Program Overview

Accelerated Educational Diagnostician Certification Program

The Accelerated Educational Diagnostician Certification Program at the University of Houston is designed for working teachers to accelerate their career and impact in special education. This high-quality, fast-track certification-only program can be completed in as few as three semesters.

Program Overview

The program prepares students for a meaningful, student-centered career as a certified educational diagnostician in Texas. It is designed for K-12 educators looking to lead in special education and assessment to better support diverse learners.

Program At A Glance

• Format: Hybrid
• Location: Main Campus; Katy Campus
• Completion time: Typically, 1 year (3 semesters)
• Semester start: Summer
• GRE: Not required

Eligibility & Requirements

This certification-only program requires:

• GPA of 3.0 or higher (based on last degree earned)
• Master's degree
• Valid Texas teacher certification
• Teaching experience (three years teaching experience at the time of acceptance or upon program completion)

Career Opportunities

Qualified educational diagnosticians are in high demand across Texas. Career opportunities include:

• Educational diagnosticians
• Lead evaluation specialists
• Special education department chairs
• Special education coordinators

Why Choose UH?

The University of Houston offers:

• Proven Success: Excellent pass rate on the Texas educational diagnostician certification exam
• Expert Faculty and Mentorship: Experienced faculty specializing in special education and assessment
• Powerful Network: Connection with educators in a diverse, dynamic location

What You'll Learn

The program requires:

• Five courses (225 clock hours of content and pedagogy)
• Practicum in a school district (160 hours)
• Three field observations (135 minutes) by a UH field supervisor
• Two site supervisor (campus mentor) progress reports

Courses include:

• SPEC 7340 – Assessment of Academic Achievement
• SPEC 7341 – Assessment of Learning Difficulties
• SPEC 7392 – Assessment of Intellectual Abilities
• SPEC 7394 – Educational Diagnostician Practicum I
• SPEC 7395 – Educational Diagnostician Practicum II

Certification Steps

To earn educational diagnostician certification in Texas, students must:

• Successfully complete all coursework
• Complete all required practicum hours and observations
• Hold a teacher certification issued by the Texas Education Agency
• Hold at minimum a master's degree
• Pass the state TExES 263 certification exam

Application Requirements

• Online application
• Program admissions form
• Official transcript(s)
• Statement of interest
• Resume or Curriculum Vitae
• Letters of recommendation (3)
• Copy of valid Texas teacher certificate
• Copy of district service record

Costs & Financial Support

To estimate costs, use the UH tuition calculator. Please note that federal aid is only available for UH degree programs but not for certification-only programs.