The Texas Education Agency conducts a national criminal history check on all applicants for certification. Texas Education Code (TEC) §22.0831 states, "The board shall review the national criminal history record information of a person who has not previously submitted fingerprints to the department or been subject to a national criminal history record information review."
The UNTD SOE prepares educators for fields that require fieldwork, internship, practicum, service learning, and/or clinical teaching. Placements occur in educational settings which require a criminal background check. Texas law requires that UNTD notify you of your potential ineligibility to obtain certification or a license due to a prior criminal conviction or deferred adjudication for a felony or certain misdemeanor offenses. Applicants are encouraged to review the Texas Occupation Code, Chapter 53, Sections 53.001 through 53.105.
If you have ever been convicted of a felony or misdemeanor and would like to check your eligibility for teaching, you can go to the TEA National Criminal History Checks FAQs website. This page will provide information on obtaining a preliminary Criminal History Review for Educator Certification Candidates. This service will allow those individuals who are contemplating obtaining a Texas Teacher certificate in the future the opportunity to have a review of an existing criminal history performed by agency staff. This process does not preclude a candidate from being required to submit to a national criminal history review, as required by statute, at the time of application for a teaching certificate.
Teacher candidates who become ineligible for placement due to certain criminal convictions may have to withdraw from the course(s), may not be able to satisfy degree requirements, and be required to withdraw from their program of study. In addition, an individual convicted of certain offenses may be ineligible for a certification examination upon completing an educational program. Questions related to eligibility requirements should be directed to the Texas Education Agency.