If you have a bachelor’s degree (or you’re in your last semester), you can become a certified Texas teacher in six steps: apply, take the PACT if you need it, enroll, pass your content exam, train online, then teach. Program fees at Teachworthy are $4,500 ($495 to enroll and a $4,005 Internship Fee), and most of that is paid after you’re hired. Applying is free.
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If you have a bachelor’s degree, or you’re in your last semester of one, you can become a certified teacher in Texas in six steps.
Once these steps and your program fees are complete, Teachworthy recommends you for your Standard Certificate. See pricing for every fee.
If you’re earning a university education degree, certification is usually part of your tuition. If you have a bachelor’s degree but don’t have a certificate, you can apply for an Educator Preparation Program.
Teachworthy fees as of October 2026:
| Fee | Amount | When you pay |
|---|---|---|
| Application | Free | — |
| Enrollment Fee | $195 | When you enroll |
| Curriculum Fee | $300 | When you enroll, or $50 a month for six months |
| Internship Fee | $4,005 | $445 a month for nine months, starting 60 days after you start teaching |
| TExES exams (paid to Pearson) | $116–$136 each | When you register for each exam |
State certificate and fingerprinting fees are paid separately. Most of your program fees are paid after you’re hired. Totals at Texas alternative certification programs typically run about $4,500–$5,500.
Getting your teaching certificate opens up a whole new world of career opportunities. As many of our former trainees will tell you, being a teacher will change your life.
If you’re ready to embark on this inspiring journey, here are a few essentials you must have to complete your certification.
| You need | Details |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | Or be in your last semester |
| GPA | 2.5 or higher, overall or in your last 60 hours, or a passing PACT score |
| Subject coursework | 12 semester credit hours in your subject (15 for math or science above grade 7), or a passing PACT score |
| TExES content exam | A passing score |
| Training | 8+ online courses (about 150 hours of coursework and training) |
| Field-Based Experience | 50 hours: 10 hours of required video modules plus in-person classroom observations. Long-term substitute, teacher of record, instructional assistant or substitute teaching can count toward some hours. |
| Classroom experience | A paid internship or a 14-week Clinical Teaching assignment |
| PPR exam | A passing score |
| Capturing Kids’ Hearts | Training completed |
Still deciding whether teaching is right for you? Read our guide:
Becoming a teacher is not something that happens overnight. A career with endless learning and development opportunities takes time to master, and it all starts with earning your teaching certificate.
The steps to getting your license include:
See how each step works at Teachworthy:
Exams aren’t just for your future class pupils. Before you can teach, you must pass a TExES content exam. You pass the PPR exam later, during your internship or clinical teaching.
Each certification exam is designed to test your understanding of various educational methods, teaching scenarios and topics within your subject area.
We’ve produced several expert articles on each Texas certification exam. Learn all about each test below…
TExES stands for the Texas Examinations of Educator Standards. This is the state of Texas’s testing program for certifying new teachers. TExES exams allow you to teach in a classroom, providing you achieve a passing score.
TExES content exams test you on how ready you are to teach your desired subject. Each exam covers a subject and grade level, based on the topics you’ll be teaching. Teachworthy supports more than 50 certification areas. Each TExES exam costs $116–$136 (as of October 2026), paid to Pearson.
Content Exams are computer-administered, and take place in a testing facility. Most of the questions are multiple choice. Tests are split into categories and competencies, mirroring the very lessons you’ll impart onto others in a classroom setting.
Teachworthy helps you to prepare for your content exams. We partner with test-prep providers Certify Teacher, 240 Tutoring and Passage Preparation, which offer practice exams and study materials at a Teachworthy discount. Pearson also publishes free preparation manuals.
Ensure you ace the content test by reading our article below…
Preparing for your content exams >
All teachers must pass their PPR Exam before they can be recommended for their standard certificate. PPR stands for Pedagogy and Professional Responsibilities. While content exams tackle your expertise in a particular subject, PPR exams measure your knowledge and methods of teaching.
PPR questions cover everything from development and diversity to communication, technology and legalities.
If you have more questions about the PPR exams, make sure you read our comprehensive guide below…
PPR Exams – Your Questions Answered >
PACT Tests are required for admission into an Educator Preparation Program in the following cases:
Discover if you need to PACT test for your dream teaching position in our go-to guide.
Clinical teaching (more commonly referred to as “Student Teaching” and is what most Universities offer Education Majors), is an increasingly popular path for aspiring educators. This involves shadowing a fully-qualified teacher for 14 weeks and gradually taking on their day-to-day classroom responsibilities.
