Educational Diagnostician Certification

The Educational Diagnostician Certification program is designed for individuals seeking to improve and extend their professional skills in special education. The coursework provides candidates with the academic foundations for certification as an Educational Diagnostician. Courses are taught online, one (1) asynchronous online course and four (4) synchronous online courses.

To be eligible to receive the standard Educational Diagnostician Certificate, a candidate must:

  • Successfully complete an educational diagnostician preparation program that meets the requirements of TAC §239.82 (complete all the requirements on the SHSU Course Plan) and TAC §239.83.
  • Successfully complete the examination based on the standards identified in TAC §239.83.
  • Hold, at a minimum, a master's degree from an accredited institution of higher education that at the time was accredited or otherwise approved by an accrediting organization recognized by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating board.
  • Hold a valid classroom teaching certificate.
  • Have three creditable years of teaching experience as a classroom teacher (1 year of service may be earned while enrolled in the program)

Additional information: Reference the Program Landing Page for additional information, such as cost, delivery format, contact information, or to schedule a visit.

Applicants seeking admission for the Educational Diagnostician Certification must submit the following directly to the Office of Graduate Admissions:

  1. Graduate Application

  2. Application fee

  3. Pay the $35 Texas Education Accountability System for Educator Preparation Programs Fee (paid to the TEA as required by TAC 229.9.7)
  4. Official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended, both undergraduate and graduate, that reflect an overall GPA or last 60-SCH GPA of at least 2.75. Additional courses may be required after transcripts are evaluated.
  5. Contact information for two references
  6. Writing Sample
  7. Copy of applicant's Teaching Certificate
  8. Official GRE scores, if GPA in last 60 hours is below a 2.75.  Minimum scores required are listed in the table below.
  9. Teacher Service Record with at least 2 years of creditable service as a teacher of record
  10. Interview video

GRE revised General Test Score Bands to be used for Admission to an Educator Preparation Program under the 10% Exception Rule in 19 TAC §227.10(a)(3)(D)

Self-reported Undergraduate GPA GRE Verbal Reasoning1 GRE Quantitative Reasoning1 GRE Analytical Writing2
B-(2.7 GPA) 143-157 140-155 3.0-4.5
1

GRE Verbal and Quantitative scores are reported on a 130 to 170 scale.

2

GRE Analytical Writing scores are reported on a 0 to 6 scale in half-point increments.

Under these circumstances, the GRE may not be waived.

Additional information: Reference the Program Landing Page for additional information, such as cost, delivery format, contact information, or to schedule a visit.

Educational Diagnostician Certification
Specified Courses
SPED 5301Education of Individuals with Disabilities3
SPED 5302Assessment in Special Education3
or SPED 6322 Bilingual Special Education Assessment
SPED 5305Individual Assessment of Cognitive Functioning3
or SPED 6319 Bilingual Cognitive Assessment
SPED 6308Practicum 13
SPED 6312Practicum 23
Total Hours15

The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) marketable skills initiative is part of the state’s 60x30TX plan and was designed to help students articulate their skills to employers.  Marketable skills are those skills valued by employers and/or graduate programs that can be applied in a variety of work or education settings and may include interpersonal, cognitive, and applied skill areas.

The Educational Diagnostician Certificate is designed to provide graduates with the following marketable skills:

  • Interpreting evaluation results to parents and stakeholders
  • Assessment practices
  • Diagnoses skills and learning ability
  • Reporting and data analysis