how to become teacher in texas

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how to become teacher in texas

How to Become a Teacher in Texas: Requirements & Certification

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Find out how to become a teacher in Texas. Explore teaching requirements, including educator certification, background checks, and other qualifications to be a teacher in Texas.

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Grand Canyon University
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Capella University
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Northcentral University
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Guide to the Texas Teaching Certification Process
The requirements for becoming a teacher in Texas are very similar to those of other states. The specific things that you will need to become a certified teacher in Texas ultimately depend on your background, such as previous education and any applicable teaching experience. However, if you have never taught before and are looking to become a certified teacher for the first time, this guide will provide you with an overview of the steps to achieving your goal.

The Texas Classroom
At 23 million people, Texas is the second-largest state within the U.S. and is expected to continue growing. As of 2019, the Lone Star State had more than 8,800 schools and just over 5.4 million students. Texas is also home to more schools and more teachers than any other state, with more than 1,200 school districts and 350,000 teachers.

Texas has an average student-teacher ratio of 15:1, which is slightly better than the national average of 16:1. In 2012, the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) reported that the average Texas classroom size was just over 18 for elementary school and around 27 for secondary school. The state is currently dealing with a shortage of teachers in several different areas, making it an excellent time to enter the field.

Texas Teacher Salary and Outlook
According to the Texas Education Agency, or TEA, the average salary for a Texas teacher is $54,122, with teachers of public schools averaging higher salaries than those working in charter schools. The table below summarizes the annual mean salary for Texas employees, specifically, as well as the projected national growth of those occupations. The data is provided by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and reflects the 2020 reports.

Job Title Median Annual Salary (Texas) Job Outlook (2019-2029, national)
Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education $41,670 2%
Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education $55,810 4%
Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education $56,760 4%
Middle School Teachers, Except Special & Career/Tech Education $57,010 4%
High School Teachers, Except Special & Career/Tech Education $58,040 4%
Career/Technical Education Teachers, Middle School $58,960 3%
Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary School $59,780 2%
Special Education Teachers, Preschool $54,130 8%
Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten & Elementary School $57,480 3%
Special Education Teachers, Middle School $57,200 3%
Special Education Teachers, Secondary School $58,100 3%
What Teaching Positions are Most in Demand?
There are several content areas for which Texas has a shortage of teachers. These areas are:

Elementary and Secondary ESL (English as a Second Language)/Bilingual
Elementary & Secondary Special Education
Career and Technical Education
Computer Science & Technology
Mathematics
Science
Keep in mind that you can become certified in more than one subject area. For example, if you love both math and science, you could obtain certification that enables you to teach both subjects to middle and/or high school students.

How to Become a Teacher in Texas
In general, Texas teachers must meet four requirements: educational, practical (student teaching), teacher preparation and certification. There are teaching programs that integrate several of these requirements (education, teacher preparation and student teaching, for instance), but you can find state-approved teacher preparation/student teaching opportunities through the TEA site if you’re considering a teaching program that doesn’t already include them.

Step 1: Get a Bachelor’s Degree
Texas teachers are required to earn at least a bachelor’s degree from an appropriately accredited university (or college). The school’s accreditation has to be recognized by the state (see the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board). Certain career and technical teaching positions are exempt from the bachelor’s degree requirement but do have other criteria regarding experience.

If you do not have a previous college degree, you may benefit from pursuing a bachelor’s degree program that is designed for aspiring Texas teachers. These programs often include the required components from step 2 but aren’t necessarily required to be completed together. Your bachelor’s degree program should be designed to prepare you to teach whatever grade levels or areas you are interested in teaching. For example, if you are interested in becoming an elementary school teacher, look for a bachelor’s degree program for elementary education. You may also consider completing an online degree. Keep in mind that online degrees will still have some in-person components because of the nature of the field.

If you have already completed a bachelor’s degree, you have a few options for fulfilling the educational component. You can enter into an education bachelor’s degree program and potentially transfer in some of your prior coursework (saving time on your program), or you might prefer to complete a master’s degree program in teaching instead. In either case, you can complete the necessary educational component without disregarding the education that you already have.

