If you have decided to become an educator in the great state of Texas, navigating the Texas teacher certification process and extensive requirements can be overwhelming. In order to become a teacher, you must complete the following steps:
Step 1: Get a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university
Step 2: Complete an educator preparation program. This can be done by getting your bachelor's degree in education, completing a post-graduate program, or enrolling in an alternative certification program (if your degree is in something other than education).
Step 3: Pass certification exams. The TExES Pedagogy and Professional Responsibilities EC-12 is required for all Texas educators. Other core subject or content-specific exams will vary depending on your program or agency. Double-check with them to ensure you take the correct TExES exams for the subject or grade level you wish to teach.
Step 4: Submit a state application to become certified after you meet all the requirements. You have to be eligible to apply. Make sure you verify your eligibility with your program before making an application.
Step 5: Complete fingerprinting as part of a criminal background check. Receive certification, get hired, and begin your career as an educator!
If you have moved to Texas and hold a current teaching certificate from another state, the first step towards teaching in Texas is seeking a credential review from the Texas Education Agency. In order to have your credentials reviewed, you will need to create a TEAL online account, submit an application including the $164 application fee, and send copies of your official transcripts and certification. When completed, you will receive an email notification about the results of the review. If you successfully complete the requirements of the review, you will be issued a one-year teaching certificate. As testing is an important part of the certification process in Texas, you may be required to take additional exams or apply for an exemption based on the results of your certification exams. After completing this testing, you can apply for a standard Texas teaching certificate.
The Texas Education Agency (TEA) plays an important role in the education, training, and licensure of Texas educators. TEA is responsible for the accreditation of teacher certification programs. They also issue teaching licenses and set the standards for curriculum/standardized student tests. A vital program within the TEA manages educator evaluations, investigations, and initiatives. In addition, they oversee teacher support and initiatives for recruitment/retention, professional growth, and continued education opportunities. As an individual who has just begun the journey to becoming an educator, or an educator who would like to expand their education, the TEA website can help you find educational resources that fit your needs. Within the state of Texas, popular universities that offer education degrees include but are not limited to Texas A&M University, The University of Texas at Austin, Baylor University, LeTourneau University, Texas Tech, and the University of North Texas. The University of Texas ranks at the top of all Texas universities. Its college of education has programs for undergraduate and graduate students, as well as educator preparation programs, research opportunities, and programs for other school faculty (administration, school counselor, and librarian).
Deciding which educator preparation program(EPP) you would like to attend is a personal decision relying on many factors, including cost, your ability to attend in-person classes, where you live, and what subject/grade you want to work in. Because it is important to enter a program that offers classes in the area you would like to teach, a good first step is narrowing down the grade level and subject(s) you are interested in. On the Texas Education Agency website, there is a helpful tool located under the Texas Educators tab where you can find EPPs in Texas. You will select a subject/grade level, and a list of all EPPs that meet your selected requirements will appear. A map showing their location can help you select programs close to where you live. Selecting a program displays its name, address, top 5 school districts where graduates teach, rating, and list of available programs. You can further pinpoint a program that will fit your needs by selecting your EPP route (alternative, post-baccalaureate, traditional) or looking at data from new hires by EPP or district. While there are many different EPPs available, the tool ensures all EPPs listed are accrediting agencies. This means that TEA has determined their instructions meet the standards to create classroom-ready educators. It is important to attend a program at an accredited agency, as working through a program at a nonaccredited agency could result in not meeting certification requirements. Aside from the TEA tool, you can find a list of accredited agencies from the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) or the U.S. Department of Education.
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To become a teacher in Texas, you must possess a bachelor's degree from an accredited university. Your degree does not have to be in education. However, if it is not an education degree, you will have to complete an educator preparation program. Some education degrees include the educator preparation program in their degree requirements. If your program/agency does not, you will also have to complete an educator preparation program. If you plan to teach health science technology, trades, or industrial education, you are excused from the bachelor's degree requirement. However, you will be required to show education and experience that qualifies you for this position, and you will still need to complete an educator preparation program.
Successfully passing the TExES exam is an important step in obtaining your teaching license. A helpful table is available on the TExES website under the Educator Testing tab that shows the testing requirements for every grade/subject. Regardless of the grade or subject they plan to teach, every educator is required to pass the TExES PPR, exam code 160. This exam assesses your knowledge and application of professional standards and practices necessary for entry-level educators.
The TExES Science of Teaching Reading (STR), exam code 293, is required for all educators who plan to teach Pre-K-6 grade. Content-specific TExES exams will be required for educators who plan on teaching specific subjects/grade levels. They include but are not limited to core exams for certain grade levels, mathematics, English, language arts, science, and social studies. TExES exams are graded with raw points earned versus total raw points available. This is then transferred to a sliding scale of 100-300, where 100 is equal to 0% and 300 is a perfect score of 100%. Therefore the TExES exam passing score for the majority of the tests is 240.
In some cases, to apply for admission to an educator preparation program (EPP) you will be required to take a Pre-Admission Content Test (TExES PACT). This is normally for candidates with a GPA below 2.5 or who have not completed at least 12 semester hours in the subject they wish to teach. PACT is reserved only for those who wish to be classroom teachers and are not seeking administrative or other faculty positions. Exams are traditionally taken upon completing your college program or EPP, but your agency may have different requirements. It is important to check with your program/agency to ensure you are taking the correct exam at the correct time.
