A Guide to Emergency Permits for Districts and Charter Schools

A Guide to Emergency Permits

for Districts and Charter Schools

Emergency Permits

Guidebook

EMERGENCY PERMITS GUIDE

Updated July 2024

This guide provides districts with a quick reference to emergency permit

information, including rules and best practices for district personnel. This

guide also outlines the steps to submit an emergency permit application

using the Educator Certification Online System (ECOS) via the

appropriate access in ECOS for Entities.

Texas Education Agency

Division of Educator Preparation and Certification

• 512-936-8400 – Option 2

Monday through Friday, 8:00 am to 4:30 pm

• S

ubmit a TEA Help Desk ticket to Educator Certificatio

with “Emergency Permits” in the subject line

• Chapter 230, Subchapter F. Permits

Purpose

Resources

EMERGENCY PERMITS GUIDE

Updated July 2024

EMERGENCY PERMIT BASICS

TYPES OF EMERGENCY PERMITS

SPECIFIC ASSIGNMENT REQUIREMENTS FOR EMERGENCY PERMITS

PREPARING TO SUBMIT AN APPLICATION

SCHOOL DISTRICT PERSONNEL ACCESS IN ECOS

APPLYING FOR THE EMERGENCY PERMIT IN ECOS

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Table of Contents

EMERGENCY PERMITS GUIDE

Updated July 2024

• Emergency permits, which include Nonrenewable Permits (NRP), and

Temporary Classroom Assignment Permits (TCAP), are governed by 19 TAC,

Chapter 230, Subchapter F - Permits.

• The emergency permit is valid for one year only, except for JROTC and

Teachers of Students with Visual Impairments assignments.

• The emergency permit is for individuals who are either already certified, serving in

an assignment for which they are not certified and registered for the next available

exam, or an individual enrolled in an Educator Preparation Program (EPP), with a

certification/deficiency plan from the EPP.

• These permits are requested in ECOS by employing school districts for a vacant

position that cannot currently be filled with an appropriately certified and

qualified individual.

• Permits belong to each specific school district and cannot be transferred from

one district to another. The hiring district must contact the previous district to

request that they end the permit if it was used for fewer than 90 calendar days.

• The individual must meet minimum requirements depending on the grade

level and type of assignment.

• It is imperative that you encourage your educator preparation program candidates to be

proactive in their work to qualify for an SBEC-issued credential as soon as possible. The

collective goal should be to transition the candidate off the emergency permit as soon as

he or she is eligible for issuance of an SBEC-issued certificate (e.g., intern certificate or

probationary certificate) to then allow the time serving in the assignment to count

towards completion of educator preparation program requirements.

• If the individual resigned or obtained either an intern, probationary or standard

certificate, district staff will submit a TEA Help Desk ticket to Educator Certification

with “End Emergency Permit” in the subject line. Include in the body of the ticket

the full name and TEA ID number or last four digits of the educator’s social security

number and the end date for the emergency permit.

• If you have any questions regarding this process, you may submit a TEA Help

Desk ticket to Educator Certification with “Emergency Permits” in the subject

line. Be sure to provide detailed information in the body of the ticket and

include the full name(s) of the educator(s) and the TEA ID number(s) or last

four digits of the educator’s social security number.

Emergency Permit Basics

EMERGENCY PERMITS GUIDE

Updated July 2024

Temporary Classroom Assignment Permit (TCAP)

Used for individuals certified at the secondary level for assignments in grades 7-12

• Can only be used to teach four or fewer class periods

• Can be issued in multiple certification areas if the educator is not already certified in

those areas and if the educator is teaching in each area for four or fewer class periods

• The individual must have completed twelve semester credit hours in the specific subject

area(s) to be taught.

o In the case of an assignment in mathematics or science, an individual must have

completed fifteen semester hours in the specific subject area(s) to be taught

• Processed locally with no fee associated; nothing provided to TEA

• Supporting documentation must be retained by the district

Valid for one school year

Not renewable

Nonrenewable Permit (NRP)

