Your one-stop resource for FAQs, documents, and program information.
240 Certification is a state-approved Educator Preparation Program (EPP) that helps aspiring teachers in Texas earn their full teaching certification through a flexible and affordable alternative certification route. It is specifically designed for individuals who already hold a bachelorâs degree and are ready to transition into a teaching career, whether youâre a recent college graduate or a career changer.
240 Certification is an alternative teacher certification program approved by the Texas Education Agency (TEA). Itâs designed to help individuals with a bachelorâs degree (or nearly finished) become fully certified teachers in Texas through a flexible, online pathway.
Hereâs how the program works:
Throughout the process, youâll be supported by personal advisors and experienced educators who guide you every step of the way.
Youâll have a dedicated Program Advisorâa certified Texas educator who will guide you through every step, from enrollment to certification. Youâll also get:
The full 240 Certification program typically takes 12â18 months to complete.
However, many candidates can begin teaching in just a few months after enrollmentâonce theyâve finished their first coursework block, passed the content exam, and completed 50 hours of field-based experience.
Candidates have up to two years from their admission date to finish all program requirements.
Most candidates can begin teaching in just a few months after enrolling. To become eligible for a paid teaching internship, youâll need to:
Once these steps are done, youâll receive your Statement of Eligibility (SOE), which allows you to be hired as a full-time, paid teacher while you finish the program.
240 Certification is approved to offer the following certificate categories:
Supplemental certifications, which can be tied to the levels/subject areas of certification include:
No. Currently, 240 Certification only serves candidates pursuing a Texas certification.
240 Certification is a Texas alternative certification program that trains and supports aspiring teachers while guiding them through the full certification processâfrom enrollment to earning a standard teaching certificate.
240 Tutoring is our sister company that provides online study guides to help you pass your certification exams.
With 240 Certification, youâll get everything you expect from a high-quality alternative certification program: affordability, online, self-paced coursework, flexible start dates, and the option to complete a paid teaching internship while you work toward full certification.
But what truly sets us apart is the personalized support. From the moment you enroll, youâre matched with a dedicated Program Advisorâa certified educator who will guide you step-by-step through the entire process, from coursework and exams to your first year in the classroom. Youâll never have to figure things out on your own.
Plus, youâll receive free access to 240 Tutoring study guides, giving you the tools and confidence to pass your certification exams. And because weâre run by experienced teachers, our program is designed with your success in mindâboth in the classroom and throughout your certification journey.
To be eligible for 240 Certification, you must:
Applying is quick and easy:
Once your application is reviewed (usually within 1â3 business days), youâll receive an email letting you know if youâre eligible to enroll.
You can send your official transcripts in one of two ways:
OR
To be considered âofficial,â transcripts must come directly from your schoolânot from you.
If your university has closed (in the U.S. or abroad), check if a third-party service is managing transcript requestsâmany closed schools arrange this. If not, try contacting the schoolâs accrediting agency, which is usually listed online, to see if they have guidance.
Texas law requires an official transcript showing your conferred degree. If you have another degree, like a masterâs, we may be able to use that instead. However, without any official transcript verifying your degree, we unfortunately canât move forward with your application.
There are no application fees. It is free to submit our online application.
If you meet our admission criteria and are invited into the program, payment is due at enrollment.
Yes. To enroll in 240 Certification, you must have a bachelorâs degree from an accredited college or university. Youâll also need a 2.5 GPA, either overall or in your last 60 credit hours.
If youâre in your final semester, you can apply and start the program, but youâll need to finish your degree before you can teach.
Yes! If youâre in your final semester of earning your bachelorâs degree, you can apply now. If accepted, youâll receive contingency admission and can begin the program. Youâll just need to submit your final, official transcript once your degree is conferred before you can start teaching.
To enroll in 240 Certification, you must have at least a 2.5 GPA, either overall or in your last 60 credit hours. Graduate-level courses (even if the degree isnât finished) can count toward the last 60 hours.
For 240 Certification, we require an overall GPA or a last 60 hour GPA of 2.5. If your GPA is below 2.5, youâll need to raise it by taking additional college courses and earning higher grades.Â
240 Certification does not accept alternatives like a passing PACT exam in place of the GPA requirement.
Prior testing attemptsâwhether passed or failedâdonât automatically disqualify you from applying to 240 Certification, but they do factor into the application review.
Things weâll consider include:
This information helps us determine the best next steps and whether additional requirements may be needed. We encourage you to apply regardless of past testing history.
If you have questions about your situation, reach out to admin@240certification.comâweâre happy to help!
Once we have received your initial online application, all required Official transcripts and your Tell Us About You form, it takes approximately 1-3 business days for our Admissions team to process your application. We will communicate the next steps with you via email once your application review is completed.
