Certifications & Hiring Requirements

Learn more about our Certifications and Hiring Requirements

We’re so excited that you are interested in joining the Uplift family. Uplift strives to hire the most qualified applicant for every position. All teachers must be properly certified for the teaching positions to ensure Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) and Uplift requirements are met. Please read this page thoroughly and use it to familiarize yourself with the Certification requirements for employment as a teacher at an Uplift school.

Highly Qualified

To fulfill the requirements of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), all teachers seeking employment at Uplift must be Highly Qualified (HQ) for the teaching position they are seeking. Your HQ status indicates your subject matter competency for the subject that you are teaching. There are different ways to become HQ based upon the grade level and subject you are teaching.

• For Primary Teachers, you must show subject matter competency by taking and passing the appropriate TExES Content Exam that aligns to what you will be teaching. This is the only way to become HQ for Primary grades Kindergarten through 5th grade.
• For Secondary Teachers, you must show subject matter competency either through your college transcript or by passing the appropriate TExES Content Exam that aligns to what you will be teaching.

Certification

All Uplift teachers must be certified or on the path to becoming certified in the area in which they are teaching. If you are not currently certified, you must gain admission to a Texas alternative certification program. Any new employee hired to teach in an Uplift school prior to the start of the school year who has not received a recognized Texas teaching certificate shall be required to complete an alternative certification program designated by Uplift. Failure to enroll and complete the designated alternative certification within one year of hire may result in termination or non-renewal of teaching position. Late hires will have until the end of the following school year to complete the designated alternative certification.

Minimum Teacher Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree (B.A./ B.S.) from an accredited college or university required. Master’s Degree is preferred but not required.
• Must have a valid Texas Teacher Certification or be enrolled in a Texas alternative certification program.
• Teaching staff must be able to demonstrate that they are certified and/or can demonstrate subject competency as defined by Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA).

Division	Minimum Special Education Teacher Requirements
Primary	Special Education EC-12
	ESL Supplemental
	Generalist/Core Subjects EC-6
Middle	Special Education EC-12
	ESL Supplemental
	Generalist/Core Subjects 4-8
High	Special Education EC-12
	ESL Supplemental
	9-12 Core Subject Certification (English, Math, Science, or Humanities)

Considerations

Employees hired prior to the ’22-23 school year are required to hold the following certifications by the date identified:

• Special Education EC–12 by May 31st , 2022.
• Generalist/core subject certification by May 31st , 2023.
• If a teacher is providing content instruction in a special education classroom setting as the “teacher of record”, a valid certificate that matches the subject and grade level of the assignment is required.
• ESL Supplemental by May 31 st , 2024.

Employees hired prior to the ’22-23 school year are required to hold the following certifications by the date identified:

• Special Education EC–12 prior to offer of employment is extended.
• Generalist/core subject prior to offer of employment is extended.
• ESL Supplemental by May 31 st , 2023.

Minimum Teacher Assistant Requirements

• Must have a minimum of 48 college credit hours or hold an Educational Aide certificate.
• If you do not have college credit hours or an Educational Aide certificate, you will need to take the teacher assistant assessment, which will be scheduled through Talent Management.

More Information

Please see the resources below for more information about certification and HQ requirements for employment.
For information about Texas Certification or any other certification information, please visit: https://tea.texas.gov/texas-educators/certification
Not Certified in Any State
Currently Enrolled in Alternative Certification Program
Out-of-State Certified
Texas Certified