Used for individuals completing a Texas approved university program

• The district must obtain a letter from the university program verifying program

completion

• The individual only lacks completing the appropriate certification examination

requirements through the university program and must be registered for the next

available exam

• Application submitted in ECOS

Expire 12 months from the date of activation

Not renewable

Emergency Permit

Used for degreed individuals who hold a

standard Texas certificate

• Must be registered for the next available

exam

Used for degreed, non-certified individuals

• Must be enrolled in a Texas Educator

Preparation Program

• Must obtain a certification/deficiency

plan from the program

Expire on August 31st, unless ended by the district

Not renewable

Exceptions:

• Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (JROTC) instructor - must be reissued every year

• Teachers of Students with Visual Impairments - may be renewed a maximum of two

years (three years total)

• Emergency permits used fewer than 90 calendar days may be renewed for one additional

year of service, if needed.

Types of Emergency Permits

EMERGENCY PERMITS GUIDE

Updated July 2024

Elementary

(Grades EC-6,

general

education)

Chapter 230.77(b)

Individuals must have completed:

• 12 semester credit hours in a combination of subjects directly related

to the elementary curriculum,

• 12 semester credit hours in elementary education, or

• any combination of these areas of study.

Secondary

(Grades 7-12,

general

education)

Chapter 230.77(c)

Individuals must have completed:

• 24 semester credit hours in the subject to be taught, or

• 24 semester credit hours toward a composite teaching field

appropriate for the assignment, including at least twelve semester

credit hours in the subject to be taught.

All grade level

(Grades EC-12,

general

education)

Chapter 230.77(d)

Individuals must have completed:

• 24 semester credit hours in the subject to be taught

*Applies to all general education subject areas that are available as Early

Childhood-Grade 12 certificates

Auditory

Impairments

Chapter

230.77(f)(2)(A)

Individuals must:

• hold a bachelor's degree or higher from an accredited institution of

higher education,

• have completed six semester credit hours directly related to teaching

students with auditory impairments,

• have demonstrated competence in the specific communication

method used in the classroom setting with students with auditory

impairments, and

• have verified that the employing school district, cooperative, or

education service center (ESC) has one or more fully certified teachers

for students with auditory impairments available as a mentor and to

provide support.

Specific Assignment Requirements

EMERGENCY PERMITS GUIDE

Updated July 2024

Bilingual

Education

230.77(f)(1)(A)

An individual who holds a bachelor's degree or higher from an

accredited institution of higher education and is certified at the

appropriate level must:

• have completed six semester credit hours in the language of the

approved bilingual education program, or

• demonstrate proficiency in comprehension and expression in the

language of the target population by having a passing score on an

appropriate State Board for Educator Certification (SBEC)-approved

examination.

An individual who holds a bachelor's degree or higher from an

accredited institution of higher education but is not certified must:

• meet the requirements for the grade level of assignment,

• be currently enrolled in an approved Texas EPP for bilingual

education, and

• have either completed 12 semester credit hours in the language of the

target population, bilingual education, or a combination of the two

subject areas, or demonstrated proficiency in comprehension and

expression in the language of the target population by having a

passing score on an appropriate SBEC-approved examination. Refer to

the required tests chart in Figure: 19 TAC §230.21(e)

*The Bilingual Education permit requires a classroom content area

certificate appropriate for the grade level and subject areas taught and

will not issue as a standalone certificate.

Career and

Technical

Education (CTE)

230.77(e)

• If experience in the CTE area of certification is required for the

certificate, the work experience must be met before the permit is

activated.

• If a license is required for the certificate, the license must be current.

Complete the Statement of Qualifications (SOQ) form found on the

TEA website, verifying two years of full-time employment while holding

the license.

• If experience and license are not required, must have 24 semester

credit hours in the subject taught.

EMERGENCY PERMITS GUIDE

Updated July 2024

Educational

Diagnostician

230.77(g)(2)

Individuals must:

• hold a bachelor's degree or higher from an accredited institution of

higher education,

• have completed 30 semester credit hours of graduate-level credit in

the field of education or a related field, including six semester credit

hours in tests and measurements, at least three semester credit

hours of which emphasized individualized testing, have completed six

semester credit hours directly related to teaching individuals with

special learning needs,

• and have two creditable years of classroom teaching experience.

