Working in education offers personal and professional development and an enriching career. But becoming a teacher doesn’t happen overnight. Explore our guide to discover how long it takes to get your Texas teaching certificate.

This extensive handbook covers each vital step in becoming a teacher, including:

  • Getting your degree
  • How long does it take to get a teaching certificate?
  • What is required to enroll in an alternative certification program like Teachworthy?
  • How much does it cost to get a teaching certification?
  • Getting your dream job!
  • Texas teacher certification renewal

Getting your degree

Texas educators need to have a Bachelor’s degree or Career Technical Education (CTE) certificate before they enter the classroom. A bachelor’s degree takes between three and seven years to obtain, depending on your chosen subject.

If you have a skill or a trade – like law enforcement, welding, or culinary arts – that does not require a degree, there is also an option for you to enter the classroom as a teacher. CTE certification areas require full-time work experience and current licensure or certification in your profession. Trades and Industry skills in our classrooms are becoming a much-needed education pathway for today’s high school students.

How long does it take to get a teaching certificate?

How many years does it take to become a teacher in Texas? This is the all-important question.

Through a traditional route, it takes roughly five years to get your degree and teaching certificate.

If you already have a Bachelor’s degree, we recommend exploring the alternative route to teaching. Programs such as Teachworthy fully prepare you for life in the classroom, giving you everything you need to master your subject area and fulfil your potential as an influential, inspiring educator.

Here is a rundown of what you need to complete on your journey to getting your educator certification through an alternative route like Teachworthy:

  1. Complete the application process and meet with a personalized program advisor.
  2. Begin working on the prerequisites to enter the classroom: testing and training.
  3. Once the pre-service requirements are complete, begin a one-year internship under the guidance of a certification program, earning a full salary and benefits.

What is required to enroll in an alternative certification program like Teachworthy?

Applying for our alternative teacher education program requires:

  • 2.5 GPA minimum on an official degree conferred transcript or a 2.5 GPA in the last 60 semester hours of coursework.
  • Minimum of 12 hours of college coursework in the subject you wish to teach. Teachworthy will fully evaluate all your transcripts and share the options with you.
  • Graduates from outside the U.S must meet specific passing scores on the TOEFL iBt and submit a course-by-course evaluation from a transcript evaluation company.

How much does it cost to get a teacher certification?

Teachworthy costs $4,155, making it among the most affordable of the alternative teaching programs on the market. Explore our blog on “How much does a Texas Teacher Certification Program Cost?” for more information.

Getting your dream job as a teacher

With a program like Teachworthy, once you have completed the prerequisites of testing and training, you are able to start looking for your dream teaching position as an intern.

All educator candidates must complete a criminal background check prior to employment, as well as apply and pay for an initial “intern” certificate on the TEA website. For more information, take a look at our page on the Texas Administrative Code’s requirements.

You will be looking for a first-year teaching position, with full teaching responsibility, full salary, and full benefits. Teachworthy will partner with you during this first year to complete observation/feedback sessions and ongoing professional development (as required by state code), helping to facilitate a successful year for you.

Texas Teacher Certification Renewal

Once you complete your first year of teaching and have been issued a “standard” teaching certificate, you will be required to renew your certificate every five years.

If you are teaching in the classroom, the renewal requirements of continued professional development are easily met during your regular job duties as a teacher. When you get close to your renewal date, head to the Texas Education Agency (TEA)’s certificate renewal page for details and requirements on how to extend.