Taking place over a one-semester placement, this is a practical, hands-on assignment. Clinical teaching students work full-time in this unpaid placement.
Our guide, which you can access using the button below, takes you through:
Find out more here…
The world of teaching has evolved over time. Techniques have developed, new methods have emerged and technology has advanced as the needs of today’s youth forever change.
The classroom is not the same as it was several years ago, and neither is the route to becoming an educator. There are now many ways to earn your teaching certificate, with aspiring educators able to choose from a number of paths.
Many students are now completing university courses in specific subjects outside of education. This comes before completing an external Educator Preparation Program in order to get their teaching certificate.
If you’re looking to start your teaching career, you must consider both the traditional and alternative route to teacher certification. Take a look at our definitions below and, for a more detailed analysis, explore our guide.
Take a deeper dive into the traditional vs alternative teaching debate using our extensive guide linked below.
When evaluating your alternative certification options, there are some important aspects to consider.
Continue reading to explore the answers to these questions, or find out more about the best alternative certification programs in Texas using our blog below…
Educator Preparation Programs (EPPs) provide an alternative route to earning your teaching certificate. Teachworthy, for instance, helps to introduce thousands of educators to more than 1,000 Texas school districts.
Your training is 8+ self-paced online courses, including:
We offer program advisors and a range of resources, coaches and mentors to help you on your teaching journey. Find out more using the links below:
You need a Texas educator certificate to become a teacher in Texas. This authorizes you to teach and facilitate learning for students in a PK -12th grade setting.
A certificate is documented proof of your teaching credentials. It shows that you have what it takes to become an educator within the school district.
Certificates are provided by the Texas Education Agency (TEA). The TEA ensures those developing the minds of the future meet specific standards and pass required background checks.
Obtaining your teaching license is a step-by-step process that challenges and develops your ability as a teacher. By holding a current educator license, you demonstrate your credentials in terms of:
From degrees and approved EPPs to passing exams, scroll to learn everything you need to know about certification.
The Texas Education Agency (TEA) is responsible for public education in Texas, overseeing the state’s primary and secondary public schools. As the governing body, its aim is to provide “leadership, guidance and support to school systems.”
TEA is the department of education that coordinates the certification requirements for all future educators.
Being a teacher is an incredible opportunity to inspire, motivate and educate generations to come. It is a career in which you get to go home each day knowing you’re making a real difference, shaping the minds and lives of future generations.
There are now so many paths to pick from if you want to embrace a career in the classroom.
Whether it’s clinical teaching, an alternative, accelerated model, or through earning a bachelor’s degree in education, there are several Educator Preparation Programs that can help facilitate your journey toward getting your teaching certificate.
Anyone who’s passionate about teaching will tell you that it’s one of the most satisfying jobs on the planet. When you see that spark light up in a child’s eye as they grasp a valuable lesson, every step in the journey becomes all the more worthwhile.
“I love being a teacher, it’s something I really enjoy doing,” says Matt Nead. “Making an impact on this new generation is so important.” Discover why he chose a career in teaching in the video below…
While an incredibly gratifying and fulfilling career, it does require commitment and a lot of patience. The journey to becoming a qualified teacher needs a level of organization and determination, too.
If you’re still unsure if teaching is for you, discover everything you need to know before making your decision…
Teacher certifications are issued by the state’s education agency, with different areas having their own requirements. This does not mean, however, that you cannot teach in Texas with an out-of-state license.
Teacher reciprocity enables educators who hold a certificate in another state to apply for a review of their credentials from TEA.
Are you an out-of-state certified teacher, looking to teach in Texas? Discover everything you need to know in TEA’s reciprocity guide.
When applying for a new teaching position, the school may ask you for a copy of your teaching certificate. This is very easy to access via the TEA website. Follow the steps below to see your teaching license:
Discover what else you can do on the TEA website below…
A Texas Standard Certificate is valid for five years. To renew it, classroom teachers need 150 hours of continuing professional education (CPE), including training on educating students with disabilities.
How to renew your Texas teaching certificate:
At Teachworthy, we help aspiring educators become the teachers students remember, the ones whose lessons they carry with them throughout their lives.
“Teachers have a huge responsibility and opportunity to become a molding influence on their students,” says Texas teacher Christopher Perrin. “Since becoming a teacher, I have had more fun than I’ve ever had in my entire life.”
Discover the impact Christopher has had on his class pupils below…
If you’re ready to make a difference in children’s lives, the journey starts right now. All you have to do is click the button below and start your application…
Some Texas districts now start new teachers at $70,000.
Get certified online, and pay most of your program fees after you're hired.