English as a

Second Language

(ESL)

230.77(f)(1)(B)

Individuals must:

• hold a bachelor's degree or higher from an accredited institution of

higher education,

• be currently certified for the grade level to be taught, and

• have either completed six semester credit hours in an approved ESL

program or have one creditable year of classroom teaching

experience.

*The ESL permit requires a classroom content area certificate

appropriate for the grade level and subject areas taught and will not

issue as a standalone certificate.

Junior Reserve

Officer Training

Corps (JROTC)

Instructor

230.77(g)(4)

• Individuals must verify that they have satisfied the requirements and

been approved to serve by the appropriate military branch.

• The one-year limitation on permits does not apply to individuals

serving in the position of Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (JROTC)

instructor.

• JROTC instructor permits are reissued every year unless the individual

has obtained the JROTC standard certificate.

EMERGENCY PERMITS GUIDE

Updated July 2024

School Counselor

230.77(g)(1)

Individuals must:

• hold a bachelor's degree or higher from an accredited institution of

higher education, and

• have completed 24 semester credit hours of graduate-level credit,

including 12 semester credit hours in guidance and counseling.

*Effective September 1, 2023, Senate Bill 798 removed the 2 years of

classroom teaching experience required for the School Counselor

emergency permit

School Librarian

230.77(g)(3)

Individuals must:

• hold a bachelor's degree or higher from an accredited institution of

higher education,

• have completed 12 semester credit hours directly related to the basic

competencies required of school librarians, and

• have two creditable years of classroom teaching experience.

Special Education

230.77(f)(2)(D)

An individual who holds a bachelor's degree or higher from an

accredited institution of higher education and is certified at the

appropriate grade level must:

• have completed six semester credit hours directly related to teaching

children with special learning needs, or

• have one creditable year of classroom teaching experience.

An individual who holds a bachelor's degree or higher from an

accredited institution of higher education, but is not certified must:

• for elementary assignments (Early Childhood-Grade 6), meet

requirements for the level of assignment and have completed 18

semester credit hours directly related to teaching children with special

learning needs.

• for secondary assignments (Grades 7-12), must have completed 24

semester credit hours directly related to teaching children with special

learning needs.

EMERGENCY PERMITS GUIDE

Updated July 2024

Visual

Impairments

230.77(f)(2)(B)

Individuals must:

• hold a valid Texas classroom teaching certificate based on a bachelor's

degree or higher from an accredited institution of higher education,

• completed six semester credit hours directly related to teaching

students with visual impairments,

• have one creditable year of classroom teaching experience,

• have demonstrated competency in literary Braille and basic Nemeth

Code by passing the approved Braille examination, holding

certification as a literary Braille transcriber by the Library of Congress,

or completing one university course in Braille, and

• have verified that the employing school district, cooperative, or ESC

has one or more fully certified teachers of students with visual

impairments available as a mentor and to provide support.

*The one-year limitation on permits does not apply to teachers of

students with visual impairments. Emergency permits for visual

impairments may be renewed a maximum of two years. (3 years

total)

EMERGENCY PERMITS GUIDE

Updated July 2024

Submission of emergency permit applications begin July 1st for the upcoming school year.

There is a $57 fee paid online by the ISD at the time of submission.

Individuals in assignments for more than 30 instructional days must be on an emergency

permit, activated within 45 instructional days. Permits not submitted in a timely manner cannot

be backdated to cover an individual’s start date in the assignment.

1. Determine the Assignment

• Refer to the “Specific Assignment Requirements” above for details on qualifications an

individual needs to be placed on the permit. The individual must meet minimum

requirements depending on the grade level and type of assignment.

• Permits cannot be used for principal and superintendent assignments or individuals who

are in the process of an out of state or out of country credentials review.

2. Have a conversation with the educator and the Educator Preparation

Program, if applicable.

When hiring an individual on an emergency permit, the district should meet with the individual

to discuss the purpose for placement on a permit, including requirements for the individual to

become certified for the assignment.

A certified teacher must consent to the activation of an emergency permit and be advised of

the conditions of the emergency permit.

