How to Get Certified to Teach in Texas

Are You Planning to Become a Teacher in Texas?

If you want to teach in Texas, but you are not certified yet, you can complete an alternative certification program to earn your Standard Certificate.

Brief Overview

Texas makes it fairly simple to get certified.  If you already have a bachelor's degree, you enter and complete an approved educator preparation program.  Through that program, you do coursework, observation hours, get fingerprinted by an approved vendor, pass your state certification exams, and do your field experience (either a one year teaching job or a 12 week clinical teaching assignment). 

Here are the 5 basic requirements to get certified in the Lone Star State:

1. Hold a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution.
2. Successfully finish a state approved EPP or Educator Preparation Program
3. Pass required TExES content exam(s)  and PPR (Pedagogy & Professional Responsibilities) exam
4. Submit and pay for your application to the state (do this after entering an EPP)
5. Get fingerprinted by an approved vendor

I Have My Degree, Now What?

If you already have your bachelor's degree, decide what type of educator preparation program is best for you and then apply.  Some programs can be completed in approximately one semester.  You will have various options to choose from: all online programs, hybrid programs, and all in-class programs.  Some alternative certification programs are run by universities, some by school districts or education regions, and others by private companies.

What Does the Alternative Certification Process Include?

The Texas Administrative Code requires all alternative certification programs to include:

- A minimum of 300 hours of coursework, including at least six hours of material that is strictly devoted to test preparation
- 30 hours of classroom observation hours, also called "field-based experience;" 15 of the 30 hours can be videos
-  A 12 week clinical teaching assignment, or a one year teaching internship
- A field supervisor, hired by your alternative certification program, that will observe you at least three times and provide you with feedback.
- A mentor teacher at your school, assigned by your principal, who will support you and give you advice.
-  "On-going and relevant field-based experiences."  This may include a variety of assignments to complete while working as a teacher or clinical teacher.
-  The requirements mentioned above (bachelor's degree, passing tests, paying for applications, fingerprinting)

Does This Sound Overwhelming?

Just looking at that list can make you second guess your goal of becoming a teacher.  Keep in mind there are all types of educator preparation programs.  Although they all adhere to the above requirements, some will be better suited for your needs.  If you need to keep your full time job and you have children, an all online, self-paced program is probably best for you.  If you are not very self-directed or prefer to attend classes, then a program that requires in class training would probably serve you better.


300 Hours of Coursework??

Think about it this way.  If you choose an all online, self-paced program, the 300 hours does not seem that daunting.  You can take the process slowly, maybe working about 10 hours per week for 30 weeks.  Or, you might be able to take a sabbatical at work and finish the coursework very quickly.  You can complete some in class programs in one year.  Compared to the four or five years you already spent in college, that doesn't sound too bad!