Overview of Texas Certification Requirements

Individuals Seeking Initial Certification

For initial teacher certification in Texas, all candidates must:

• Earn a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university.
• Complete an approved program of teacher education.
• Pass examinations of professional knowledge and subject-matter knowledge approved by the State Board for Educator Certification (SBEC).

For details on additional routes to certification, see the TEA website.

Certified Individuals Seeking Certification in Texas

• If you have taken a Praxis II® test and are certified in a state other than Texas, you must have your credentials reviewed by the Texas Education Agency (TEA). To have your credentials reviewed:
  
  
  • Go to the TEA website and create an Educator Profile.
  • Complete an online application for review of credentials.
  • Submit the appropriate documents by mail to TEA using score recipient code 8325.
    
    Texas Education Agency (TEA)
    Division of Educator Standards
    Room 5-100
    1701 North Congress Avenue
    Austin, TX 78701-1494

Individuals Seeking Entrance into an Educator Preparation Program in Texas

• If you hold a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university and have not yet been admitted into an Educator Preparation Program (EPP) in Texas, you can register to take Pre-Admission Content Tests (PACT)* through the Praxis™ program for purposes of admission into the following types of EPPs:
  
  
  • alternative certification programs
  • university alternative certification programs
  • university post-baccalaureate programs (without content courses)

*PACT is not for use by out-of-state educators applying for certification in Texas. Out-of-state educators applying for certification in Texas must have their credentials reviewed by TEA. (See above.)

See also:

• About the Praxis™ Tests
• The Praxis Series™ Information Bulletin
• Prepare for a Test
• Register for a Test
• Accommodations for Test Takers with Disabilities or Health-related Needs