For EPP candidates, which includes university and alternative certification programs, you must

have a conversation with both the educator and the EPP certification program advisor to

discuss the desire to place the candidate on an emergency permit, as doing so may affect

program completion.

• The emergency permit is not recommended for EPP candidates because it does not

count towards program requirements, is not issued by the EPP, and the candidate is not

supervised by the EPP while on the emergency permit. It may also prolong the

certification process. However, there are times when school districts have a need to place

an EPP candidate on an emergency permit. You must ensure that placing the individual

on a permit will not negatively affect program completion.

• You must obtain a deficiency/certification plan from the educator preparation program.

The plan should indicate what the candidate is lacking for an intern, probationary or

Preparing to Submit an Application

EMERGENCY PERMITS GUIDE

Updated July 2024

standard certificate.

• The assignment area requested for the emergency permit must be the same as the

program area of enrollment listed on the candidate’s deficiency/certification plan unless

the area is not offered by the EPP.

• If the area is offered by the EPP, the district is encouraged to check with the EPP to see if

the candidate can receive test approval to take and pass the exam to obtain the intern

certificate in lieu of an emergency permit. EPPs are not required to give test approval to a

candidate for a district to submit an emergency permit.

• An individual may not serve for more than three 12-month periods without obtaining a

standard certificate. Chapter 230, Subchapter D

• An emergency permit cannot run concurrently with an intern or probationary

certification unless the emergency permit is in a certification area not offered by the

candidate’s preparation program.

• For most EPP candidates, you will need to submit the emergency permit to be considered

on a hardship basis, since the individual may not meet the qualifications. (See

instructions for submitting a hardship application beginning at the bottom of page 19.) In

the justification section of the hardship request, you will need to include:

1. confirmation that a conversation has occurred with the candidate and their

Educator Preparation Program,

2. and that the candidate is not currently eligible for an SBEC-issued credential.

3. You must also include the name of the advisor at the EPP with whom you spoke.

EMERGENCY PERMITS GUIDE

Updated July 2024

You must have a Texas Education Agency Login (TEAL) account to apply for emergency

permits. From the TEA website at tea.texas.gov, click on “TEAL Login” and follow the

instructions to establish a TEAL account, if you do not already have one.

Click the “Request New User Account” link located on the TEAL login page and enter the

appropriate information to request one.

Once you have a TEAL account, use the following steps to request access to Permits:

Log into TEAL with your username and password. The TEAL Home page appears. If you have

not been granted access to any applications yet, there will not be any application links listed

on the Applications tab.

School District Personnel Access in ECOS

EMERGENCY PERMITS GUIDE

Updated July 2024

Click Apply for Access, as shown in the following screenshot:

Alternatively, if you already have access to some TEAL applications, click on the

“My Application Accounts” link, instead.

The My Accounts tab opens.

EMERGENCY PERMITS GUIDE

Updated July 2024

Click Request New Account, as shown in the following screenshot:

The Request New Account dialog box appears.

Scroll down and click the link for the ECOS Entities application.

EMERGENCY PERMITS GUIDE

Updated July 2024

When a page like the following appears, click Add Access.

Type the name (or CDN) of your organization (district/charter school). Once you begin

typing, a list of authorized organizations appears. Select the name of your organization

from the list.

EMERGENCY PERMITS GUIDE

Updated July 2024

Next, select the appropriate role:

1. “District Permits Data Entry”

2. “District Submit Permits”

3. or both, accordingly

4. and “General Access.”

District Permits Data Entry

District Submits Permits

Allows read and write access to the

Permits menu which includes:

• "Permit List"

• "Apply for Emergency Permit"

• Apply for Nonrenewable Permit"

• "Permit Information"

Allows read and write access to the

Permits menu which includes:

• "Permit List",

• "Apply for Emergency Permit"

• “Apply for Nonrenewable Permit

• "Permit Information"

Allows Educator:

• search and view capability.

Allows Educator:

• search and view capability

• and the ability to submit and

pay for the emergency permit.

If you will only be entering the data for

emergency permits, you only need the

“District Permits Data Entry” access.

If you enter data, submit, and pay for

the emergency permits, you will need to

select “District Submits Permits”.

