Candidates applying for admission to ACP are required to meet the following criteria:

1. Baccalaureate Degree: The applicant must have a baccalaureate degree earned from and conferred by an institution of higher education that is recognized by one of the regional accrediting agencies. If the applicant earned the baccalaureate degree from a foreign university, the transcript must be evaluated by an accrediting organization recognized by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board to prove that it is equivalent to a U.S. baccalaureate degree.
2. Minimum Grade Point Average (GPA): The candidate must submit an official transcript meet one of the following criteria in order to be eligible to enter the ACP:
   1. an overall GPA of at least 2.5 or
   2. a GPA of at least 2.5 in the last 60 semester credit hours; or
   3. Exception to Minimum GPA Requirement: demonstration of achievement equivalent to the academic achievement represented by GPA through the applicant’s work, business, or career experience as evidenced by the applicant. GPA requirement will be granted by the program director only in extraordinary circumstances and will not be used to admit more than 10% of any cohort of candidates.

To meet the exception to the 2.5 minimum GPA requirement, according to 19 TAC §227.10(a)(3)(B), the following should be met:

   (B) In accordance with the Texas Education Code, (TEC), §21.0441(b), an exception to the minimum GPA requirement may be granted by the program director only in extraordinary circumstances and may not be used by a program to admit more than 10% of any incoming class of candidates. An applicant is eligible for this exception if:

      (i) documentation and certification from the program director that an applicant’s work, business, or career experience demonstrates achievement equivalent to the academic achievement represented by the GPA requirement; and

      (ii) in accordance with the TEC, §21.0441(a)(2)(B), an applicant must pass an appropriate content certification examination as specified in paragraph (4)(C) of this subsection for each subject in which the applicant seeks certification prior to admission. In accordance with the TEC, §21.0441(b), applicants who do not meet the minimum GPA requirement and have previously been admitted into an EPP may request permission to register for an appropriate content certification examination if the applicant is not seeking admission to the same EPP that previously granted test approval for a certification examination in the same certification class.

To meet the requirement above, NAU requires all applicants that do not meet the minimum GPA requirement to take/pass a TX PACT exam for the content area seeking admission prior to admission. In addition, the program director signs a document that certifies each applicant’s work, business, or career experience demonstrates achievement equivalent to the academic achievement represented by the GPA requirement; and provides a description of extraordinary circumstance.

3. Verification of Subject Content Credits (at least 12/15 credits) or TX-PACT passing score: The candidate must demonstrate the content mastery by meeting one of the following:
   1. a minimum of 12 (social studies and language arts) or 15 (math, science, technology) credit hours in the subject-specific content area for the certification sought; or
   2. a passing score on Texas Pre-Admission Content Test (TX-PACT). The content test must match the content area for the certification sought.
4. College-level skills: All applicants will be required to demonstrate competency in basic skills in reading, oral and written communication, critical thinking, and mathematics.
   • Reading: Grade of “C” or better in ENGL 1311 – Composition and Rhetoric I or its equivalent
   • Oral Communication: Grade of “C” or better in COMM 1311 – Fundamentals of Communications or its equivalent
   • Written Communication: Grades of “C” or better in ENGL 1311 – Composition and Rhetoric I and ENGL 1312 – Composition and Rhetoric II or their equivalents
   • Critical Thinking: Grade of “C” or better in PHIL 1311 – Introduction to Logic and Critical Thinking or its equivalent
   • Mathematics: Grade of “C” or better in MATH 1311 – College Algebra or it’s equivalent

5. English Language Proficiency: Proof of English language proficiency must be provided to the ACP office before an applicant can be considered for admission to the program. English proficiency can be demonstrated in any one of the following ways:

1. 1. completion of an undergraduate or graduate degree at an institution of higher education in the United States;
   2. if an undergraduate or graduate degree was earned at an institution of higher education outside of the United States, check the list of TEA’s accepted country list;
   3. TOEFL– minimum score: 89 (Speaking 24, Listening 22, Reading 22, Writing 21).
   4. If a candidate presents a transcript from an out of country institution of higher education, the transcript must be evaluated by one of the approved evaluation entities and reflect a degree comparable the ones issued in the United States.

6. Application Form: The candidate must submit a signed application form.

7. Interview: An interview is required as part of the admission process to determine the candidate’s appropriateness for the certification sought.

8. Proof of Competency in Content Area: Passing Pre–Admission Content Test (TX-PACT)

9. Signed Acknowledgement of Required background Check form

10. Signed Acknowledgement of Preliminary Criminal History Evaluation

11. Signed acknowledgment of Texas Educator’s Code of Ethics

12. Other Requirements: Candidates applying for a Texas educator certificate must:

1. 1. be at least 18 years of age;
   2. not be disqualified or the subject of a pending proceeding under Chapter 249 of Title 19 of Texas Administrative Code.
   3. not be disqualified by federal law;
   4. be willing to support and defend the constitutions of the United States and Texas.