The demand for educators in Texas remains consistently high, making the path to becoming a certified teacher a frequently explored career option. The Texas Education Agency (TEA) strictly regulates this process, ensuring all individuals entering public school classrooms meet a defined set of academic and professional standards. Certification is mandatory for anyone seeking a teaching position in Texas public schools. The journey involves several specific steps, including meeting baseline academic criteria, passing state-mandated exams, and fulfilling a supervised teaching residency. This structured process ensures educators have the necessary preparation to succeed in the state’s diverse classrooms.
Meeting the Initial Requirements
Before enrolling in an Educator Preparation Program (EPP), applicants must satisfy foundational academic prerequisites. The primary requirement is holding a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university recognized by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.
Applicants must also demonstrate academic achievement. Most EPPs require a minimum overall undergraduate Grade Point Average (GPA) of 2.5, or a 2.5 GPA in the last 60 hours of completed coursework. Candidates must also be a U.S. citizen or a legal permanent resident to be eligible for certification.
Choosing the Right Certification Pathway
All aspiring Texas educators must complete an approved Educator Preparation Program (EPP). The choice between the two main pathways depends largely on the applicant’s existing educational background and career status.
Traditional University Programs
The traditional pathway is typically pursued by individuals earning a bachelor’s degree in education or a related field. This route integrates professional coursework, field experience, and certification requirements directly into the four-year degree plan.
Candidates complete extensive pedagogy training and culminate their experience with a period of unpaid clinical teaching, often called student teaching, in a public school classroom. This immersive, full-time experience usually lasts one semester and must be completed before the candidate is eligible to apply for a standard certificate.
Alternative Certification Programs (ACPs)
Alternative Certification Programs (ACPs) provide an expedited route for individuals who already possess a bachelor’s degree in a field other than education. These state-certified programs are designed for career changers, allowing them to enter the classroom faster than the traditional path, often completing the program in 12 to 18 months.
A significant feature of the ACP route is the paid internship: candidates can begin teaching immediately as a full-time, paid Teacher of Record under a temporary certificate while concurrently completing their training and coursework. ACPs involve intensive pre-service training, including at least 50 hours of field-based experience, before the intern is placed in their own classroom.
Understanding the Texas Certification Exams (TExES)
All candidates must pass a series of standardized tests known as the Texas Examinations of Educator Standards (TExES) to demonstrate competency. These state-administered exams are aligned with the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS), the mandated curriculum for students. Candidates must pass two distinct categories of examinations before being recommended for a certificate.
The first category involves Content Area Exams, which verify subject-matter expertise for the specific grade level and subject they intend to teach (e.g., Mathematics 7-12 or Core Subjects EC-6). Most TExES exams require a passing score of 240. Certifications for early childhood and elementary grades also require the Science of Teaching Reading (STR) exam to ensure proficiency in foundational literacy instruction.
The second mandatory test is the Pedagogy and Professional Responsibilities (PPR) Exam, required for all teachers seeking an entry-level certificate. This exam assesses knowledge of teaching methods, classroom management strategies, and professional ethics. Candidates must pass all required TExES exams before their EPP can recommend them for the Standard Certificate.
Securing Your Standard Certificate
After successfully completing the preparation program and passing all required TExES exams, the final phase involves transitioning to a permanent Standard Certificate. A mandatory step is the completion of state and federal background checks and fingerprinting, as required by the Texas Education Code, Chapter 22. All applicants who have not previously held a certificate issued by the State Board for Educator Certification (SBEC) must submit fingerprints for a national criminal history review.
The candidate must also complete a residency period, which generally involves one full year of satisfactory teaching experience as the Teacher of Record while holding a valid temporary or probationary certificate. Upon successful completion of this probationary period and the recommendation of their EPP, the candidate submits a final application through the Texas Education Agency’s (TEA) online portal. This application formalizes the conversion into the Standard Certificate, granting the educator full professional standing.
Maintaining Your Professional Educator License
Earning the Standard Certificate requires ongoing professional development and administrative compliance to maintain its validity. The Texas Standard Certificate must be renewed every five years through the Texas Education Agency’s Educator Certification Online System (ECOS).
Classroom teachers must complete a minimum of 150 clock hours of Continuing Professional Education (CPE) over each five-year renewal cycle. Educators holding administrative or other professional certificates, such as a principal or counselor license, must complete 200 CPE hours every five years.
CPE activities must be relevant to the certificate being renewed and can include workshops, seminars, and university courses offered by TEA-approved providers. Specific, mandatory training topics, such as education for students with disabilities and information related to human trafficking, must also be completed within the renewal period.