Consult with your district’s primary approver to determine which access you will need.

The primary approver is typically the superintendent or their designee.

The designee may be the Human Resources director.

Enter your organization (district/charter school) again, your title and role in the comments

section, and then click “Done”, then “Submit”.

You will need to allow time for TEA to approve access.

EMERGENCY PERMITS GUIDE

Updated July 2024

In ECOS Entities, select “Apply for Emergency Permit”.

Enter the Social Security Number (SSN) and select “Search”.

Enter or correct the Educator Profile information, if necessary and click on

“Continue”. The best practice is to complete this process with the educator to ensure

accuracy and to provide information regarding the issuance of the emergency permit.

Applying for the Emergency Permit in ECOS

EMERGENCY PERMITS GUIDE

Updated July 2024

Enter the educator’s responses to the affidavit items. If there is a “yes” response to

either item, a pop-up box will allow you to enter the educator’s explanation to the

questions. The responses will be reviewed by the State Board for Educator Certification

(SBEC) as part of the criminal background check. The background check must be cleared

before the permit will issue.

Enter the date of the assignment (Date Duties Began). Complete the “Renewal”

section, choosing Original, First, or Second (this will typically be “Original).

Click on “Add a New Assignment”.

EMERGENCY PERMITS GUIDE

Updated July 2024

Select the assignment from the drop-down menu. If the educator has a

deficiency/certification plan, click on the link under “Deficiency Plan Details”. A pop-

up box will require you to select the educator preparation program. After a few

seconds, the approved certificates will be displayed. Select the target certificate from

the list and click on “Save”. This information will be added to the details screen. Enter

the semester credit hours deficient, Grade Point Average (GPA) sufficient, and date

of the plan.

Educators already certified and being placed in an assignment for which they are not

currently certified will not need a deficiency plan but will need to be registered for the first

available exam.

Select “Attempt to Approve”.

If the individual does not meet permit requirements, or holds a Provisional certificate, you

may see errors after you attempt to approve the permit. To continue processing and

request a hardship approval for the permit, click on “Save as Denied”.

EMERGENCY PERMITS GUIDE

Updated July 2024

On the permit screen, click on “Request Hardship”.

EMERGENCY PERMITS GUIDE

Updated July 2024

A screen will appear to allow comments for the hardship request.

For all candidates, you must include:

• The local conditions requiring the assignment of an individual who does not meet

permit requirements.

• A brief description of the recruiting efforts taken by the district and list any additional

qualifications of the individual, such as prior experience related to the assignment.

For EPP candidates, you must also:

• Confirm that a conversation has occurred with the candidate and their Educator

Preparation Program (EPP) regarding your intention to place the individual on an

emergency permit.

• Indicate that the candidate is not currently eligible for an SBEC-issued credential.

• Include the name of the advisor at the EPP with whom you spoke.

If the information is lengthy, you can type it on a Word document first, then copy and paste it

to the comment field. There is no character limit in this section.

EMERGENCY PERMITS GUIDE

Updated July 2024

After completing the comments field, select “Send for SBEC Review”, then “Permit

Entry Complete”. You are now ready to submit the application. While the request is

being reviewed by TEA, you will not be able to continue. During the review process, the

permit will have a “denial pending” status.

TEA/SBEC will respond online to the hardship request.

• If the request is approved, you will be able to continue processing the permit.

• If the request is not approved, you may be contacted by TEA to send more

information for further consideration.

Once the permit entry is complete and approval is pending, you will need to submit the

permit request to TEA.

• Go to your permit list and locate the individual(s) you wish to submit. Permits that

are ready for submission have a Red Submit Button at the left. If you do not see the

Red Button, you may not have access to submit permits. To request access, please

refer to the section, “School District Personnel Access” beginning on page 12 of this

guide.

• If it is not a hardship request, proceed to make payment for the emergency permit.

EMERGENCY PERMITS GUIDE

Updated July 2024

The following series of screenshots should help you successfully navigate the online

permit process.

EMERGENCY PERMITS GUIDE

Updated July 2024

EMERGENCY PERMITS GUIDE

Updated July 2024

If you see “work in progress” in ECOS for Entities, this statement signifies that the

permit application has not yet been submitted to TEA by the district. Once work on the

application is complete and successful online payment is made by the district, the permit

should issue.

