So you want to become a teacher in Texas? Teaching is a unique profession because it allows you to change the lives of others. If you have a bachelor’s degree, combining a 12-18 month alternative program with required state certification tests is all you need to get certified. In six steps, you can transition into a new career.
This is not a journey to take alone. There are many teaching opportunities. Organize your steps and find partners along the way. Use the links in this guide; reach out to the suggested resources and organizations.
Becoming a Teacher in Texas
1. Obtain a Bachelor’s Degree
Every teacher in Texas must have, at minimum, a Bachelors Degree.
That does NOT mean you have to have your degree in Education, just any degree.
If you major in education at an accredited institution recognized by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB), you are most likely completing the Traditional Teacher Certification Route.
But if you have your degree, and NOW want to become a teacher, then you need to complete the Alternative Certification Route.
For the Alternative Certification route, you just need a college degree with a 2.5 GPA or higher. IMPORTANT: That GPA requirement can be your entire college history, or just the most recent 60 hours of college coursework.
Once you complete this requirement (and you probably already have), you need to choose a certification program.
2. Complete Internship or Student Teaching Requirements
You will also need to complete an internship or student teaching requirement. Different programs use the terms interchangeably, but both mean observing students and teachers in the classroom and then learning to teach students yourself. If you major in education, your university program will help you complete these requirements. If you major in another area, you must use an approved alternative teaching program. Here is a list of approved Texas alternative certification programs.
3. Pass Required Certification Exams
Test registration occurs at the Texas Certification Test Prep and Teacher Training Website. All candidates for a Texas Standard Teaching Certificate must take at least two initial exams:
- The Pedagogy & Professional Responsibilities Test (PPR)
- A subject-specific test of your choice
A TExES content test is a certification exam that is specific to the content you want to teach.
In other words, the state of Texas wants to verify you have mastered the very content you want to teach students.
It makes sense…
For example, if you wanted to teach elementary-age children through six grade in any subject, you would need to take the Core Subjects EC-6 and the Science of Teaching Reading, or STR.
Or if you wanted to teach special education, you would likely need to take the content area you would most like to teach, and tie it to a Special Education certification, such as the Special Education Supplemental or the EC-12 Special Education exam.
THIS IS WHY A CERTIFICATION PROGRAM IS SO IMPORTANT!
Your EPP will work with you to identify all of the content exams you may need or have the prerequisites to take.
For example, many candidates in Texas who have no interest in teaching English as a second language still take the ESL Supplemental exam because having that certification makes them a stronger job candidate and many districts require it. After all, over 20 percent of students are being served through ESLand bilingual programs in Texas. Each district has different requirements, and you should check with your preferred districts for their eligibility requirements.
Basically, determining which content test YOU need to take is a big decision and you need expert advice on what is best for you.
One last point before you are hired. In addition to passing your content test, you will most likely need to complete 150 hours of coursework through your certification program prior to being eligible for hire. This is a state requirement- so no matter which program you go to, you are very likely to complete this requirement.
But there are a few exceptions to this…
Which is why we recommend choosing 240 Certification as your certification program, because you get a personal Program Advisor that is 100% dedicated to your success.
