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Texas School Counselor Certification Renewal
Renewing your Texas School Counselor certification is a straightforward process that ensures you remain qualified and compliant with state requirements (see TEA Certification Renewal Overview). Certification must be renewed every five (5) years, requiring 200 hours of Continuing Professional Education (CPE), with 80% focused on School Counseling. Six (6) months before expiration, you will receive an email with renewal instructions, which involve logging into your TEAL account, accessing your Educator Certification Online System (ECOS) account, submitting the renewal application, and paying the fee online. Proper documentation of CPE hours should be maintained for verification. Failure to renew on time will result in inactive status, necessitating completion of CPE hours for reactivation.
Follow below to see requirements broken out more clearly:
Certification Requirements
- Renewal Period: Every five (5) years.
- Continuing Professional Education (CPE):
- Total Hours Required: 200 hours.
- Focus: At least 80% of the CPE must be focused on the School Counseling role. The remaining hours can include topics such as college/career guidance, drop-out prevention, and financial aid/college application processes.
Application Process
Email Notification:
- You will receive an email six (6) months before your certificate expires.
- This email will provide instructions on how to renew your license.
Online Renewal Application:
- Log into your TEAL account.
- Access Your Educator Certification Account.
- In TEAL, click “View My Educator Certification Account” to log into your Educator Certification Online System (ECOS) account.
- Verify and update your profile information in ECOS, then click “Continue.”
- Submit Application:
- From the Main Menu, select “Applications,” then “Renew a Standard Certificate.”
- Follow the prompts to submit the online renewal application.
- Pay the renewal fee online.
Documentation:
- Proof of CPE Hours:
- Maintain documentation of completed CPE hours.
- Be prepared to submit these documents if requested for verification.
Fees:
- Renewal Fee: The fee amount is specified during the online application process in the ECOS system.
- Payment: Must be paid online through the ECOS system.
Additional Information
- Inactive Status: If you do not renew by the expiration date, your certificate will become inactive. You are still required to complete the 200 CPE hours to reactivate your certificate.
- Multiple Certificates: If you hold multiple certificates, you are only required to complete a maximum of 200 CPE hours for renewal.
By following these steps and meeting the outlined requirements, you can ensure your Texas School Counselor certification remains active and in good standing.