Aside from educational prerequisites and required testing, there is a hands-on component to completing your college program or EPP. The state of Texas requires 300 educational coursework hours, including 30 hours of field experience. Your individual college program or EPP will have a method for gaining the required hours and will most likely help you find internships or student teaching opportunities to achieve your hours. Up to 15 hours of field experience can be met online through simulated classroom experience or other technological formats. It is extremely important to find a program accredited and recognized by the state of Texas since they acknowledge the completion of your program as the completion of the required hours.
Texas Alternative Certification Programs (ACP) allow you to complete the certification requirements while teaching in a classroom. You can find ACP's within universities, school districts, education service centers, and private agencies. It is important to find an ACP that is recognized by the state of Texas to ensure you are receiving the proper training that will contribute to your certification. On the EPP tool located on the TEA website, you can select the 'alternative' box to find only ACP's in your area. After deciding what you would like to teach and finding an approved ACP, you must meet the program screening criteria such as skills, GPA, or content knowledge. Then, you will develop a fast-paced, intensive certification plan with your program. Most ACP's can be completed within a year. Next, you will obtain a teaching position at your target subject/grade level and find a trained mentor to supervise and work with you. You will need to apply for a probationary certificate that is valid for one year and has specific rules for you and the school you will be working for. During that year, you will need to complete all requirements for a standard certificate. Finally, you can apply for your standard certification and be a regularly licensed educator in Texas!
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Create AccountAccording to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the job outlook for kindergarten through elementary school teachers is expected to grow 7% between 2020 and 2030. This equates to 124,300 nationwide openings each year during this period. For high school teachers, the projection is 8% growth from 2020 to 2030. Approximately 77,400 openings each year will occur for high school teachers during the time range. Both of these percentages are as fast as average.
The TEA lists the average salary for an entry-level teacher in all counties as $35,636. An educator with 25 years experience average salary across all counties is $54,015.
The table below utilizes BLS statistics to show the 2020 average salary and projected job openings for elementary, middle and high school teachers.
| Elementary School | Middle School | High School | |
| Average Salary | $56,520 | $56,580 | $58,190 |
| Number of Employment Positions | 136,780 | 66,470 | 110,420 |
In Texas, a standard teaching certification is valid for 5 years. When your certification expires, you will need to complete the renewal process. This includes completing 150 continuing professional education (CPE) hours. CPE refers to specialized training that helps educators advance their capabilities and complete professional growth. Testing does not count towards CPE hours. If an educator holds multiple certification areas, they have to complete 150 CPE hours in total, not for each area. CPE hours that do not have to be pre-approved by the TEA are:
Private entities, professional membership associations, and nonprofit organizations will require TEA approval to count as CPE hours. After meeting these requirements, you will need to log in to your TEA online account, complete the renewal application, and pay the application fee.
There is a misconception that being a teacher is a stagnant profession with little room for growth. However, this could not be further from the truth. Being a teacher means constantly learning from your students and peers. It also provides you with ample time and opportunity to complete professional development activities aside from those required for credential renewal. This can be as simple as attending a lecture or seminar about a topic that interests you and could help you within the classroom or completing a class/program to advance your education. There is also the option to take additional TExES test to expand your grade level or subject capabilities, giving you the freedom to change the area you currently teach. Additionally, you could move on from teaching and explore administrative roles within the school system.
Certification requirements are the same across Texas. However, individual school districts have the right to implement additional requirements for teachers, substitutes, and other district personnel. The Houston Independent School District, Dallas Independent School District, and the Cypress-Fairbanks Independent School District are the top three biggest public school districts in Texas. For an example of the differing requirements depending on the district, we will look into the Houston ISD recruitment/hiring process. There is a district-wide teaching pool in which potential teachers and substitutes must submit an online application. Once in the pool, you will have the option to apply for open job positions. Each school may have a different interview/hiring process for teachers. If subbing, you will need to attend a Pre-Hire session and an Associate Teacher Orientation. Long-term substitutes must possess a bachelor's degree. Each school district has a website with helpful information and tips to get hired in that area. The following sub-headers provide an overview of Dallas, San Antonio, Austin, and El Paso public and private school districts. There are a number of private and charter schools within these areas. Their teaching requirements may differ from the state/district. If you would like to work in one of these schools, it is important to research or contact them directly for specific requirements.
The three biggest public school districts in the Dallas-Fort Worth area are:
The following are the three biggest public school districts in the San Antonio area:
The three biggest public school districts in the Austin area are the following:
The list below shows the three biggest public school districts in El Paso:
Amy Lopez, M.A. is a high school teacher with over 8 years of experience teaching Family Consumer Science Education. She has passed the TExES PPR exam and the Praxis Family and Consumer Science Exam. Amy completed a B.S. in Family Consumer Sciences from Tarleton State University, an M.A. in Teaching from Grand Canyon University, and an Education Specialist degree from Northcentral University.
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You musty enroll in a recognized Texas Alternative Certification Program, get hired at a qualifying school, apply for a probationary license, and meet all credential requirements before being able to apply for a standard certification.
No, you must possess at least an associate degree, but, in most cases, a bachelor's degree is required. In addition, you must complete an educator preparation program.
This can vary depending on the individual. You are required to possess a bachelor's degree from an accredited university, which traditionally takes 4 years. If you did not complete an educator preparation program during your bachelor's degree, or you did not get your bachelor's degree in education, you will have to complete one. They can vary anywhere between 1-3 years. If you have chosen to complete an alternative teaching program, you can begin teaching within a year. Thus, the shortest amount of time you can obtain your teaching credentials is 4 years.
Unless there are significant changes to a TExES exam, you scores will remain valid and do not expire. If a significant change occurs, but you have already obtained your certification, you will not need to retake the exam.
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