Understanding Texas Certification (The Requirements) 

The following steps outline the requirements to becoming a fully certified teacher in Texas: 

01. Obtain a bachelor’s degree

• • Candidates must earn a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in order to become a teacher in Texas.

    • Health Science Technology and Trades & Industrial Education certifications are exempt from the Bachelor's degree requirement, though they must still meet specific work experience requirements.

02. Complete an Educator Preparation Program

• • Candidates must complete an Approved Educator Preparation Program. If they do not hold a degree they must complete a university program. If they do hold a degree, they may complete an Alternative Certification Program or Post Baccalaureate program.

    • Teachers may visit TeachDFW.org for guidance on which program best meets their needs.

03. Complete field observations (directed by the EPP)

• • The State requires each teacher candidate to complete a minimum of 50 clock hours of observation prior to beginning their actual teaching experience and to reflect on the observation experience.

    • Candidates will receive a letter to present to a TEA-approved school outlining your need for classroom observations with the grade and content area in which they are seeking certification.

    • They are required to have 50 hours of field-based experience

      • 25 hours of classroom observation AND

      • 25 hours actively engaged in instructional or educational activities, completed in a TEA-accredited classroom setting in the content area/grade level you are pursuing.

    • Each individual observation will also require reflection questions to be answered.

      • They must complete these field observations as outlined by your Educator Preparation Program.

      • Some Field Observation hours may be virtual, but candidates should check with their Educator Preparation Program to determine how many, if at all.

04. Pass Certification Exams

• • Candidates must pass the appropriate teacher certification exams. Candidates must obtain approval to test from their educator preparation programs.

    • Required Texas Certification Tests

05. Submit a State Application

• • Candidates must apply to be certified after all requirements are met. Candidates must login to their TEAL account to access the Educator Certification Online System (ECOS)

    • Candidates should not apply until they have verified with their program that they are eligible.

    • TEAL and ECOS Resources

06. Complete Fingerprinting

• • All first-time applicants must be fingerprinted as part of a national criminal background check.

• • Standard certificate: A certificate issued to an individual who has met all requirements for a given class of certification.

  • Enhanced Standard certificate: A certificate issued to an individual who has completed a residency in accordance with 19 TAC §228.65 and met all requirements for a given class of certification.

  • Intern certificate: A certificate issued to a candidate while they are participating in an internship through an approved educator preparation program (EPP). To obtain an intern, a candidate must be…

    • Enrolled and in good standing with a Texas-approved EPP,

    • Serving in an acceptable, paid-internship supervised by the EPP, and

    • Must pass all appropriate content pedagogy examinations (a candidate does not need to pass the pedagogy and professional responsibilities exam to obtain an Intern).

  • Probationary certificate: A certificate issued to a candidate while they are participating in an internship through an approved educator preparation program (EPP). To obtain a Probationary, a candidate must be…

    • Enrolled and in good standing with a Texas-approved EPP,

    • Serving in an acceptable, paid-internship supervised by the EPP, and

    • Must pass all appropriate content pedagogy examinations and the pedagogy and professional responsibilities exam

Individuals who hold a standard educator certificate from another U.S. state or territory and are seeking certification in Texas must first apply for a Review of Credentials through the Texas Education Agency (TEA).

House Bill 1178, enacted by the 89th Texas Legislature, requires that any out-of-state certificate submitted for a Review of Credentials must be both valid and active at the time the complete application is received.

Texas does not have reciprocity with any other state, meaning it does not automatically recognize or accept out-of-state teaching certificates to move into immediate issuance of a standard certificate in Texas. However, TEA conducts a credentials review to determine whether an applicant’s certification, teaching experience, and exams align with Texas standards. Even if an educator holds a valid standard certificate elsewhere, they must still apply for Texas certification and may be required to complete additional exams unless they qualify for a test exemption.

A complete credentials review application includes:

• A submitted review of credentials application and payment of the required fee

• A copy of their out-of-state standard certificate uploaded to their ECOS account

• An official transcript sent to TEA from the issuing institution

Additional instructions for Candidate Application Requirements & the Review Process, as well as requirements for Test Exemption Review, can be found on TEA’s website: Out-of-State Certified Educators

Individuals are required to pass Content Pedagogy exams and a Pedagogy exam to become a certified teacher in Texas. Candidates must have approval from their Educator Preparation Program to register for an exam. EPPs approve candidates for one exam attempt at a time, and candidates must request approval each time they wish to retake an exam. Candidates are only allowed to retake an exam four times; after that, they must receive a waiver to retest. See this chart to determine which exams are required for Texas Certification.

What do the exams test candidates on?

• Content Pedagogy examinations

  • What they are: These exams assess a teacher’s understanding of a specific subject area, ensuring they can teach grade-level standards with accuracy, clarity, and rigor.

  • Why they’re important: Demonstrating strong content knowledge allows teachers to teach more effectively, anticipate student misconceptions, and deliver instruction that leads to measurable student growth.

  • How to talk about them: “Your content exam is a chance to show the expertise you’re building in your subject area, and we’re here to support you as you prepare. Which content domains feel strongest for you so far, and where would additional study time or coaching make the biggest difference?”

