This page contains information about Texas Trade & Industrial Education teacher certification. The University of North Texas assists future teachers completing certification for secondary Trade & Industrial Education certification, however, the State Board for Educator Certification makes the final decision on all teacher certification in the State of Texas. This decision is made after you have completed a minimum of one-year of a Trade & Industrial Education instructional internship. Please do not construe this website as "the official word." Again, the University of North Texas (and all other Texas institutions and certification agencies) only makes a recommendation for certification to SBEC. SBEC makes the final decision on all teacher certification in the State of Texas.
Overview
Trade and Industrial Education, often called T&I, prepares individuals for initial employment in a wide range of industrial occupations. Trade and Industrial Education programs prepare individuals for employment in the diverse industrial and service sectors of our nation's economy. This includes training for apprenticed trades, technical occupations, and other industrial and service occupations. Trade and Industrial Education is considered to be the broadest of all career and technical education fields, with training programs designed to prepare workers in a wide range of trade and industrial occupations classified on multiple levels of employment ranging from operatives to semi-skilled and skilled craftspeople and technicians of less than baccalaureate degree. Trade and industrial occupations are found in a variety of job categories such as manufacturing, construction, communications, printing, transportation, mining, protective services, visual arts, personal services, and building and maintenance service occupations.
Programs in Trade and Industrial Education are offered in some middle/junior high schools as exploratory courses which introduce students to the many diverse occupations and careers in the business and industrial sector of the economy and provide them with opportunities to engage in basic work tasks in a laboratory environment. Trade and Industrial Education programs at the high school level are delivered through specific labor market preparation programs using the cluster approach, single-occupation approach, or through a work-based learning program.
There are many different occupational areas in Trade and Industrial Education, as shown in the figure below:
| Sample Listing of Trade and Industrial Education Programs/Courses | |
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Since Trade and Industrial Education occupations are so diverse, the work-based education option (program) is provided in many schools to allow students the opportunity to receive work preparation in occupations which are not part of the regular school career and technical program or to develop job skills in a real work environment to enhance what they have learned in available Trade and Industrial Education programs.
Secondary Trade and Industrial Education programs provide classroom instruction in applied academics and the basic concepts and principles of an occupation or job, followed by opportunities to apply what they have learned in laboratory projects and actual live-work projects such as servicing customers' cars in an automotive technology program.
Trade and Industrial Education students develop leadership skills and enhance job skills through participation in the many activities of Skills USA, which is the career and technical student organization for Trade and Industrial Education. Skills USA activities such as chapter activities, professional development, and competitive events are integrated into the instructional program to motivate students in preparing for occupational careers. The awards associated with Skills USA activities provide students with recognition for quality effort and work. A copy of the Leadership Guide is available at the UNT Bookstore (Select Textbooks, proper Semester, department: ATTD, and course: ATTD - If this course does not display check the semester selection).
Step 1
Career Development Plan
A Career Development Plan (deficiency plan) lists the required courses and activities that the applicant MUST complete before UNT will recommend a student to SBEC for certification in Trade & Industrial Education.
A Career Development Plan is needed for a teacher to be hired by a school district to teach Trade & Industrial Education. You do NOT have to complete the requirements for certification before you can be hired. However, an official Career Development Plan must be on file with the school district before you can begin teaching. Please note that ALL new Career and Technical Education teachers are hired in this manner.
The following is needed before a Career Development Plan can be processed:
- Official transcripts of all colleges/universities ever attended
- $25 money order payable to the University of North Texas (non-refundable) indicating your name and social security number
- Photocopies of any relevant certifications or licenses
- Statement of Qualification (SOQ) form. Please mark "Trade & Industrial Education" for your certification area (on the front page)
When you have gathered/completed the above mail it to Dr. Jerry Wircenski:
University of North Texas
Dr. Jerry Wircenski
Program of Applied Technology, Training & Development
Matthews Hall 316
P.O. Box 310530, Denton, Texas 76203-0530
(940)565-2714, (940)565-2057 program office
e-mail: akadrj@unt.edu
To enroll in courses you will need to be admitted to the University of North Texas (Admissions).
What happens once the application has been received?
Dr. Wircenski evaluates the applicant's work experience and coursework and sends an Unofficial Career Development Worksheet to the College of Education, Student Advising Office.
Second, the College of Education Career Development Officer verifies the application and processes an "official" Career Development Plan. The official Career Development Plan is mailed directly to the applicant once the process is complete. The official Career Development Plan will be completed approximately 6-8 weeks from the time that all necessary paperwork is received. During periods of high demand, it may take longer. If you have a question about when the application will be completed, please contact Stella Winsett at winsett@coe.unt.edu, or 940/565-2740.
Step 2
Complete Career Development Plan Requirements
The Trade and Industrial Education certificate is based on academic preparation and experience in the skill areas to be taught and completion of specified Pedagogy and Professional Responsibilities (PPR) courses.
