Updated October 2026.

Teaching is one of the most rewarding careers there is, and it takes commitment. This guide covers what you need to become a teacher in Texas: the education, the qualifications and the steps.

Becoming a teacher: what do you need?

Start by asking yourself:

  • What degree do I need to become a teacher?
  • What qualifications does Texas require?
  • Do I have the skills and heart to lead a classroom?

This guide answers the first two, so you can focus on the third: whether you have what it takes to pour into today’s young people.

What education do you need to become a teacher?

Your path starts with a high school diploma or GED, followed by a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university.

What degree do you need to become a teacher?

Texas requires teachers to have a bachelor’s degree and to complete an Educator Preparation Program (EPP). Your degree doesn’t have to be in education. If it isn’t, an alternative certification program like Teachworthy prepares you for the classroom.

An EPP like Teachworthy can review the coursework on your transcript from any degree program to see which subjects you qualify to teach.

What qualifications do you need to become a teacher?

To earn a Texas Standard Certificate, you need:

  • A high school diploma or GED
  • A bachelor’s degree from an accredited university
  • An Educator Preparation Program, like Teachworthy
  • Passing scores on your certification exams: a content exam in your subject and the PPR (Pedagogy and Professional Responsibilities) exam

What do you need to apply to a teacher certification program?

Texas sets the rules for who can enter an alternative certification program:

  • A degree, or nearly one. You need a completed bachelor’s degree, or to be in your final semester. Your field of study doesn’t matter.
  • GPA. Texas requires a 2.5 GPA, overall or in your last 60 hours. If you’re below that, or have too few college hours in your subject, you may be able to qualify by passing a Pre-Admission Content Test. Do I need to take the PACT?
  • Your interests and experience. The application asks about your education, related work experience (such as teacher’s aide or substitute teacher) and the subject and grade level you’d like to teach.

Teachworthy serves people who live in Texas or plan to move here.

How to apply

The Teachworthy application is free and takes less than 10 minutes. You don’t need transcripts to apply.

After you apply, Teachworthy reviews your college coursework. The goal is to see whether you’re likely to succeed on the content exam for the subject you want to teach, and which certification areas fit you best. For example:

  • For high school English, we look for coursework that shows you can analyze literature.
  • For mathematics, we look for a range of math courses, from algebra upward.
  • For social studies in grades 7–12, you’ll need knowledge of world, U.S. and Texas history and geography, government and economics.

Teachworthy also connects you to test preparation so you’re ready to pass.

From application to certificate

After you apply, you’ll meet with your Program Advisor, who will walk you through which subjects and grade levels suit you and which have the most job openings in your area. They’ll build your Certification Plan, which lays out every step.

From there, every candidate follows the same path: enroll, pass your content exam, complete your training, get hired, and teach for a year on an Intern Certificate with full pay and benefits. Before you start teaching, Texas requires 200 hours of preparation: 150 hours of coursework and training plus 50 hours of Field-Based Experience, of which up to 25 can be completed by video or other approved methods.

For the details of each step, including fees and timing, see our step-by-step guide to getting certified as a Texas teacher.

Hear from our team

Dr. Debbie Emery shares how Teachworthy guides you through the training and testing phase of becoming an incredible educator:

At Teachworthy, we know as former educators that teachers make a huge impact on the lives of their students. We want to partner with you to make sure you succeed.