How to Choose an
Alternative Certification Program
How to Choose an Alternative Certification Program
Alternative certification programs in Texas offer a simpler and more accessible route to teacher certification than traditional university pathways. How do you ensure the alternative certification program you choose is high quality?
There are several factors to consider when choosing a certification program, from national accreditation to the quality of the coursework.The key indicators are accreditation, and whether there is a comprehensive support structure for new teachers, rigorous coursework, and a dedication to improving customer satisfaction.
National Accreditation
There are two major players in national accreditation for educator preparation programs (EPP). The Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation, or CAEP, is a rigorous certification based on multiple data points, including student outcomes. The Association for Advancing Quality in Educator Preparation, or AAQEP, is a smaller, newer accreditation that focuses heavily on peer review.
CAEP was formerly known as the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education, which dates back to the 1950s, while AAQEP formed in 2017. CAEP requires more objective data points than AAQEP, which does not require these specific benchmarks.
Some teacher-educators have criticized CAEP for being too rigorous and less holistic. However, these data points and focus on student outcomes prove that CAEP has the students’ best interests at heart. Educator preparation programs should be able to prove their efficacy in the classroom.
iteach is the first non-college provider accredited by CAEP, which speaks to the rigor of the program and success of iteach-trained educators.
Texas EPP Governance
In Texas, the State Board for Educator Certification (SBEC) develops the rules and requirements for educator preparation programs. SBEC also accredits EPPs in Texas. The Texas Education Agency’s Division of Educator Standards, Testing, and Preparation is responsible for monitoring EPP quality based on SBEC’s requirements.
When an EPP fails to meet the requirements, they are put on probation and given an opportunity to fix their shortcomings.
In 2022, the TEA found that Texas Teachers of Tomorrow did not meet compliance in several key areas, including mentorship, admission, governance, and curriculum, and were put on probation. This wasn’t the first time they struggled to meet SBEC guidelines; in 2016, an audit found them out of compliance in five of eight areas.
As of December 2022, Teachers of Tomorrow did not adequately meet the requirements of their probation, and TEA moved to revoke their accreditation. In May 2024 a judged granted a temporary injunction putting on hold TEA’s action to revoke their accreditation
As of the February 14, 2025 SBEC board meeting, Teachers of Tomorrow did provide adequate evidence to return to Accredited (good standing) status with the State of Texas. However, because of program performance, SBEC removed the following areas of certification: 4-8 Core Subjects, and 8-12 Computer Science.
Every student deserves to have a great teacher properly trained and resourced by a high quality program. Meeting SBEC and TEA standards is the minimum acceptable threshold to achieve success in the classroom.
Certification Areas
It’s important to know which certifications an educator preparation program offers. Not every program offers every certification area. In order for an EPP to offer a certification area, they must have a minimum of a 75% pass rate on the content area exams. Ensuring the program has a history of effective test preparation is an important part of the selection process.
If a program fails to meet the requirements they risk losing the ability to train and certify teachers in that area. As an example, recently Teachers of Tomorrow missed the required accountability standards and has lost the ability to certify in the following areas: 4-8 Core Subjects, and 8-12 Computer Science.
iteach is commited to ensuring your success in passing the content area exam. To that end, we provide the best test preparation possible with Passage Preparation™.
High-Quality Test Preparation
It’s important for an EPP to prepare teacher candidates for their certification exams with high-quality test preparation. A good test preparation program offers more than just practice tests.
iteach candidates recieve access to Passage Preparation™ to prepare for their exams. Passage Preparation™ is created by educators and aligned to test standards. Content is delivered in multiple formats, so teachers can better understand the material. The courses also offer suggestions for how to teach content to students, so teachers can feel prepared for the classroom.
When choosing an EPP, inquire about test preparation options and pass rates. In Texas, there are limited opportunities for taking a certification exam, so it’s crucial that you are prepared the first time.
Support for New Teachers
Adequate support for new teachers is key to teacher success and retention. One area which educator preparation programs can support teacher candidates is in mentorship. As previously mentioned, this was an area where Teachers of Tomorrow fell short. “The educator preparation company came under fire for misleading potential teachers with its advertising, not supporting candidates with required mentors and failing to demonstrate that its training was based in research, according to a 2021 state audit” (Dallas Morning News, 2022).
iteach boasts an impressive 12:1 mentee to mentor ratio, ensuring that candidates are fully supported their first year in the classroom. These mentors are experienced educators who provide feedback and guidance on pedagogy and classroom management.
Additionally, iteach now offers instructional coaches that specialize in specific content areas. Now, when a teacher struggles with lesson planning or delivering content, they have access to an experienced coach for guidance. The inclusion of the specific role of instructional coaches (above and beyond the required Field Supervisor) is unique to this program.
Entering the classroom for the first time is daunting, and the first year of teaching is the most difficult. Choosing a program with adequate support is crucial for new teachers to succeed.
Rigorous Coursework
- Learning Environments
- Learner Development
- Planning Instruction and Assessments
- Literacy and 21st Century Instruction
- Learner Differences and Special Needs
- Diverse Populations, English Language Learners, and Bilingual Students
- Residency-Specific Course
Customer Satisfaction
No company is without its share of unhappy customers. Consider ratings, number of reviews, and how the EPP is addressing customer concerns when choosing a program.
iteach has over 900 reviews on Trustpilot, as opposed to fewer reviews at Texas Teachers.
A major area of criticism for iteach has been the difficulty of reaching a live person. We’ve addressed this issue with several solutions. First, we’ve increased phone support. We also offer a live chat on our website. Soon, our chat will also feature advanced AI features to better answer customer questions outside of business hours. We’ve also recently launched virtual advising sessions.
Choosing an Alternative Certification Program
Future educators deserve high-quality training and preparation for the classroom. Choosing an alternative certification program requires diligence and research. Choose a program in good standing with the state to avoid jeopardizing your certification.
A program dedicated to your success as a teacher will include ample opportunities for support, like iteach’s field mentors and instructional coaches. iteach also supports candidates through Passage Preparation™’s excellent test preparation courses. We remain dedicated to customer satisfaction, and we have remained in good standing with the state of Texas since our founding more than 20 years ago.
iteach has prepared over 29,000 teachers for the classroom, with a 91% retention rate over three years. In 2022-2023, 97% of our candidates passed the pedagogy test and 92% passed their content area exam.
We remain dedicated to a high-quality of teacher preparation, from our coursework and mentorship to our CAEP-accreditation.
Page last updated March 18, 2025.