240 Certification is approved to offer the following certificate categories:
Supplemental certifications, which can be tied to the levels/subject areas of certification include:
We currently do not offer the EC-3 certification area. However, these grade levels are covered with the EC-6 Core Subjects certification. This is the route we encourage our applicants to pursue when they are wishing to pursue the EC-3 cert area.
240 Certification currently offers certification in core subjectsâsuch as math, science, ELAR, social studies, and special educationâbecause these are high-need areas that most school districts urgently need to fill. This makes you a more marketable candidate when applying for teaching jobs.
We donât currently offer areas like PE or Business, but once you earn your Standard Teaching Certificate, you can add additional certifications by exam without re-enrolling in another program.
You can indicate your preferred certification area when you apply, but final approval depends on whether you meet TEA and 240 Certificationâs eligibility requirements based on your transcript coursework.
The Texas Education Agency (TEA) sets the minimum requirements to qualify for a certification area, and 240 Certification follows those guidelines closely.
We perform a course-by-course transcript review across all the colleges or universities youâve attende. This checks for:
If you meet both requirements, youâll be approved for that certification area. If not, you can still qualify by passing the TX PACT exam for the subject you wish to pursue.
For Social Studies 7â12, at least 9 of the 12 required hours must come from history, government, economics, or geography. For Science 4â8 and 7â12, the 15 required hours must include at least 3 credit hours each in biology, chemistry, and physics. AP and CLEP credits may also count toward your content hours.
Itâs completely normal to change your mind, and it happens often! You can switch certification areas, but itâs easier to do early in the program. To change, you must meet the coursework and GPA requirements for the new area, and your coursework will need to match that new subject. Weâll work with you to make sure the new area aligns with your goals and helps you stay on track for a successful teaching placement.
The TX PACT (Texas Pre-Admission Content Test) is used to demonstrate subject-area knowledge before being admitted into an Educator Preparation Program (EPP). It is not a certification exam, but an entry requirement for certain applicants.
At 240 Certification, the TX PACT is required if:
Important: At 240 Certification, the TX PACT cannot be used as a substitute for an overall or last 60-hour GPA below 2.5. You must meet GPA requirements independently of the exam.
If youâre unsure whether you need the TX PACT, email us at admin@240certification.comâweâre happy to guide you! For more info about the TX Pact Exam, visit TEAâs website here.
240 Certification is designed to be one of the most affordable alternative certification programs in Texas, offering high-quality training and support at a competitive cost. Candidates can choose from three flexible payment options:
1. Pay in Full â $4,135
2. Monthly Subscription â $4,485 Total
3. Pay in Full via Financing â $4,135
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Additional Costs Not Included in Tuition: Certification Exams (Content, PPR, and any supplemental exams), Fingerprinting/Background Check (required by TEA), and any retake fees for certification tests, if applicable.
Yes! 240 Certification offers both payment plans and discount options to make the program more affordable:
Yes. While the overall tuition remains the same, the field experience fees differ:
So, the clinical teaching route is less expensive in terms of field experience fees, but keep in mind itâs an unpaid placement, unlike the internship.
If youâre receiving funding through a grant, scholarship, or your school district, youâll usually work directly with the district for reimbursement.Â
If your district wants to coordinate payment directly with 240 Certification, they can contact our Program Coordinator, Marissa Phillips, at payments@240certification.com or call (903) 471-0957 to set up a custom payment plan.
No, ACPs like 240 Certification do not accept federal financial aid or offer student loan deferments, since they are not institutions of Higher Education like colleges or universities. However, ACPs are designed to be much more affordable, with lower upfront costs and flexible payment optionsâmost candidates finish paying before theyâre even certified.
Unfortunately, no. The VA has reclassified all alternative certification programsâincluding 240 Certificationâas non-institutions of higher learning since they are not colleges or universities. As a result, Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits cannot be used toward our program.
However, we offer a military discount and affordable payment options to help make the program accessible for veterans, active service members, and their spouses.
Yes, there are several student loan forgiveness programs available for teachers, especially in high-need or shortage areas. These programs are offered at both the state and federal level. You can find detailed information about eligibility and how to apply on the Texas Education Agency (TEA) website here.
No. Certification exams, fingerprinting, and state certification fees are not included in the program cost. These are separate expenses paid directly to the appropriate agencies when you reach those steps in the process.
No, 240 Certification does not offer a deferred payment plan that starts after your teaching internship. However, we keep costs low from the startâoffering one of the most affordable programs in Texas, often saving you hundreds or even thousands compared to other programs with deferred payment options.
The full 240 Certification program typically takes 12â18 months to complete.Â
However, many candidates can begin teaching in just a few months after enrollmentâonce theyâve finished their first coursework block, passed the content exam, and completed 50 hours of field-based experience.Â
Candidates have up to two years from their admission date to finish all program requirements.
