Additional information about the Teacher admission process can be found at the link below.

Principal Program

Additional information about the Principal certification program and the Educational Leadership degree options can be found here: Educational Leadership Program

Superintendent Program

Additional information on the Educational Doctorate program that is closely associated with the Superintendent Certification is available here:  EdD in Educational Leadership

School Librarian Program

Additional information on the academic degree program associated with the School Librarian program can be found here:  School Librarian Program

School Counselor Program

Additional details about UNT's nationally recognized counseling program can be found here:  MS in School Counseling

Educational Diagnostician Program

Additional information on the degrees associated with the Educational Diagnostician certification can be found here:  Special Education - Educational Diagnostician

The Texas Education Agency estimates that in the next decade Texas will continue to experience high demand for certified school teachers to fill positions across the state. Demand is particularly salient in disciplines that currently experience an inadequate supply of schoolteachers.

For the 2023-2024 school year the approved teacher shortage content areas and disciplines in Texas include:

• Bilingual/English as a Second Language
• Career and Technical Education (secondary level only)
• Computer Science/Technology Applications
• English Language Arts and Reading (secondary level only)
• Mathematics (secondary level only)
• Science (secondary level only)
• Social Studies (secondary level only)
• Special Education

The Texas Workforce Commission projects that between 2020 and 2030 demand for teachers in Texas across grade levels will increase by 13.3% compared to a predicted 4% increase in teacher demand at the national level.

College of Education Appeal, Review and Retention

Students may appeal Teacher Education admission requirements or decisions or appeal Teacher Education program requirements or decisions.  Please follow the this link for additional information:

COE Appeal, Review, and Retention

Required Background Checks

Candidates must undergo a criminal history background check prior to clinical teaching as a student and prior to employment as an educator. Applicants for a Texas educator certificate also must submit to the criminal history review. An individual who has been convicted of an offense may be ineligible for issuance of a certificate upon completion of the Educator Preparation Program.

A person has the right to request a “Preliminary Criminal History Evaluation” from TEA regarding the person's potential ineligibility for certification due to a conviction or deferred adjudication for a felony or misdemeanor offense. Rules relating to “Eligibility of Persons with Criminal History for a Certificate” are prescribed in 19 TAC §249.16.

Sources: Texas Occupations Code Chapter 53, Texas Education Code Chapter 22.0831 and 22.0835 and 19 Texas Administrative Code Chapter 227, Subchapter B

UNT Educator Preparation Program Exit Policy

Candidates may be removed from the UNT Educator Preparation Program in the event they demonstrate behavior inconsistent with professional and ethical expectations of an educator in Texas. Dismissal from the program may be based on grounds including but not limited to:

• Failure to meet coursework requirements.
• Failure to abide by policies and/or procedures established by the University of North Texas Educator Preparation Program and/or program requirements established by the State Board for Educator Certification as published in the Texas Administrative Code.
• Any action deemed a violation of the Code of Ethics and Standard Practices for Texas Educators, and/or;
• Any action deemed a violation of the UNT Student Code of Conduct; and/or;
• Any action deemed a violation of school district and/or campus policy during field-based experiences or clinical teaching or internship.
• The candidate has been inactive in the program for 5 or more years.
• The candidate has been discontinued from UNT due to inactivity after 1 year of non-consecutive enrollment.

Dismissal from the program may occur at any time. Candidates who are dismissed from the University of North Texas College of Education will also be automatically dismissed from the Educator Preparation Program. All decisions of dismissal can be appealed following College policies.

UNT Prior Coursework and Training Policy

In accordance with 19 TAC §228.35(a)(5)(A) & 19 TAC §228.35(a)(5)(B), TEA requires that each educator preparation program must implement specific criteria and procedures that allow: 

1.  Military service member or military veteran candidates to credit verified military service, training, or education toward the training, education, work experience, or related requirements (other than certification examinations) for educator certification requirements, provided that the military service, training, or education is directly related to the certificate being sought; and 
2.  Candidates who are not military service members or military veterans to substitute prior or ongoing service, training, or education, provided that the experience, education, or training is not also counted as a part of the internship, clinical teaching, or practicum requirements, was provided by an approved preparation program or an accredited institution of higher education within the past five years, and is directly related to the certificate being sought. 

Candidates who meet one of these requirements should submit a general petition along with supporting documents to their College of Education advisor. Educator Preparation Program faculty will review the documents and communicate to candidates if credit can be obtained.