  • Sample content pedagogy exams:

    • Mathematics 4-8 (115)

    • Science of Teaching Reading (293)

    • Special Education Specialist: Early Childhood-Grade 12 (186)

• Pedagogy & Professional Responsibilities (PPR) examination (160)

  • What it is: The TExES PPR exam measures a teacher’s knowledge of instructional planning, classroom management, student development, assessment, and professional responsibilities. Alternative Certification candidates do NOT need to take the PPR until after their Intern certificate is secured.

  • Why it’s important: The PPR ensures teachers can apply research-based instructional strategies, create supportive learning environments, and make instructional decisions that meet diverse student needs and improve learning outcomes.

  • How to talk to teachers about it: “The PPR is about how you turn your content knowledge into strong instruction and classroom practice. Which PPR domains (planning, assessment, classroom environment, or differentiation) are going best for you right now, and where could we provide more support as you prepare?”

For more details on certification exams, such as the content assessed and how to register, see the TExES Exam Guide from the Texas Educator Certification Examination Program.

Below, you can find details on how candidates can create a TEAL account, set an appointment, find a testing center, request alternative arrangements if needed, learn the fees associated with each test, and learn how candidates might find support in paying for the fees. As a reminder, candidates must receive permission from their EPP to test before registering if they do not yet hold a Standard certificate.

• Create a TEAL Account

• Create a Pearson Account

• Register for an exam

• Costs: Exam fees can be viewed for each exam on the Pearson website. Costs range from $116 - $136 for the exam, or $58 per Subject Exam if taken separately. Additional fees may apply.

• Alternative Testing Arrangements Overview

  • Candidates may qualify for alternative testing arrangements if they have a documented disability, health condition, or if English is not their primary language.

• Requesting Alternative Testing Arrangements

• Prepare for the exam

• TExES Study Tips

• What to Expect on Exam Day

• Score dates

• Reading Score Reports

  • Candidates should… 

    1. • Look at sample score reports to check understanding 

       • Review how each domain and competency will be scored 

       • Review Total Test Performance after testing to determine pass/fail status 

TEA Waiver for Special Education and Bilingual Education

Effective with Governor Abbott’s signing of HB 2 on June 4, 2025, educators seeking certification in Special Education or Bilingual Education fields will have both their certification exam fee waived for their first attempt on the associated content pedagogy exam and certification application fee waived.

This means that at the time of exam registration or certification application, the associated fee will be $0. Candidates in educator preparation programs seeking these certifications will still be required to pay for their pedagogy test and fingerprinting fees. See here for more details in which exams are eligible to be waived.

The following programs and grants are designed to help uncertified teachers become certified. Many of these program grants may be applied to certification exam fees.

G.I. Bill Benefits for Educator Preparation Program Costs

• Veterans Education Benefits can be used for teacher certification programs. The program must receive approval from the Texas Workforce Commission Veterans Affairs Office. The program assigns a staff person to process the required forms to request VA funding. The amount of money paid to eligible veterans varies, depending on the type of GI Bill that they have and the type of program they are completing. If veterans have remaining GI Bill eligibility, they should ask the program director or university VA office for details on applying for benefits.

G.I. Bill Benefits for Test Fees

• The Texas Workforce Commission has approved the State Board for Educator Certification (SBEC) to allow veterans and other eligible persons to receive reimbursement for the cost of certification tests. This approval has been made effective, retroactively, as of March 1, 2001.

• To obtain these forms and further information contact the Texas Workforce Commission Veterans Education office at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, (512) 463-3168.

Some Texas school districts offer grow-your-own programs that provide financial aid to students who agree to return to their school district as teachers after graduation from college. High school students interested in teaching should contact their school district.

Preparing and Retaining Educators through Partnership (PREP) Program Allotment

• The PREP Program Allotment provides funding for five partnership types, listed in the table below. Districts and open-enrollment charter schools may apply for funding for the PREP Preservice Residency Program, Grow Your Own Program, and the Mentor Program through the LASO process. In many cases, funding from this allotment goes directly to teacher candidates or employees in the school system.

Teacher Loan Forgiveness

• Teacher Loan Forgiveness - The Taxpayer-Teacher Protection Act authorizes up to $17,500 in loan forgiveness for eligible teachers.

Texas Workforce Commission

• The Texas Workforce Commission offers special programs and incentives to help people become and remain teachers.

Other Financial Aid

• The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board administers a variety of grants for attending college. Candidates may also qualify for other financial aid, student loans, or scholarships.

• Approved Educator Preparation Programs

• Alternative Testing Arrangements Overview

• Create a Pearson Account

• Create a TEAL Account

• G.I. Bill Benefits for Educator Preparation Program Costs

• G.I. Bill Benefits for Test Fees

• Out-of-State Certified Educators

• Prepare for the exam

• Preparing and Retaining Educators through Partnership (PREP) Program Allotment

• Reading Score Reports

• Register for an exam

• Requesting Alternative Testing Arrangements

• Required Texas Certification Tests

• TEA Waiver for Special Education and Bilingual Education

• TeachDFW.org

• Teacher Loan Forgiveness

• TEAL and ECOS Resources

• Texas Workforce Commission

• TExES Exam Guide

• TExES Study Tips

• What to Expect on Exam Day

• Score dates

• Other Financial Aid