Most candidates can begin teaching in just a few months after enrolling. To become eligible for a paid teaching internship, youâll need to:
Once these steps are done, youâll receive your Statement of Eligibility (SOE), which allows you to be hired as a full-time, paid teacher while you finish the program.
Yes! You can complete your teaching internship or clinical teaching at any TEA-approved Texas school, including public, private, or charter schools. To confirm if your school qualifies, use the TEAâs approved school search tools:
A late hire is a candidate who both enrolls with 240 Certification and is hired by a school district after the districtâs official late hire dateâwhich is 45 days before the first day of school.
Both actions (enrollment and hiring) must happen after that date to qualify. If either occurs earlier, the candidate is not considered a late hire.
Both clinical teaching and internships meet certification requirements, but they differ in structure, pay, and responsibility:
Both paths provide valuable experienceâyour choice depends on your timeline, financial situation, and comfort level stepping into full classroom leadership.
Possiblyâdepending on your situation.
If transferring from another EPP, 240 Certification may accept completed coursework or field experience from the past 5 yearsâcontact us at admin@240certification.com to review your situation.
Yes, 240 Certification can provide a deficiency plan, but only for enrolled candidates. Once youâre in the program, you can request one through your Program Advisor.Â
Deficiency plans are not available during the admissions or invitation process.
SOE letters are only issued to enrolled candidatesânot applicantsâafter completing specific requirements:
For standard hires, you must:
For late hires, you only need to pass your content exam to be eligible for hire. Youâll then have 90 days from your first day of teaching to complete Block 1 and your observation hours.
Questions about your SOE should be directed to your Program Advisor once youâre enrolled.
Yes! All of our coursework is online, asynchronous and self-paced. So you get to move through the content at the pace you prefer!
Yes! We allow for half of your observation hours (up to 25 hours) to be completed virtually. Once you enroll, you will have access to our online library of videos that will count towards observation hours. We do recommend that you choose videos that pertain to your content area.
If you earned your degree outside the United States, youâll follow the standard application process, plus a few additional steps required for international applicants.
Standard Application Steps:
Additional Requirements for International Applicants:
Instead of standard transcripts, you must submit a course-by-course credential evaluation with:
Evaluations should be sent directly to: transcripts@240certification.com
If your degree was earned outside the United States, youâll need to submit a course-by-course credential evaluation as part of your application. This evaluation:
You must use a provider that is a member of either: The National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) or The Association of International Credential Evaluators (AICE).
Some commonly used evaluation services include:
Once completed, have the evaluation emailed directly to: transcripts@240certification.com.
Yes. If your degree was earned outside of the United States, you are required to submit a course-by-course credential evaluation with GPA, even if English is the official language of your country. This evaluation verifies that your degree is equivalent to a U.S. bachelorâs degree or higher, as required by the Texas Education Agency (TEA).
All international applicants must meet English language proficiency requirements. Whether or not you need to take the TOEFL iBT depends on your educational background.
You do NOT need to take the TOEFL iBT if you meet one of the following:
If you do not meet either of these criteria, youâll need to take the TOEFL iBT and achieve at least a High-Intermediate score in all four areas: Reading, Writing, Listening, and Speaking.
Important Notes:
This requirement helps ensure youâre prepared to communicate effectively in the classroom and meet TEA standards.
No. English proficiency is a state requirement set by the Texas Education Agency (TEA) and cannot be waived by 240 Certification.
To be exempt from taking the TOEFL iBT, you must have earned an undergraduate or graduate degree from a college or university in one of the countries on the State Board for Educator Certification (SBEC) approved list.
If your degree is not from a U.S. institution or a country on the SBEC-approved list, you are required to take the TOEFL iBT and achieve passing scores in all four sections: Reading, Writing, Listening, and Speaking.
You can view the list of TEA-approved countries here.
You do not need a Social Security number to apply to 240 Certification or to take your certification exams. However, it is required for fingerprinting, which is necessary before you can hold an Intern, Probationary, or Standard certificate, or be employed in a Texas public school.
If you do not have a U.S. Social Security number, you can request a temporary file number from the TEA Help Desk. Your request must include:
Once issued, youâll receive a âPâ number to set up your TEAL and ECOS accounts with TEA. Youâll also be assigned a TEA ID number, which can be used for testing and certification trackingâbut not in place of a Social Security number for official certification.
Note: 240 Certification does not provide visa sponsorship or immigration support.
Yes, 240 Certification does accept transfers from other EPPs, but certain criteria must be met:
To be eligible, you must:
We also review your testing history, and in some cases, you may be asked to pass a TX PACT exam before continuing the application.
