Students Need to Know About Real-World Experience

You Don’t Need a 4-Year Degree to Become a Teacher

School districts are always looking for people with real-world experience to become teachers. Because every young person is different, the college route may not be the best career path for them. If you are currently working in the Criminal Justice, Automotive, Cosmetology or Culinary Arts areas, you do not need a degree.

To be admitted into the ECAP program for a Career and Technical Education Certificate, you must meet the following state requirements:

Bachelors: Visit our Degree Page

Associates:
2 years of full-time waged earned experience within 10 years*

High School Diploma:
5 years of full-time experience within 10 years*

Health Science:
You must meet one of the educational requirements above and you must demonstrate professional skill and experience in a Health Science profession. Some examples of occupations that will meet the experience and skill program admittance requirement are listed below. 

*Occupation must be approved by ECAP and the TEA.

HEALTH SCIENCE OCCUPATIONS

TRADE AND INDUSTRIAL OCCUPATIONS

Health Science 6-12 Advertising Design
Athletic Trainer, ATC Air Conditioning & Refrigeration
Certified Coding Associate Aircraft Mechanics
Dental Assistant/Hygienist Aircraft Technology
Medical Lab Assistant Audio, Video Technology
Medical Lab Technician Auto Collision Repair & Refinishing
Occupational Therapy Assistant Auto Specialization
Orthopedic Technician Automotive Technician
Patient Care Technician Building Trades
Physical Therapy Assistant Business Machine Repair
Registered Diagnostic Medical Sonographer Cabinetmaking
Registered Technologist Cement Laying & Finishing
Radiologic Technologist, RT Cleaning and Pressing
Registered Nurse, ADRN or BSN Commercial Photography
Respiratory Therapist, CRT or RRT Computer Maintenance Technician
Speech-Language Pathologist Computer Programming
Vascular Sonography Construction Carpentry
View More Approved Occupations Here View More Approved Occupations Here

 

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I Am Eligible!
What Do I Do Next ?

ECAP’s simple certification process will guide you the rest of the way.

STEP 1

Apply

Includes sending transcripts and completing an online interview

APPLY TO ECAP

STEP 2

ECAP Evaluation and Decision

Consultant will call the applicant to discuss options and testing/training schedule.

APPLY TO ECAP

STEP 3

Enroll and Start Test Preparation

This should take 2-3 weeks per exam

APPLY TO ECAP

STEP 4

Pass Required Content Exam(s)

This is the final step in qualifying to teach

APPLY TO ECAP

STEP 5

Continue Training and Begin Job Search

ECAP helps with the job search via advice, coaching and actively marketing our teachers to schools

APPLY TO ECAP

Program Costs

Our Interns have more important things to think about, so we defer over 94% of fees until you start teaching. And all of our fees are split up into very manageable monthly payments. How Much Is It To Get Started - $0

Application Fee

$0

Our Application Fee is Completely FREE.

More Details

Our Interns have more important things to think about, so we defer over 94% of fees until you start teaching. And all of our fees are split up into very manageable monthly payments. How Much Is It To Get Started - $0

Training Fee

$200*

*in 2 Installments

The training fee covers all remaining training that will be provided during the program tenure. Paid in monthly installments of $200 per month over 2 months.

More Details

All teachers receive the following additional training:

Connections
Poverty
Teaching to Your Strengths
Legal Issues
Surviving the First Year
Lesson Planning Practicum
Using Technology in the Classroom (2 courses)
Pedagogical Theory
PPR Exam Review

Bilingual teachers receive the following additional training:

Reading and Lesson Planning for Bilingual Teachers
Math and Science for Elementary Teachers
Elementary teachers receive:
Reading and Lesson Planning for Elementary Teachers
Math and Science for Elementary Teachers

Special Education teachers receive the following additional training:

Introduction to Special Education
Reading for Special Ed Teachers
Behavior Management for Special Ed Teachers
ARD and IEP Training for Special Ed Teachers

Secondary teachers receive the following additional training:

Teaming and Communication in the classroom
Teaching in Urban Schools
Reading in the Content
Critical Thinking in the Classroom

And the good news about the training fee is that if you have to repeat a course or put the program on pause for any reason, this fee will never be re-assessed. Unlike other programs, at ECAP you only pay your training fee once.

Internship Program Fee

$390*

*in 10 Monthly Payments After You Are Hired

You do not pay this fee until you are employed as a teacher. It is then payable in monthly installments of $390 per month over 10 months.

More Details

When you receive your first job as a teacher of record, ECAP assigns an advisor to you. You will have access to your advisor throughout the year as you need them, and the advisor will visit your classroom periodically to make sure that you are being successful.

Your advisor’s primary mission is to make you a successful teacher. Our advisors’ resumes speak for themselves. Most of them are retired school administrators who were hand-picked by ECAP. The quality of our advisors is the primary difference between ECAP and our competitors. Also included in this fee is the documenting of your qualification and recommending of certificates as needed during the program.

ECAP is always communicating with partnering school districts and with the Texas Education Agency on behalf of our interns to make sure that you remain in compliance with state and local rules.

Once all your fees have been paid in full, you will be issued your Standard Certificate.

Apply Now

If you fall into any of these categories, there is probably a teaching job waiting for you!

Why is ECAP Different?

ECAP´s legacy is well-known throughout the state. We always encourage applicants to call their preferred district and ask about our program. We are highly respected by school districts statewide and have high placement percentages due to our close alliances with area school districts. Our seasoned, well-respected trainers, advisors and program staff make the difference for you. ECAP blazed the trail for privately-owned alternative teacher certification programs in Texas, allowing new teachers to enter the profession without the traditional bureaucracy. Our director, Sharon Fikes, opened one of the first state-based alternative certification programs in Texas at the Education Service Center, Region XI. In 2001, after 11 years as the Director of Alternative Certification at the ESC, Region XI, she created ECAP. ECAP has been training new teachers and guiding them through the teacher certification process ever since. Although ECAP has the distinction of being the first privately-owned teacher certification program in Texas, the experience and success of our director is truly our greatest asset. As a result, we have a teacher training program that is highly preferred by the school districts we serve and a depth of knowledge of the teacher certification process that is not available anywhere, but at ECAP. At ECAP, actions speak louder than words.

Let's Talk About Turning You Into A Teacher

We'll spend some time talking about what you want to achieve and help get you on the right path to success quickly. Book a time to talk that is convenient for you.

 

APPLY TO ECAP