.
Q: I am eager to begin teaching! What are the things that I must complete in order to be hired?
A: First and foremost, you must be enrolled in a certification program in order to be hired. Other important requirements are:
1. Participation in our Preparation Program Institute to equip you with skills and strategies for making a successful transition into the teaching profession.
2. Passing the TExES exam for your approved content area. ACT Houston will provide you with excellent test preps.
3. A NEW requirement as of January 2009 is the completion of 30 hours of Field-Based Experience. This is your opportunity to observe teachers in their classrooms.
Q: Do I have to have a teaching job to start the Preparation Program Institute, especially the Fall one?
A: No. In most cases, the Institute is a pre-service preparation program prior to your teaching internship. It equips you with the skills and strategies for a successful beginning. However, experienced substitute teachers and para-professionals may prefer to participate in the Fall Institute when they start their internship. ACT Houston will help you decide when the time is right for you to begin teaching.
Q: Does ACT Houston place me in a school or help me get a teaching position?
A: ACT Houston does not place you in a school, but we will help you get a teaching position by providing guidance in determining a certification area for you that offers opportunities to get hired and even fill critical shortages. Plus, we coach you in our Interview Workshops and, of course, prepare you for your TExES Content Exam which, in most cases, makes you “Highly Qualified”, according to No Child Left Behind. ACT Houston works with all public school districts, charter schools, and accredited private schools in the Houston, Dallas/Ft. Worth, and Austin areas.
Q: In a nutshell, what will I have to do to complete the ACT Houston program and become a certified teacher?
A: The ACT Houston accelerated approach basically requires 3 steps and 2 tests:
- Step 1 – Application/Admission (appointment)
- Step 2 – Preparation Program Institute (7-8 weeks of evening & weekend sessions)
- Step 3 – Two-semester Teaching Internship (full-salaried).
Tests are the TExES Content Exam for your approved certification area (usually taken as soon as possible) and the TExES Pedagogy & Professional Responsibility (PPR) Exam which is usually taken during your first semester of teaching. ACT Houston provides thorough test preps for both the TExES Content and PPR Exams.
Q: Is there any difference in the teacher certificate that I will receive from participating in the ACT Houston program and what I would receive from a university College of Education program?
A: Absolutely no difference! All beginning teachers must have a Probationary Certificate for their first year of teaching, no matter how they are earning their certification. At the end of your first year, you should be eligible for a Standard Certificate. That is our goal at ACT Houston—to help you reach your goal of becoming a certified teacher by the end of your second semester in the classroom.