Bachelor’s degree programs typically take four years of full-time study to complete, although you can extend your studies at many schools by attending part-time, or alternatively shorten the time to graduation by taking more courses than the traditional 12-credit-hour course load. These programs usually lead to degrees such as a Bachelor of Science in Education, Bachelor of Arts in Education or Bachelor of Education. Within these programs, you will probably have the chance to select your area of study within the field of education. While not all options are available at all schools, some of the specialty areas within education bachelor’s degree programs include:

Elementary education
Special education
Middle grades education
Secondary (high school) education
Physical education/health education
English education
Science education
Bilingual education
Your coursework may include general education requirements (such as math, English and science) as well as general education courses that are specific to your program of study. Some of the classes that you might take as part of your program are:

Technology in Education – This course explores technological tools that are used in classrooms as well as effective methods for using technology and its applicable limitations.
Educational Psychology – This class teaches you to apply educational psychology concepts to produce effective teaching strategies for the classroom, focusing on the core principles and theories of learning.
Human Development – In this course, you’ll have the chance to learn about the various stages of psychological development in children as well as their thinking processes, behaviors and influences.
Step 2: Complete a Teacher Prep Program & Student Teaching
Texas requires aspiring teachers to complete approved teacher preparation programs; these include the student teaching requirements. TEA has a list of approved Educator Preparation Programs (EPPs). You can filter the results by traditional (educational and teacher prep together), alternative and post-baccalaureate.

A traditional EPP takes around four years and enables you to complete your bachelor’s degree alongside your teaching preparation requirements. The post-baccalaureate and alternative programs can vary but are offered in dozens of areas across the state. You will need to complete the EPP that is specific to the area you are interested in teaching. There are several dozen different types of EPPs and teaching certifications, and you can always obtain additional certification later if you want to teach more than one subject or student body.

For instance, let’s say that you are interested in becoming a math teacher. Your bachelor’s degree program might be an elementary math education program or a high school mathematics education program. You would also need to complete the appropriate EPP, which are available for mathematics teachers for grades 4-8, 7-12, and in two other grade brackets that combine other subjects (science and/or engineering). It’s a good idea to look over the available EPPs/certifications before you choose your college program to ensure that you receive the most appropriate preparation for your intended role.

Student Teaching Explained

There are two key components to the practical experiences (aka student teaching) required to become certified: block and clinical teaching. You will complete the required blocks earlier in your program and the clinical teaching experience at the end of the program. Both parts are required by the TEA and that’s a good thing; they’re some of the best preparations for your teaching career.

Blocks – During the blocks portion of your student teaching, you will observe classroom settings. These experiences immerse you into the classroom so that you can learn from teachers, students and other staff & faculty in actual school settings. You will also participate in activities as directed by your assigned classroom teacher. For example, you may be asked to help with organizing, grading and other tasks.
Clinical Teaching – This part of the experience is typically what people think of when they hear ‘student teaching,’ as it actually involves teaching practice. This may be part of one or more classes and involve you going into a K-12 classroom to assist licensed teachers with different tasks, particularly teaching lessons. You will work with a licensed teacher to develop effective lessons and further refine your own teaching approach and skill.
Step 3: Pass Tests & Obtain Teaching License
Once you have completed your degree program and EPP, you will need to prove that you have sufficient knowledge in your teaching area and any other education topics required by the state. Your EPP (the teacher prep program) will have provided you with information on what specific tests you will need to take and will also give you the authorization to take those tests (this preauthorization is required for testing). Although it isn’t necessary for you to score a 100% on your assessments, each testing category (subject area) will have a minimum score that you do need to reach (or exceed).

Texas uses two different tests for aspiring teachers: the Texas Examinations for Master Teachers (or TExMaT) as well as the Texas Examinations of Educator Standards (TExES). The TExES is likely the test that will apply to you if you are becoming a teacher for the first time. On this test, you typically need to score around 240 (out of 300) on each subject area that you complete. If you’re interested in teaching high school math, you’ll need to take the mathematics TExES and get a minimum score of 240.

The table below shows several different certifications for Texas teachers along with their required tests.

Certification Test Required Tested Knowledge Areas
Early Childhood TExES Core Subjects EC-6 English, language arts & reading
Science
Mathematics
Social Studies
Art & P.E.
Elementary Education TExES Core Subjects EC-6 English, language arts & reading
Science
Mathematics
Social Studies
Art & P.E.
Middle School TExES Core Subjects 4-8 English, language arts & reading
Science
Mathematics
Social Studies
Secondary School Content-Specific TExES Test will include content that is specific to the field of study
Special Education TExES Special Education General education
Child psychology
Step 4: Get a Texas Teaching License
Once you have passed the necessary tests, there are a few more things you will need to obtain your teaching certification: pass a background check, submit the required documentation, and complete the certification application. The TEA requires you to have completed a specific number of hours inside of the classroom as part of your student teaching experience and earn a qualifying score on the required assessment(s).

If you have completed your student teaching and knowledge assessments, you aren’t automatically provided with certification. You do need to work with your EPP to actually apply for the certification, as a representative from your program must recommend you to the state for teaching. Once you have obtained your teaching license/certification, it will be valid for five years and can be renewed as long as you complete the required 150 hours of continuing education during that period. See our 2021 Guide for Teacher Certification & Exam Test Prep for more information and resources.

