Classroom Teacher Certification – Teacher Education Program

Step 1: Login

Go to the TEA Website, click on “TEAL Login” (TEAL) at the top and log into TEAL with your username and password to complete the application. (Choose one of the “forgot” options if you need assistance with username or password.)

Step 2: Verify Profile in Educator Certification Online System (ECOS) for Educators

Under Educator Certification Online System for Educators, click on “View My Educator Certification Account.” You should be taken to ECOS (blue background).

Verify your profile information is correct and click Continue at the bottom.

Step 3: Apply for Standard Certificate

From the left hand menu, select “Applications”:

• Choose “Standard Certificate Texas Program.”
• Click on “Apply for Certification” and follow the instructions to apply.
• Choose the correct recommending entity: “Tarleton State University (University Based)”

Step 4: Payment and Fingerprints

When you complete the application, you will be asked to pay for the application and fingerprinting, if applicable.

Once payment for fingerprinting has been submitted in ECOS, the applicant will be “pre-enrolled” and MorphoTrust/Identogo will send the applicant an email that includes information to schedule an appointment. The email will be sent from the address – nobody@uemail.identoGo.com.

Please note that once pre-enrolled, certificate applicants may also find the information necessary to schedule an appointment in the applicant’s ECOS account. After logging in, the certificate applicant should choose ‘Fingerprint Status’, and he or she will be taken to a screen that displays the UEID number, the service code and a link for appointment scheduling through MorphoTrust/IdentoGo. View more information on fingerprinting at the TEA website.

If you were fingerprinted by your school district, as a substitute, or you already hold a certificate in Texas, you may not have to redo the fingerprint portion. Do not pay for it at this time. Allow the system a few days to match up your previous fingerprints.

What happens now?

You will be sent a system generated email from TEA once you have applied. You will get a second email once you have been recommended by Tarleton.

The following must be completed before you will be recommended:

 – Completion of all coursework required for certification, including successful  completion of clinical teaching

 – Verification that you are in good standing in the program

 – Degree conferred

 – All exams required for certification are passed

The following must be completed before you will be certified:

 – Recommendation from the Teacher Education Program

 – All fees for application and fingerprinting have been paid

 – Fingerprinting has been completed

 – National criminal history check is performed

We cannot recommend you for certification until your degree has been conferred and posted on your transcript. We hope that happens within a week after the commencement ceremony. This application will only be for the certificate area(s) you completed at Tarleton State University while in the Teacher Education Program.

If you have paid for your certificate and your fingerprint status is complete, start checking the next day after you receive the email stating you have been recommended for your certificate to be viewable.

Once you are a certified teacher, you will be able to take additional classroom based TExES exams. If you pass, you will need to add them to your certificate. Instead of choosing “Standard Certificate Texas Program,” you will choose “Additional Certification by Examination.” You can add more than one additional certificate at a time for one fee if you wait until you have passed multiple exams to apply.

If you have applied and want to check on the status of your application, please feel free to contact Allison Musick by phone at 254-968-9815 or by email at amusick@tarleton.edu

Step 5: Verify Fingerprint Status

To check on your fingerprint status, log back into ECOS and click on “Application/Fee Status” from the left-hand menu. Then click on “View Fingerprint Status”:

• If it says “Fingerprint Complete,” you do not need to take any further action.
• If it says “Fingerprint in Progress,” it means that they have received your payment for fingerprints, and the process may or may not have been started yet.
• If there is no status, it means they are waiting on payment before the process can be started.