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Application/Fee Status FAQ's

The following information addresses questions about educator applications that have been submitted though the Educator Certification Online System (ECOS).

1.  My application has disappeared, where did it go?

If your application is no longer posted on the Application/Fee Status page, it may have processed. Please allow up to 30 minutes for the certificate to appear on your virtual certificate. If you cannot see your certificate, please refer to question 3 on viewing your certificate. If your certificate is not posted, please check your email to see if your application was removed by your program or school district by checking your email or contacting them. If you still need assistance, you may submit a help desk ticket.

2.  What is the status of my application?

Your application status will be posted under the Status column, next to the Fee column and will indicate one of the following statuses:

  • Applied – You have submitted a certificate application but have not been recommended by your school district or approved educator preparation program. Contact them directly.

    • Out-of-State applications are processed by TEA staff and do not require recommendation. Please allow time for TEA staff to review and process your application(s).
       

  • Recommended – Your request for certification has been approved by your school district or approved educator preparation program. If all fees have been paid and fingerprints are complete, the application will disappear once it is processed.

    • Out-of-State applicants are not recommended. Please allow time for TEA staff to review and process your application(s).
       

  • Application has disappeared - Your application has processed or has been removed. See question 1.

    • Out-of-State Review of Credentials will change to Complete once it has been processed and will not disappear.

    • Out-of-State One-Year certificate and Out-of-State Standard certificate applications will disappear. See question 3.

3.  How can I view my certificate?

Certificates can take up to 30 minutes to post after being processed. Click on the "View Certificates" tab, then "Official Certificate". Your certificate will open in a new window. To confirm you are viewing the up-to-date version of your certificate, check the date at the bottom of the page. It should show you today’s date. An older date means you are looking at an outdated certificate. To refresh, hold down Ctrl+R, or right click and select Reload.

To print your certificate from a PC, you can click on File and Print, or hold the Ctrl and press the P on your keyboard.  If you are using a Mac/Apple device, you will need to hold the Command button and press the P key.

TEA does not mail paper certificates.

4.  I submitted the wrong application and paid the fee, what should I do?

If you applied for a certificate but made an error, such as selecting the:

  • Incorrect application
  • Incorrect entity (approved educator preparation program or school district)
  • Incorrect route for your program from the drop-down list

You will need to log in to your account and apply again, choosing the correct entity or route. Do not pay again. Submit a help desk ticket and request a fee transfer.     

5.  My application says recommended, but shows I need to pay.

If your application shows recommended but is asking for you to submit payment and you have already paid, you will need to submit a help desk request or call 512-936-8400, option 2  for assistance. We can transfer funds over to new applications if they are like amounts. If you know you have not paid yet, please do so.

6.  Will I be notified when my certificate issues online?

You will receive a system-generated email indicating your certificate has issued online. System generated emails can go to Junk and Spam mailboxes; you may want to check those boxes for notification. Prior to contacting our office, you should check the "View Certificates" tab. See question 3.

7.  Am I required to complete fingerprinting?

If you have not previously been fingerprinted, you will need to complete this step for a certificate to issue. If you have questions about this requirement, please contact the Fingerprinting Division directly at 512-936-8400, option 3 or submit a help desk request.

To verify your fingerprinting status, click on the "View Fingerprint Status" link below the Status column. If status says complete, no further action needed as it relates to fingerprinting.

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