THECB Aide Exemption Program

According to Texas HB 1130, passed in 2001, an educational aide may apply to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) to be a part of their “Educational Aide Exemption Program.” Once approved by THECB, the university may exempt students from participating in student teaching. At the University of Houston-Clear Lake (UHCL), this means the Internships I and II experience. Any educational aide participating in the THECB’s program seeking a teaching certificate at UHCL who wants an exemption from Internships I and II must complete the form, “THECB Educational Aide Exemption Program Internship I and II Waiver.”

THECB Requirements of the Students

• Students must have served for at least one year as an educational aide during the five years preceding the start date of the semester they are being exempted from tuition, certain fees and Internships I and II.
• Students must have been accepted into THECB exemption program for at least one semester within the five years prior to the start of the semester in which they would have taken Internship I.

UHCL Requirements of the Students to Waive Internships I and II

• Students must sign the waiver and submit it to B1231 BEFORE enrolling in the final year of their degree plan. Students must have a UHCL undergraduate degree plan on file which includes seeking teacher certification. Students must attach a Verification of Experience form verifying at least one year of the education aide experience within the specified time guidelines. Students must also attach a copy of the THECB letter of acceptance into their program.
• Students must be undergraduates at the time the waiver is signed. Students who already hold a bachelor’s degree or higher before signing the waiver are not eligible for this program.
• Students must complete an additional 12 semester credit hours of advised UHCL course work to replace Internships I and II. These grades will be calculated into the Pedagogy course work, which requires a minimum 3.000 GPA. These 12 hours will include:
  • TCED 4737
  • TCED 4033 (If TCED 4033 is on candidate’s plan, 3 hours of advised course work must be substituted
  • Six hours of advised course work

THECB Aide Exemption Project TCED 4737 Informational Meetings: Informational meetings are held in early September and February each year. Dates, times and room numbers are posted on the CPDT bulletin board outside Suite B1231. The THECB Aide Application is available at the Informational Meeting or after the meeting in September or February from the CPDT only. Application deadline for the following summer session is March 1. Mailed forms must be postmarked by February 24. Faxes or late applications will be accepted.

TCED 4737: THECB Aide Project. This three-hour, five-week course features observation and practice teaching appropriate to the subject area and level of teaching certificate the candidate is pursuing. This course takes place only in the first-five week summer session. It follows the public school calendar for summer-school sessions. Candidates may not take UHCL coursework during the first summer session before 3:00 p.m. TCED 4737 replaces Internship I and requires a grade of B- or better. The UHCL Director of the Center for Professional Development of Teachers (CPDT) will place the candidates in their field assignment. CPDT notifies candidates of their assignments prior to the first day of summer classes. Candidates must attend an orientation meeting the first day of UHCL summer classes.

Eligibility requirements for admission to TCED 4737:

• TCED 4737 requires co-enrollment in (or previous completion of a semester in) TCED 4010: Professional Preparation Seminar;
• Prior admission to the Teacher Education Program
• Successful completion of MATH 3032 or MATH 3037 if required on the Candidate Plan of Study (CPS).
• Candidates may only have six or fewer hours of coursework remaining on their program in addition to TCED 4737.
• Academic Advising will conduct an audit to determine eligibility of TCED 4737