Youâll also need to submit a TEA Candidate Transfer Form, signed by your previous EPP. 240 Certification will initiate this form with you near the end of the application process.
You may be able to transfer some coursework or observation hours, but this is handled case by case and is not guaranteed.
Possible transfer credits include:
These will be discussed during your Initial Advising Meeting (IAM) and reviewed by the Director of Curriculum.
Note: Any approved course substitutions do not reduce tuition.
Testing attempts will be taken into consideration and the applicant could be required to take the PACT exam prior to admission.
If you hold a standard teaching certificate from another U.S. state, territory, or country, you may not need to complete an alternative certification program like 240 Certification.
Your first step is to apply for a Review of Credentials through the Texas Education Agency (TEA). TEA will evaluate your certification and determine what additional steps, if any, are required for you to become certified in Texas.
Visit the TEA website for instructions and begin this process before applying to an Educator Preparation Program.
There is no cost to become a 240 Certification partnerâpartnership is completely free.
As a partner, your teacher candidates can receive exclusive tuition discounts.
While most partners join at no cost, some choose to invest further by covering tuition or other fees on behalf of their candidates. These paid partnership options are entirely optional and customizable based on your organizationâs goals.
As a district partner, the Cert Portal gives you real-time access to detailed certification progress for each teacher enrolled in 240 Certification. You can view:
Cert Portal provides one centralized, always-updated dashboard to help you monitor progress and make informed staffing decisionsâno more relying on self-reports or outdated static reports
Yes! 240 Certification proudly supports âGrow Your Ownâ programs by partnering with districts to help paraprofessionals, long-term subs, and other non-certified staff become certified teachers.
Interested in building or expanding your âGrow Your Ownâ pipeline?
Reach out to partnerships@240tutoring.com to explore how we can support your district.
240 Certification is approved to offer the following certificate categories:
Supplemental certifications, which can be tied to the levels/subject areas of certification include:
On average, candidates can earn their Statement of Eligibility (SOE) in as little as 4â6 weeks after enrollment. However, the exact timeline depends on how quickly they complete the following:
Some candidates may move faster or slower based on personal schedules and test availability, but most are eligible to begin teaching within a few months of starting the program.
No. 240 Certification does not require a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) or formal contract to establish a partnership. Districts and organizations can partner with us at no cost and with no paperwork required.
Being a preferred Alternative Certification Program (ACP) simply means a school district has chosen 240 Certification as their recommended route for certifying their uncertified teachers.
Itâs a non-binding, no-cost decision that reflects the districtâs trust in 240 Certification to support their staffing goals. There are no contracts, fees, or obligationsâjust a shared commitment to helping future teachers succeed.
For any questions about partnerships, support, or how 240 Certification can serve your district, reach out to:
Taylor Ann Therwhanger, Texas Districts Manager
TaylorAnn@240tutoring.com
Taylor Ann serves as a trusted advisor to Texas school districts, working to build and strengthen partnerships that support teacher certification and development. Sheâs happy to help!
The Statement of Eligibility (SOE) is issued only to enrolled candidates in 240 Certificationânot to applicants. To receive an SOE, the teacher must meet the following requirements:
For standard hires:
For late hires (those hired after the districtâs late hire date): Only the content exam must be passed prior to hire. The remaining requirements (Block 1 and observation hours) must be completed within 90 days of the teacherâs first day of instruction
If your district is seeking an SOE for an enrolled candidate, please ensure these requirements are met. The candidateâs Program Advisor can assist with questions or timelines.
Yes, 240 Certification can provide a deficiency plan for any teacher who is officially enrolled in our program. The enrolled teacher can request the plan directly through their assigned Program Advisor. Please note that deficiency plans are only available once a candidate is enrolledâthey are not issued during the admissions or invitation process.
240 Certification does not charge for deficiency plansâthis service is included at no additional cost to the district or the teacher.
The 240 Certification team is excited to help you become a teacher! Please see the below resources for additional information on admissions.
240 Certification is PROUD to announce they are an educator preparation program (EPP) made FOR teachers BY teachers!
An alternative certification program, located in the heart of East Texas, 240 Certification is preparing teachers statewide through a quality online program. The online component makes it easier for our candidates to accomplish THEIR professional goals tailored to their schedules.
240 Certification is a sister company to the highly successful 240 Tutoring. Founded in 2011, 240 Tutoring has quickly grown to become a premier national provider of teacher certification exam preparation.
The heart of our company is to serve and support those who have chosen an honorable professionâŠTEACHERS! Please feel free to contact us should you have any questions or desire to speak with someone about your certification options.
See details below for additional information regarding 240 Certification.
The following documents are required in Texas Administrative Code. Please see the links below for additional details.