This page will tell you how to become a teacher in Texas. Whether you are looking for a first career or transitioning into a different one, many people decide that teaching is the career for them.

Teachers work in a variety of educational settings with ages from birth to adult. Therefore, if you want to teach, you have a wide variety of opportunities to suit your particular interests and lifestyle. Many teachers work a regular schedule of Monday through Friday with weekends off. The day may start early, at 6:30 a.m. or 7:00 a.m. but it ends generally at 3:00 p.m. Teachers usually have all major holidays off, a week off during spring break, and two weeks off during the Christmas holiday.

As good as that sounds, the hours and vacation schedule can be misleading. It is important to note that teaching often does not end when the students go home. Teachers often work after school, on the weekends, over holiday breaks, or into the night on activities such as helping students after school, developing curriculum, planning lessons, grading papers, and other duties that can be assigned by the school administration. Such duties might include helping with an after school club, working on school-wide or departmental committees, meeting with parents, or other duties as assigned.http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos318.htm

Besides the schoolwork involved, teachers are also responsible for guiding students’ emotional development, moral development, psychological development, and overall development as a citizen of the country. This is a lot of responsibility. Many times, schoolwork can, in fact, become second priority to the ones listed above. If this sounds like work you would like to do, then this page will give you some general guidelines to becoming a teacher in Texas.

Every state has slightly different requirements for teaching. In addition, there are often alternate routes to teaching certifications. Also, different types of schooling environments require different levels of education and certification

Public Schools versus Private Schools Working for a public school will require being certified to teach in addition to at least having a Bachelor’s degree. Private schools may not require certification, depending on the school, but may require at least a Bachelor’s degree as well. The restrictions are looser for private schools because they do not take state funding. Therefore, they are not bound by the rules of the state.

Approved Preparation Programs Texas has a list of approved educational institutions and programs for each area depending on where you live.http://www.tea.state.tx.us/index4.aspx?id=7318

This list includes:

1. University based programs where students can earn a bachelor’s degree in preparation for teaching
2. Post-Baccalaureate Programs where students who already hold a degree can get further training in order to get their teaching credentials
3. Alternative Programs are also for students who already have degrees. However, these programs are run by educational service centers and school districts. Some colleges and universities also have alternative programs

Because of the Federal Legistation known as NCLB or No Child Left Behind, schools can hire teachers that have not completed their degrees and certification if they are currently enrolled in an approved alternative teaching program.http://www.tea.state.tx.us/index4.aspx?id=7318

By this point you should have:

1. Completed your bachelor’s degree
2. Completed an approved education certification program

The next step is to pass the state tests and earn your teaching certification. Different grade levels and subjects will have different tests requirements. You will need approval from your certification program in order to be eligible to sit for the any exams. http://www.tea.state.tx.us/index.aspx?id=5352&menu_id=865&menu_id2=794

The tests that you need to take are based upon the subject and grade level that you are teaching. All tests are taken through ETS, also known as Educational Testing Service. The tests are computer-based and can be taken at any time after program completion. http://www.texes.ets.org/ The purpose of these exams is to make sure that each candidate has the necessary qualifications, following their degree and certification programs, to function as an entry level teacher or higher.

ExCET – Examination for the Certification of Educators in Texas TExES – Texas Examination of Educator Standards

• Both of these tests are criterion-referenced tests. This means that you are judged based on a set quantity of knowledge and not based upon how other people do on the same test.

TExMAT – Texas Examination for Master Teachers

• There are four categories to the Master teacher certification tests: reading, math, science, and technology.

TOPT – Texas Oral Proficiency Test

• This test is for those seeking certification in teaching Spanish or French, and requires the candidate to provide a verbal response to a specific speaking task.
• These tests are in addition to the ExCET and TExES.

TASC – Texas Assessment of Sign Communication TASC-ASL – Texas Assessment of Sign Communication and American Sign Langauge

• These 20 minute interview tests \ for teachers who will be working with deaf or hard of hearing students.
• These tests are also in addition to the ExCET and TExES.

By this step, you have:

1. Completed your bachelor’s degree
2. Completed an approved education certification program
3. Satisfactorily completed your certification testing

Now you have two more steps to complete.

The first step is to send in a completed application to the state for review. This will involved an application, relevant credentials paperwork, and proof of passing the certification tests. Other paperwork may be required depending on circumstances.

The second step is to be fingerprinted. Fingerprinting is required of all personnel working in schools for criminal background checks.

Affected personnel include:

• Standard certificate
• Probationary certificate
• One-year certificates
• Temporary teaching certificates
• Emergency permits
• And those wishing to become educational aides

There are a few options to get fingerprinted:

1. Digital fingerprinting: Go to a vendor approved by the Texas Department of Public Safety for an electronic capture of you finger print. The print is then digitally processed and sent. The turn around time is 3-5 days.http://www.tea.state.tx.us/index.aspx?id=5844 This is the fastest option available. The fee is $42.25.
2. Ink Fingerprinting: for anyone not able to do digital fingerprinting, cards can be provided for traditional ink fingerprinting. The fee is the same, but it takes longer to process. In addition, the ink fingerprinting has a 25% rejection rate and a school district may still want you to provide a digital fingerprint for additional fees.

If you already hold a teaching certificate from another state, you will still have to complete an application and the subject area tests specific to Texas.