The qualifications for teaching are as follows:
Option I requires:
- A bachelor's degree from an accredited institution
- Three years of full-time wage-earning experience within the past eight years in one or more approved occupations for which instruction is offered. Up to 18 months of the wage-earning experience can be through a formal documented internship
Option II requires:
- An associates' degree from an accredited institution
- Three years of full-time wage-earning experience within the past eight years in one or more approved occupations for which instruction is offered
Option III requires:
- A high school diploma or the equivalent
- Five years of full-time wage-earning experience within the past eight years in one or more approved occupations for which instruction is offered
All options require:
- A current licensure, certification, or registration by a state or nationally recognized accrediting agency as a professional practitioner in one or more approved occupations for which instruction is offered. Licensure, certification, or registration by a nationally recognized accrediting agency must be based on a recognized test or measurement. If the licensure, certification, or registration is not based on a recognized test or measurement, then passing of the appropriate National Occupational Competency Testing Institute (NOCTI) written and performance examinations is required. (For more information click here)
- Twelve (12) months of wage-earning experience consisting of at least 40 hours per week shall equal one year of full-time experience. Wage-earning experience consisting of less than 40, but at least 20, hours per week shall be calculated at a 50% rate in determining years of full-time experience. Wage-earning experience consisting of less than 20 hours per week shall not be considered acceptable in determining full-time experience
- Attend the New Teacher Workshop OR review the Teacher Survival Guide available from the UNT Bookstore (Select Textbooks, proper Semester, department: ATTD, and course: ATTD - If this course does not display check the semester selection) AND attend the Summer T&I Professional Development Conference.
- Completion of UNT PPR TExES review session for T&I. (Instructions)
- Pass PPR TExES examination for T&I Education.
- Prospective Trade and Industrial Education teachers shall submit a Statement of Qualifications (SOQ) detailing prior experience and skill area preparation to the certification officer at UNT. The certification officer shall review the applicant's Statement of Qualifications to determine whether the applicant meets the appropriate approval criteria. A Career Development Plan specifying certification requirements shall be prepared by UNT.
Coursework (4000 level courses are for undergraduates and 5000 level courses are for graduate students)
- ATTD 4110/5110 - (3 hours) Designing Instruction in Career and Technical Education (100% web-based, fall and summer only)
- ATTD 4120/5120 - (3 hours) Instructional Methods in Career and Technical Education (100% web-based, fall and summer only)
- ATTD 4130/5130 - (3 hours) Professional Roles and Management in Career and Technical Education (100% web-based, spring and summer only)
- ATTD 4140/5140 - (3 hours) Work-based Learning in Career and Technical Education(100% web-based, spring and summer only)
- ATTD 4740/6030 - (a minimum of 6 hours) Instructional Internship (fall and spring only)
Once you have accepted a teaching position, you must enroll in the Instructional Internship (ATTD 4740/6030) course. You can either take the four PPR courses in the summer or during the fall and spring semesters.
The Instructional Internship is very much like a "student teaching" experience except that you will be the "instructor of record" teaching in your classroom. You will be assigned a campus-based mentor as well as a university supervisor who will oversee your first year of teaching.
You should be able to complete your required certification courses in one year. Select here for the suggested schedule of completing the certification requirements. (T&I Schedule Options)
Step 3
Applying for Certification
Once you have completed all of the requirements listed on your Career Development Plan (See Step 2) you are eligible to apply for your Trade and Industrial Education Standard Teaching certificate.
You will need to go to here for instructions to apply online to SBEC for your Standard Teaching certificate. Look over the list on the website and compare it with your official Career Development Plan to be certain that you have all of the required documentation ready. Please remember that you are responsible for "keeping track" of certification activities, classes, paperwork and documentation.
After you have looked over the instructions on the website, if you have further questions regarding the documentation requirements, you may contact Stella Winsett at winsett@coe.unt.edu, or 940/565-2740. Stella's office is located in the College of Education Student Advising Office, Matthews Hall 105, P.O. Box 311337 , Denton, TX 76203-1337.
Once you apply online, your application will automatically appear on Ms Winsett's electronic listing for verification that all requirements for UNT have been met. Once she has verified that all of UNT's requirements have been met, she will recommend you to the State Board for Educator Certification. The State Board for Educator Certification will make the final decision on issuing your certification. This is a five year renewable certificate.
Step 4
Continuing Professional Development
Continue to Learn! It is a requirement that every teacher in the State of Texas continue to improve their knowledge, skills and attitudes through 150 clock hours of continuing education every 5 years. The program of Applied Technology, Training and Development will continue to assist teachers in this endeavor as it has during the past three decades. Did you know that your certification courses can be applied toward an undergraduate or a Masters of Education degree?
Even More Information
Everyone always likes more information....so, here is the information.
Program of Applied Technology Training and Development (ATTD):
- This program offers certification coursework and is housed in the College of Education at the University of North Texas. This program offers Career and Technical certification in Health Science, Marketing Education, and Trade & Industrial Education.
College of Education Student Advising Office:
- This office processes all official certification paperwork. Dr. Jerry Wircenski can assist you in contacting the correct person in this office when necessary.
Texas Education Agency (TEA)/Career and Technical Education
- From their web-site: "We are here to help the educators, counselors, administrators, parents, students and others with their questions and concerns about Trade and Industrial Education."
State Board for Educator Certification (SBEC):
- Mission Statement: "Ensure the highest level for Educator preparation and practice to achieve student excellence."
