Program Accreditation

Texas State Board for Educator Certification Texas Educator Agency

Dallas ISD Alternative Certification TEA Accreditation Status 2023-2024:

                                                         ACCREDITED

To explore Dallas ISD Alternative Certification performance over the past five years, you may review the Educator Preparation Data Dashboard

Congratulations to all the interns who have been recognized as Teacher of Promise or Teacher of the Year award recipients! Your dedication and hard work are truly inspiring.

Join Dallas ISD’s Alternative Certification Program and become a certified educator, AT NO COST TO YOU!*

Dallas ISD is looking for degreed professionals interested in transitioning into teaching for critical areas of need:

• Core Subjects EC–6 with Science of Teaching Reading/ESL
• Core Subjects EC-6 with Science of Teaching Reading/Bilingual
• English Language Arts and Reading 7–12/ESL
• Math 7-12
• Special Education Specialist EC–12

Competitive advantages offered to new teaching candidates include:

 

Phase 64 - Road to Teaching Certification

Application:  COMING SOON - July 15, 2025

Orientation: August 27, 2025 (Invite Only)

Phase I: September 2 - November 7, 2025

Phase II: November 12 - December 18, 2025

Phase III: Internship January 2026 - January 2027

*Dates subject to change

 

Phase 63 - Road to Teaching Certification

Application: September 20, 2024 - January 31, 2025

Orientation: March 5, 2025 (Invite Only)

Phase I: March 5 - May 23, 2025

Phase II: June 10 - July 11, 2025

Phase III: Internship (August 2025 - May/June 2026)

*Dates subject to change

 

GENERAL ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

Dallas ISD Alternative Certification Program seeks to help candidates that are passionate about the success of students. We provide a substantial amount of support to assist you along the process, however, before doing so there are a few minimal requirements needed to enter the program. Download our Program Checklist Today

• Online Application
• Professional Resume
• Bachelor’s degree conferred by an institution of higher education that is recognized by one of the regional accrediting agencies in the THECB.**
• An overall Grade Point Average of 2.5 or higher on a 4.0 scale on Bachelor's degree
• Completion of Virtual Interview
• Completion of Background Check & Fingerprinting (click to learn more)***

  • Per 19 TAC §227.1 all educator preparation program (EPPs) candidates must undergo a criminal history background check prior to employment and must undergo a criminal history background check prior to clinical teaching.

• Must be 18 years of age or older
• Have a favorable TExES exam history

**Be sure to provide all undergraduate transcripts from all visiting universities and colleges.

***Background and Fingerprinting takes place once you have been accepted into the program and before your internship begins. 

TRANSCRIPTS

 Two (2) official undergraduate transcripts are needed:  

• One set of all undergraduate transcript(s) is to be opened by the applicant and uploaded to their online application.
• One set of all transcript(s) must be mailed or emailed by the institution to Dallas ISD Alternative Certification Department.  If mailed, official transcript(s) must be in a sealed envelope (not opened by applicant) and mailed directly to:

Dallas ISD Alternative Certification Program

9400 N Central Expressway Suite 1400

Dallas, Texas 75231

Electronic transcript(s) can be emailed to alternativecertification@dallasisd.org (preferred method).

Be sure to provide all undergraduate transcripts from all visiting universities and colleges.  The applicant is responsible for uploading his/her transcripts to the application.

Please note, the Educator Preparation Program (Dallas ISD Alternative Certification Program) is not responsible for the calculation of the applicants’ GPA.  If your transcript does not reflect overall/cumulative GPA or is not calculated in a 4.0 GPA scale, you must reach out to your university Registrar’s Office or accredited transcript evaluation company and have them prepare a letter in official letterhead and signed by the university designee with calculation as requested by the EPP. 

In the event that you are in your last semester of graduation and the application deadline is weeks before your conferred graduation date, you are still able to apply to our program.  You will need to submit in temporary lieu of your official undergraduate transcript a Letter of Intent* from your Registrar's office with the current GPA to be 2.75 or better.  The letter must be in official university letterhead, signed by the appointed designee, and must come directly from the university.  

Please note that you will need to upload an official transcript (even if your degree is not conferred) to your application.   Once your degree confers, you will need to submit two copies of your final official transcript (one you are uploading to your application and the second copy you are having the university send to us) reflecting degree completion as stated on our admission’s requirements.  

*The Letter of Intent from the Registrar’s office is an official confirmation of the Degree and Major Pending.  It states where you are in your degree completion stage, date of completion, and current GPA.  

PRELIMINARY CRIMINAL HISTORY EVALUATION (PCHE)

A Preliminary Criminal History Evaluation (PCHE) is an evaluation of eligibility for a Texas educator certificate based on your self-reported criminal history. As a service to prospective candidates, TEA staff may perform an evaluation for a non-refundable fee of $50. The evaluation is voluntary and non-binding and available on the TEA website.  Please note that you may potentially be ineligible for issuance of a certificate on completion of this EPP if you have been convicted of an offense during your internship. 

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

English Language Proficiency

If a candidate’s bachelor’s degree is from a college or university outside of the United States candidates must take the TOEFL-iBT, and receive the following scores: 

High-Intermediate level scores for each section:

Reading 18-23

Listening 17-21

Speaking 20-24

Writing 17-23

(Institution Code: 8613).  

For more information regarding TEA English Language Proficiency guidelines click here.

Please note that TOEFL-iBT test results are only valid for two (2) years.

Educators with a conferred undergraduate or graduate degree at an accredited institution of higher education in the United States, DO NOT have to take the TOEFL-iBT.

FOREIGN EVALUATIONS

All foreign transcripts must be evaluated by an accredited transcript evaluation company from the approved list of the evaluation companies (available on the TEA website) course by course with an overall GPA.

Unfortunately, we are not accepting visa applications at this time. If you are unsure about your visa, click here for the list of visa classifications that allow you to work in the United States. 

Military Policy

The Dallas ISD Alternative Certification Program adheres to the Dallas ISD military policy:

Dallas Independent School District handbook

WHAT ARE THE PROGRAM CYCLE DATES?

If you're interested in the specific dates concerning the Dallas ISD AC Program, please find the infographics below:

• Phase 63: Full Program Cycle
• Phase 62: Full Program Cycle

 Revised 04/10/2025