Principal Certification: Timeline

• Submit a completed application packet – application will not be processed without a complete packet
• Application—completed online or downloaded and mailed to program with application fee
• Official Transcripts—mailed to:
  iteachTEXAS
  Principal Certification
  P.O. Box 1626
  Denton, TX 76202
• Service record indicating years taught
• Two letters of recommendation
• Sample of writing skills
• $75.00—paid by credit card at time of online application or by check/money order mailed to program with downloaded application – this is a non refundable fee
• Applications will be retained for six months. If a completed packet (all supporting materials) is not submitted and the Letter of Agreement acknowledged within six months, the application will be destroyed.
• Given access to instructional platform to track application status
• Within two weeks
• Receive a notification of program status via email and/or regular mail
• Upon acceptance gain online access to the Letter of Agreement
• Completed packets will be retained for six months. If the Letter of Agreement is not acknowledged and/or Access fee is not paid within six months, the packet will be destroyed.
• Within a week from the time the Letter of Agreement is acknowledged and the access fee of $325 is received, a candidate receives:
• Official Letter of Acceptance
• Access to the Introductory Course. The twelve month timeline begins on the date enrolled into the Introductory Course.
• Statement of Eligibility / Payroll Deduction
  This form, which a candidate provides to school districts to which application is made, indicates eligibility for a Probationary Certificate.
• Once accepted into the program, a candidate has three complete school years in which to complete all of the program requirements, including the one year/ two semester field experience.
• Instructional Courses
• Access to the instructional courses is provided once a completed Statement of Eligibility (including signed Payroll Deduction form) or Personal Payment Plan of Agreement is received. The 12 month timeline will begin on the date access to IPAC 1001 is given.
• The seven instructional courses are self-paced.  If a candidate is required to repeat a course or elects to take a month off during the instruction, these needs can be accommodated within the 12 month time line.
• A candidate is permitted to progress from one instructional course to the next course at a rate no faster than one per month.
• Each instructional course is designed to require a minimum of 45 seat hours.
• A candidate not completing the final instructional course within 12 months from being enrolled into IPAC 1001 may request permission to be reenrolled in the courses for a six-month period with the payment of a renewal access fee.
• Certification Test
• The principal certification test is taken once the instructional courses have been completed.
• Test approval must be submitted to receive permission to take the certification test.
• Instructional fees must be paid either through payroll deduction or Personal Payment Plan.
• Field Experience
• Option I - completed Statement of Eligibility is provided to the program
• A candidate may begin the job search for a paid, full-time administrator position as soon as he/she is accepted into the program and fulfills the initial requirements.
• The field experience is completed over two semesters.
• A candidate applies for a Probationary Certificate. A candidate cannot be recommended for a Probationary Certificate until he has demonstrated being Highly Qualified either through hours or testing.
• Option II - District Letter of Release is provided to the program and release approved by Review Committee
• Release letter from a candidate's teaching district to permit candidate to participant in the field experience.
• 240 hours of documented participation in field experience over two semesters.  In both Option I and Option II, a candidate is assigned a Program Supervising Mentor.
• A payroll deduction form is processed.
• Recommended for Certification
• A candidate is recommended for the Principal Certificate after successfully fulfilling the following program requirements:
• Complete the instructional courses
• Pass the required certification test
• Complete the field experience with recommendations from Program Supervising Mentor and Campus Mentor
• Hold a conferred Master's degree
• All program fees paid
• Submit evaluation survey