Texas A&M University Graduate and Professional School

Overview

Admitting academic units may submit an Alternative Verification and/or Certification Request on an international graduate student’s behalf following completion of the admission process. Requests must be submitted by an admitting college/school, department, or interdisciplinary degree program’s administrative staff or faculty (as designated on the academic unit’s Authorized Signers Form) through the English Language Proficiency Compliance Office’s AdobeSign form. Requests submitted by students, or approved by staff or faculty who are not designated on their academic unit’s Authorized Signers Form, will be returned. 

The Graduate and Professional School will determine whether to grant Alternative Verification and/or Certification on a case-by-case basis in accordance with university policies.

Alternative Verification Only 

Alternative Verification (only) may be requested for an international graduate student who met the ELP Admission Requirement through

  • a bachelor’s degree or higher (master’s, doctorate, etc.) from an accredited academic institution within the United States, or 
  • other means. Please note: Requests for Alternative Verification by other means requires strong justification and supporting documentation which must be provided with the request. 

Alternative Verification will provide the student with an ELP status of ZW (Level 3 Alternatively Verified only) and enable the student to register for courses. 

Alternative Verification and Certification 

Alternative Verification and Certification may be requested for an international graduate student who met the ELP Admission Requirement through

  • a bachelor’s degree and completed all coursework at an accredited academic institution within the United States, or 
  • Canadian citizenship with residence in any province other than Quebec. Please note: Proof of residence in any province other than Quebec must be provided with the request. Residents of Quebec must submit official test scores or attain Alternative Verification and/or Certification through other justifications. 

Alternative Verification and Certification will provide the student with an ELP status of ZA (Level 1 Alternatively Certified) and enable the student to register for courses and hold a graduate assistantship with curricular duties.

Alternative Certification Only 

Alternative Certification (only) may be requested for an international graduate student who has already met the ELP Verification Requirement (to register for courses) and 

  •  completed an IELTS One Skill Retake of the Speaking section which meets the minimum required score to meet the ELP Certification Requirement (please note: an unofficial copy of the score report must be provided with the request), or 
  • citizenship with an English-speaking country recognized by the Office of Admissions. 

Alternative Certification will provide the student with an ELP status of ZA (Level 1 Alternatively Certified) and enable the student to hold a graduate assistantship with curricular duties. 

Instructions 

  1. Administrative staff or faculty (as designated on the academic unit’s Authorized Signers Form) must initiate the form (requests submitted by students will not be accepted).
  2. Complete all fields: 
    1. Student’s Name and UIN. 
    2. The Admitting Academic Unit. 
    3. The student’s Admission Term (Semester/Year). 
    4. Read and check the required Acknowledgements. 
    5. Justification for the request: 
      1. Option One: Bachelor’s Degree or Higher (Verification Only). 
      2. Option Two:  Other Means (Verification Only). Please note: Requests for Alternative Verification by other means requires strong justification and supporting documentation  (which must be provided with the request). 
      3. Option Three: A Full Bachelor’s Degree (Verification and Certification). 
      4. Option Four: Canadian Citizenship (Verification and Certification). Please note: Canadian residents of Quebec are not eligible, and proof of residency in another province must be provided with the request. 
      5. Option Five: IELTS One Skill Retake (Certification Only). Please note: An unofficial score report must be provided with the request. 
      6. Option Six: English-Speaking Citizenship (Certification Only). 
  3.  After filling out all required information, the submitter must identify the name and TAMU email address for the department, interdisciplinary degree program, or college/school’s designated ELP Approver (as listed on the academic unit’s Authorized Signers Form). Please note: The request will automatically route to the English Language Proficiency Compliance Office for review.
  4. Use the “Click to Sign” button and complete all requested fields for required approvals. Please ensure that the contact information is correct as it cannot be changed once submitted. 
Please note: Any requests submitted by students, or approved by faculty or staff not designated on an academic unit’s Authorized Signers Form, will be returned. 

 

Alternative Verification/Certification Request Form