EMERGENCY PERMITS GUIDE

Updated July 2024

1. Who do I contact if I have questions about or problems with issuing emergency

permits?

You may submit a TEA Help Desk ticket to Educator Certification with “Emergency

Permits” in the subject line. Be sure to provide detailed information in the body of the

ticket and include the full name(s) of the educator(s) and the TEA ID number(s) or last

four digits of the social security number.

2. Why do I need to submit a Help Desk ticket?

Submitting a help desk ticket allows us to research the issue and provide a specific and

accurate response as well as have a record of specific concerns with which to update

our FAQs. Often, if a phone number is provided in the ticket, we will call if the response

requires more information or is an issue that cannot be understood through

communication in the ticket. The turnaround time for response is typically within two

business days of ticket submission.

3. Who can be placed on an emergency permit?

The emergency permit is for individuals who are either already certified, serving in an

assignment for which they are not certified and registered for the next available exam,

or an individual enrolled in an Educator Preparation Program, with a

certification/deficiency plan from the EPP.

4. Is there a deadline for submitting emergency permits?

Submission of emergency permits for the upcoming school year begins July 1st. There

is not a deadline for submission, however, the application must be submitted to TEA

within 45 instructional days of the date of assignment. Permits not submitted in a

timely manner cannot be backdated to cover an individual’s start date in the

assignment.

5. Can paper emergency permit applications be submitted to TEA?

Emergency permits are submitted online only through ECOS for Entities. Paper

applications are not accepted.

6. What is the first step that I should take when hiring an individual on an

emergency permit?

The first step should be to meet with the individual to discuss the purpose for

placement on a permit, including requirements for the individual to become certified

for the assignment. A certified teacher must consent to the activation of an emergency

permit and be advised of the conditions of the emergency permit. For EPP candidates,

you must meet with both the educator and the EPP certification program advisor to

discuss the desire to place the candidate on an emergency permit, as doing so may

affect program completion.

Frequently Asked Questions

EMERGENCY PERMITS GUIDE

Updated July 2024

7. Who is responsible for paying for the emergency permit?

The school district submits and pays for the emergency permit, since the permit

belongs to the employing district.

8. Can I issue a permit for an individual certified in another state or country and

who is having credentials reviewed?

No. Only individuals already Texas certified or currently enrolled in an educator

preparation program may be considered for an emergency permit.

9. What is meant by “work in progress” in ECOS for Entities?

This statement signifies that the permit application has not yet been submitted to

TEA by the district. Once work on the application is complete and successful online

payment is made by the district, the permit should issue.

10. What do I need to do if I just issued a permit and no longer need it to place the

educator in the assignment?

You will need to submit a Help Desk ticket to Educator Certification with “Emergency

Permit Cancellation” in the subject line and in the body of the ticket include the full

name and TEA ID number or last four digits of the educator’s social security number

and the request to cancel the permit. For permit cancellations, the educator must not

have served time in the assignment.

11. What is the process to end an emergency permit after an individual has resigned

or obtained either an intern, probationary or standard certificate?

District staff will submit a Help Desk ticket to Educator Certification with “Emergency

Permit Ended” in the subject line. Include in the body of the ticket the full name and

TEA ID number or last four digits of the educator’s social security number and the end

date for the emergency permit.

12. What do I do if the educator has completed the fingerprinting process, but it is

not reflected in their ECOS account?

If an educator has previous fingerprint results on file with TEA, the fingerprint results

will transfer automatically to the Educator’s ECOS account after the emergency permit

is submitted. The fingerprint results will take up to 24 hours to appear in the

educator’s account from the time of permit application submission. If the fingerprint

results have not transferred to the account within 24 hours of application submission,

please contact the TEA Fingerprinting Division via their Help Desk or call 512-936-8400,

option 3 for assistance.

13. If a permit is no longer needed or issued in error, will the district be refunded

the fee?

Since there is a fee associated with correcting permits, a refund is not issued. See

§230.104. Correcting a Certificate or Permit Issued in Error.