Become a Health Science Instructor
Your work experience in the health sciences field gives you the unique ability to apply your knowledge to teaching middle and high school students. Through our program you can become a health science educator in less than two years by building on your experience and specialized qualifications. Use your real-world interpersonal skills and know-how to educate students in grades 6 through 12 sharing your own experience with medical terminology, human anatomy and professional development. Begin your career in teaching today!
2 Years
No foreign language credits required
18 Hours
No thesis required

Master Program:: New Design Certificate Requirements
Your Path to Complete the Certification
Step 1. Complete Observation Hours and Coursework
Observation Hours
- Complete 30-hours of required field experience in the content area or grade level you are pursuing.
- Submit the completed log sheet and reflection questions to the Teacher Certification Office.
- You cannot begin your teaching assignment until this is complete.
Pre-Internship Training Requirement Courses
- Complete 4 of the 6 graduate alternative certification courses prior to a paid internship or clinical teaching.
- You must have a minimum of 3.0 on all coursework.
Pedagogy and Professional Responsibilities (PPR)
- Receive approval from the alternative certificate program staff after successfully completing EDCI 514 and three other certification courses.
- If you are planning on taking a paid internship position, you must be registered to take the PPR exam before a probationary certificate can be granted.
Step 2. Complete Teaching Assignment Requirement
Choose one of the following two options:
During the first semester of your teaching assignment, you must enroll in EDCI 515.
Supervision and Fees
All paid interns/clinical student teachers will be supervised by a University Supervisor and Campus Mentor.
- An internship fee of $1000 per semester is assessed during paid internship/clinical student teaching.
Step 3. Completion Checklist
- Complete any remaining courses.
- All tuition and fees for the university, certification agency and program must be paid prior to obtaining certification.
- Contact the Educator Certification Office during your final semester.
- They will verify that all requirements are completed.
- After the verification, you will receive information about how to apply for certification via the Texas Education Agency.
Educator Certification:: Featured Courses
Featured Courses
Back to menuHealth Science Grades 6-12 Educator Certification :: Admissions
Admissions Requirements
To qualify, you need a bachelor’s degree, two years of wage-earning experience in your occupational field and licensure by a health professional practitioner. Eligible military experience may be used in lieu of civilian licensure and wage-earning experience.
Deadlines
Applications are accepted throughout the year.
Your Path to Becoming a Lion
Step 1. Pre-Admission Test
Candidates must pass the TExES Content Test for Health Science, test number 273, before beginning the program.
Step 2. Apply to the Graduate School
Submit Application
Submit your application through ApplyTexas.
- Select “Create a new graduate school admissions application.”
- Select “Texas A&M University-Commerce (Commerce)” as your “Target University.”
- Select “Educator Certification” as your “Major.”
- Pay the $50 application fee.
Wait to receive an application confirmation email before proceeding to the next step.
- After you submit your application, the Graduate School will send a confirmation email within two business days to the personal email account you used for ApplyTexas.
Note: Acceptance into the Graduate School does not give automatic admission into the Alternative Certification Program.
Submit Documents
Submit the following documents after you receive an application confirmation email.
- Upload your documents at myLeo > Apps > Check Admissions Application Status & Test Scores or email your documents to your graduate coordinator, [email protected], unless otherwise specified below.
Official Transcripts
Contact your previous institution(s) and request that they send your official transcripts to [email protected].
- We recommend that you request transcripts for all of your academic work.
Undergraduate degree in a related discipline from a regionally accredited institution with a minimum grade point average of 2.75 overall.
Postal Alternative
If your institution is unable to submit a digital copy, hard copies may be mailed to:
Texas A&M University-Commerce
Attn: Graduate School
PO Box 3011
Commerce, Texas 75429-3011
We will need official/original documents. If those documents are the only copies you have, the Graduate School can mail them back to you upon request. Contact [email protected] for more information.
Resume or CV
Submit a resume or curriculum vitae (CV) which includes your academic and professional history and achievements.
Personal Statement
Describe your preparation for graduate work, your academic interests and goals in no more than 500 words.
Look for application updates in myLeo > Apps > Check Application Status
- Once an admission decision has been made, you will receive an email to your student email account at myLeo > Apps > Leomail.
Step 3. Apply to the Alternative Certification
Submit Application
Submit your application through Alternative Certification Application
- Pay the $50 application fee.
Note: When the application is sent, also submit your test scores and a resume.
Submit Documents
Email the following documents to [email protected] unless otherwise specified below.
Statement of Qualifications Form
Complete the Statement of Qualifications and return to [email protected]
Resume
Submit current resume to [email protected]
Passing TExES Content Test Score
Submit your passing TExAS Content Text scores to [email protected]
Step 4. Apply for Financial Assistance
- Apply for FAFSA and TAFSA financial aid through the state and federal governments during the admission application process. Use code 003565.
- Apply for outside scholarships once you are admitted to A&M-Commerce.
- Check your financial aid and scholarship info through myLeo > Student Resources > Financial Aid Information.
Step 5. Register for Classes
Once registration opens and you are eligible to enroll, your certification coordinator will contact you to complete registration.
- View your degree plan in DegreeWorks.
- To register for classes, go to myLeo > Student Resources > Registration Menu.
Contact your certification coordinator if you have any questions regarding your degree plan and registration.
ACP Programs:: Curriculum
Curriculum
Required courses (15 hours)
- EDCI 514 Management & Curriculum Development for Diverse Learners (to be taken first)
- EDCI 517 Reading & Learning K-12
- EDCI 519 Response to Intervention Applied to Exceptional Learners
- RDG 516 Foundations of Reading
- EDCI 515 Evidence-Based Learning (to be taken during internship)
- ETEC 524 Introduction to Educational Computing
Hospitality, Nutrition & Food Sciences Grades 8-12 Educator Certification :: Public History WE ARE HERE TO HELP copied not edited copied not edited copied not edited copied not edited copied not edited copied not edited copied not edited
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Contact Us
- College of Education and Human Services
- 903.886.5671
- 903.886.5156
- [email protected]