This 24 semester credit hour certification, embedded in the online M.Ed. in Reading/Language Arts degree, is designed for teacher practitioners who are interested in obtaining a Texas Reading Specialist Certification to strengthen their understanding of literacy for application in their classroom or other school settings. The Texas Reading Specialist Certification is designed for an applicant who desires to work as an all-level Reading Specialist in Texas. The stand alone certification is for applicants who currently hold a Masters or higher graduate degree.
Candidates for the Texas Reading Specialist Certification must have a valid elementary or secondary Texas teaching certification; along with two years of successful teaching experience before taking the Reading Specialist exam (Two years can be concurrent with the program). One hundred and sixty hours of practicum/field experience with diverse learner populations are embedded in the program. Field experience hours must be completed at a Texas Education Agency (TEA) approved location.
Students must successfully complete coursework within the M.Ed. in Reading/Language Arts program and 160 hours of documented field experience to be recommended to take the exam. Field hours are embedded in the M.Ed in Reading/Language Arts course work.
TEA requires a graduate degree in a literacy related field to be recommended for the Texas Reading Specialists certification; therefore, this stand alone certification is only offered for those holding a graduate degree. All others should seek the M.Ed. in Reading/Language Arts program.
The SHSU Dyslexia Certificate is embedded in this program and can be added to the certification plan.