In order to apply to this program you must have earned your master's OR be in the last fifteen (15) hours of your coursework.

ACC allows candidates up to three (3) years to complete this program.

You can start the program in the Fall, Spring, or Summer session (semester). Classes are held in person, Monday - Thursday, from 6:00pm - 9:00pm.

A certification plan is available which outlines completion of your program and will be provided in your cohort handbook at orientation. While this is designed as a two-year program, students are allowed up to three years to complete it.

The first year is completion of the required state curriculum, including passing the TExES 268 Principal as Instructional Leader exam. The exam must be passed in order to apply for the practicum.

The second year is the practicum. This can be complete as a classroom teacher or an assistant principal on an intern certificate. Practicum requirements are:

• 160 clock hours of practicum tasks approved and signed of by a qualified site supervisor.
• Successful completion of the Performance Assessment of School Leaders (PASL) exam.

Both the 160 practicum hours and the PASL will be completed under the supervision of the Site Supervisor and a qualified ACC Field Supervisor.

Yes. Please see below:

• Military: ACC will evaluate and accept any coursework recorded on an official transcript while complete in the military if it is pertinent to the certification area sought by the candidate.
• Colleges and Universities: ACC will evaluate and accept any coursework recorded on an official transcript complete at other colleges and universities if it related to the certification area being sought by the candidate.
• Alternative Certification Programs: ACC will NOT accept any coursework from an alternative certification program.

Applicants must have a minimum, overall 2.5 GPA.

No. This is an in-person program, however there may be occasions where an instructor offers a virtual class due to weather or health concerns.

Completing a 160-hour practicum as a classroom teacher is very difficult to do in a single semester and we want to make sure our candidates have the time needed to complete the tasks successfully. In addition, candidates are now required to complete the Performance Assessment for School Leaders (PASL) exam, which is an intense, comprehensive performance task requiring a significant of time and writing.

The PASL has three parts that focus on:

1. Addressing a problem/challenge
2. Developing continuous professional development
3. Building a collaborative culture

We don't want our candidates to be in a situation where managing a work/life balance becomes unnecessarily difficult. We believe that spending a year in a practicum with a qualified Site Supervisor/Mentor and an ACC Field provides the best possible support, ensuring that our candidates will be ready to step into a leadership role on completion of the program.

If your country is designated as English speaking by the Texas Education agency, you do NOT have to take the TOEFL. If your country is not on that list then you must take the TOEFL.

You must achieve the minimum scores in the following areas:

• Speaking, 24
• Listening, 22
• Reading, 22
• Writing, 21

If the conferred degree is from out-of-country, the out-of-country transcript must be evaluated for equivalency to a US degree by an approved TEA transcript evaluation.

The transcript evaluation company located in Austin TX is:

Foreign Credentials Service of America
1920 Justin Lane
Austin, TX 78757

Phone: 512-459-8428
Fax: 512-459-4565

Student complaints may include (but are not limited to) issues regarding classroom instruction, college services and offices as well as discrimination based on race, color, gender, religion, national origin, disability, or sexual orientation.

Grade disputes and sexual harassment complaints are handled separately. Please refer to the following document for more information.

Complaint Procedures/Policy Process

Candidates who are admitted to the ACC Principal Certification Program are expected to demonstrate both academic and specified non-academic standards that are necessary to be competent campus administrators. The intent is to ensure that the candidates recommended for principal certification an effectively and independently carry out the duties for which they are being prepared.

We will hold you to your signed agreements and program policies. You will be placed on academic probation or asked to leave the Principal Certification Program based on, but not limited to the reasons listed below.

• Failure to abide by the Texas Educator's Code of Ethics.
• Poor attendance (classes and/or internship).
• Incomplete or unsatisfactory coursework.
• Uncorrected Fitness to Lead incidents.
• Unsatisfactory progress toward completion of the program.
• Failure to meet the practicum requirements.
• Failure to maintain financial responsibilities to ACC.
• Failure to pass the TExES exams.
• Falsification of application or program information.
• Failure to disclose criminal activity If a candidate resigns from the program or is released by the program, the following must be completed within five (5) working days.
• In the event of resignation from the program, written notice to the program coordinator or to the admissions officer is required.
• In the event of release by the program the program will send an official letter to the candidate stating the reason for release.
• An exit interview must be held with an ACC staff member.
• All materials (books, technology, etc.) must be returned. If not, the candidate will be billed for the costs of the materials and grades withheld.