Texas Administrative Code › Title 19 - EDUCATION › Part 7 - STATE BOARD FOR EDUCATOR CERTIFICATION › Chapter 234 - MILITARY SERVICE MEMBERS, MILITARY SPOUSES, AND MILITARY VETERANS › Section 234.5 - Certification of Military Service Members, Military Spouses, and Military Veterans

Current through Reg. 49, No. 28; July 12, 2024
(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.