Why Get Certified?

All of Relay's partner school leaders have strongly indicated that their preference is to hire certified teachers for their campus. Their expectation is for all residents to be on track to earn their certification.

Being on track for certification provides parents, students, and colleagues with the confidence that young minds are being educated by educators who know the material and are committed to the education field.

Students who were studying for their content exam during their studies experienced more stress than students who passed prior to enrollment.

Certification-seeking students who are on-track for certification receive less certification emails throughout the academic year.

Certification signals to parents, school leaders, colleagues, and the state of Texas that you are qualified to teach and have been knowledge and experience as it relates to pedagogy, subject content, ethics, suicide prevention, mental health support, and more!

Once you are certified, you will be eligible to work at any school. Without certification, your lead teaching employment options are currently limited to select charter networks. Being certified may also open up opportunities for advancement or higher salaries.

Many of the certification requirements are embedded in your Relay curriculum in a seamless manner. If you fall behind on your certification requirements, you will be at risk of being administratively removed from certification track. This would mean starting over with another certification program.

If you get certified later, expect to pay a minimum of $5,000+ to earn your certification through a different alternative certification program.

• Note: Certification candidates will still be responsible for the costs of testing, applications, and make-up workshops (if needed).