Texas Teacher FAQs
The process for becoming a teacher in Texas can be complicated, so it’s natural to have more questions. Here are a few we commonly get.

How Do I Pay for a Teaching Program?
There are a variety of options available to pay for your Texas teaching program. For starters, you should fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). This can be used to apply for different types of aid, including loans and scholarships/grants. The key types of financial aid are discussed below. You can learn more about financial aid from our FAFSA & Financial Aid Guide.

Student Loans – Student loans are offered by the government as well as private organizations, but government loans are better regulated and offer more flexibility in repayment. In fact, the federal government offers loan forgiveness specifically to teachers, that can provide up to $17,500 in loan forgiveness (see Teacher Loan Forgiveness).

Scholarships & Grants – Unlike loans, these types of aid do not need to be repaid. You can obtain scholarships from countless private and public organizations and grants from entities such as the Texas government. For example, the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board offers several different grants for aspiring teachers, and Teach for America offers scholarships for current and recent teaching students. You can find more financial aid options specific to teaching students in our Teacher Scholarship Guide and other scholarships that you can also obtain in the Comprehensive Scholarship Guide.

What About Out-of-State Teachers?
If you are licensed to teach in another state and want to switch to Texas, the process might be fairly simple. Texas offers reciprocity for quite a few other states, meaning that you can switch over your license as long as you pass the needed assessments. If you are moving from a state that isn’t recognized, you may need to complete a Texas EPP in order to obtain your certification.

To find out whether your certification is recognized, you will need to submit your credentials to the state for review. You may receive a temporary, one-year certification that allows you to work while completing the necessary components. More information is available on the TEA’s Out-of-State Certification page.

What is Alternative Teacher Certification?
Alternative teacher certification primarily refers to the alternative certification for aspiring teachers who have non-teaching bachelor’s degrees. For example, if you have a bachelor’s degree in mathematics but no education focus, this certification process may be appropriate. In addition, career and technical teacher certification works very similarly to the alternative certification program (ACP).

If you are interested in an ACP, submit your credentials to the TEA Alternative Certification Program. You may receive a one-year certification that allows you to get into the classroom while you complete any needed educational or practical requirements for regular certification. Once you have completed all of the requirements, you will need to pass the appropriate teaching assessment in order to qualify for the full, five-year certification.

Resources for Aspiring Texas Teachers
There are several resources out there that can provide you with support, guidance, and other benefits during your journey to teaching. If you don’t already know a teacher who can offer you support, it may be beneficial to reach out to your school and inquire about current and former education students who may be willing to guide new students. In addition, having a mentor (teaching or otherwise) can help you to stay motivated and have regular encouragement. You may be able to find a mentor through your school or program.

Other resources and support organizations for aspiring Texas teachers include:

Texas Teacher Evaluation and Support System (T-TESS) centralizes countless resources and guides for teachers, including information about EPPs, teaching practice guides, teaching resources and professional development.
Raising Texas Teachers offers scholarships and works with schools, education students and other organizations, with the goal of lifting up aspiring Texas teachers.
TSTA offers resources specifically to aspiring teachers of Texas, including teaching tips, career information and networking opportunities and events.
National Education Association (NEA) is a nationwide organization that provides support and resources to its teacher members. Aspiring Texas teachers can join here to access EPP resources, financial aid information, professional development and more.
Link to this page
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2Grand Canyon UniversityGrand Canyon University logo
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Doctorate
Ed.D. in Teaching and Learning with an Emphasis in Adult Learning – Qualitative Research
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Education Specialist in Teaching and Learning
Master
MA in Curriculum & Instruction
MA in Communication – Education
MA in History – Education
MS in Sociology – Education
MS in Biology – Education
MS in Chemistry – Education
Bachelor
BS in Elementary Education (Initial Teacher Licensure)
BS in Elementary Education – Christian Education (Initial Teacher Licensure)
BS in Elementary Education with an Emphasis in STEM
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3Capella UniversityCapella University logo
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Minimum eligibility requirements:
Must complete an application online and submit transcripts for their highest degree earned.
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MEd – Teaching and Learning
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MS – Education : Early Childhood Education Studies
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4Southern New Hampshire UniversitySouthern New Hampshire University logo
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Master
MS in Higher Education Administration
MEd in Curriculum and Instruction – Dyslexia Studies & Language-Based Learning Disabilities
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PhD in Education – Curriculum & Teaching
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Master of Education – Curriculum & Teaching
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MEd – School Safety, Security and Emergency Management
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6Colorado Christian UniversityColorado Christian University logo
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MA in Curriculum and Instruction: Culturally and Linguistically Diverse
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Masters of Arts in Teaching
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