How To Become An Elementary School Teacher in Texas

Next Steps Explained

Contact Your Original Program

To be on a temporary certificate, you had to be enrolled in an Educator Preparation Program previously. Your best course of action is to contact your original program and ask how you can complete their program. If you are unable to get help, you can call us or contact us.

Enroll in an ACP

When you apply to the certification program you will fill out an application and provide the program your college transcripts. The program will make sure you have a GPA of 2.5 or higher (either overall or in the last 60 hours of coursework) and identify an “Area of Certification” – a certification area where you have 12+ college hours of coursework.

If they cannot identify an “Area of Certification” you will most likely have to take the PACT exam.

Source: TAC 227.10

Complete the 150 Hours of Coursework

This might sound scary- but it will make your life A LOT easier once you are hired. Before you can be hired, you have to complete 30 hours of classroom observation and interaction and 150 hours of coursework.

While that might seem like it, it will go by quickly because you will be learning the most fundamental aspects of teaching. This is the first step real step in becoming a successful, impactful teacher.

Once you complete that 150 hours of coursework, you can be hired.

Pass the Content Tests

Each Content Test is specific to a content area; a content area is a specific subject and grade level you are eligible to teach.

So you need to make sure that whatever you want to teach, you take the appropriate Content Tests.

Your certification program should walk you through each step of the process- so rely on your certification program for guidance.

If you have already taken a PACT exam and are unsure why you need to take a TExES exam, read our guide: PACT v. TExES: What’s the Difference and Why It Matters

Source: TAC 230.36.d.1

Get Hired

This is the hardest part of the journey- finding a job.

Once you apply and complete the 150 hours, you can be hired by a school to be a 100% salaried teacher. You can start teaching!

Already Hired?

If you are already hired- CONGRATULATIONS!

Also, most of this doesn’t 100% apply to you. There is a special provision in TAC 228.35.B.d that allows for someone hired within 45 days of the first day of school to complete the 150 coursework hours during their first year.

So if you are hired, there are some special circumstances and you should contact an ACP for more specific details.

>What the Texas Administrative Code says about your situation.

Curious about where we get our information? It is straight from the Texas Administrative Code.

The Texas Administrative Code, or TAC, is the set of rules and regulations for all the education systems in Texas. The rules and requirements to being admitted into an alternative certification program are found:

Source: TAC 227

It is very complicated, so we have tried to make it easier for you.

And there are rules and regulations for Educator Preparation Programs (or EPPs). These rules and regulations can be found in section 228: TAC 228

Source: TAC 228

Next Steps Explained

The next step for you is to graduate from college with a GPA higher than 2.5 (either overall OR the last 60 hours).

Once you graduate from college, you can enroll in an Alternative Certification Program in Texas and get the process started.

Are you in the last semester of your degree? You might be able to enroll today. Give us a call or contact us.

What the Texas Administrative Code says about your situation.

Curious about where we get our information? It is straight from the Texas Administrative Code

The Texas Administrative Code, or TAC, is the set of rules and regulations for all the education systems in Texas. The rules and requirements to being admitted into an alternative certification program are found: TAC 227

It is very complicated, so we have tried to make it easier for you.

And there are rules and regulations for Educator Preparation Programs (or EPPs). These rules and regulations can be found in section 228: TAC 228

Curious about where we get our information? It is straight from the Texas Administrative Code.

The Texas Administrative Code, or TAC, is the set of rules and regulations for all the education systems in Texas. The rules and requirements to being admitted into an alternative certification program are found: TAC 227

It is very complicated, so we have tried to make it easier for you.

And there are rules and regulations for Educator Preparation Programs (or EPPs). These rules and regulations can be found in section 228: TAC 228

Next Steps Explained

Contact Your Original Program

To be on a temporary certificate, you had to be enrolled in an Educator Preparation Program previously. Your best course of action is to contact your original program and ask how you can complete their program. If you are unable to get help, you can call us or contact us.

Enroll in an ACP

When you apply to the certification program you will fill out an application and provide the program your college transcripts. The program will make sure you have a GPA of 2.5 or higher (either overall or in the last 60 hours of coursework) and identify an “Area of Certification” – a certification area where you have 12+ college hours of coursework.

If they cannot identify an “Area of Certification” you will most likely have to take the PACT exam.

Source: TAC 227.10

Complete the 150 Hours of Coursework

This might sound scary- but it will make your life A LOT easier once you are hired. Before you can be hired, you have to complete 30 hours of classroom observation and interaction and 150 hours of coursework.

While that might seem like it, it will go by quickly because you will be learning the most fundamental aspects of teaching. This is the first step real step in becoming a successful, impactful teacher.

Once you complete that 150 hours of coursework, you can be hired.

Pass the Content Tests

Each Content Test is specific to a content area; a content area is a specific subject and grade level you are eligible to teach.

So you need to make sure that whatever you want to teach, you take the appropriate Content Tests.

Your certification program should walk you through each step of the process- so rely on your certification program for guidance.

If you have already taken a PACT exam and are unsure why you need to take a TExES exam, read our guide: PACT v. TExES: What’s the Difference and Why It Matters

Source: TAC 230.36.d.1

Get Hired

This is the hardest part of the journey- finding a job.

Once you apply and complete the 150 hours, you can be hired by a school to be a 100% salaried teacher. You can start teaching!

Already Hired?

If you are already hired- CONGRATULATIONS!

Also, most of this doesn’t 100% apply to you. There is a special provision in TAC 228.35.B.d that allows for someone hired within 45 days of the first day of school to complete the 150 coursework hours during their first year.

So if you are hired, there are some special circumstances and you should contact an ACP for more specific details.

>What the Texas Administrative Code says about your situation.

Curious about where we get our information? It is straight from the Texas Administrative Code.

The Texas Administrative Code, or TAC, is the set of rules and regulations for all the education systems in Texas. The rules and requirements to being admitted into an alternative certification program are found:

Source: TAC 227

It is very complicated, so we have tried to make it easier for you.

And there are rules and regulations for Educator Preparation Programs (or EPPs). These rules and regulations can be found in section 228: TAC 228

Source: TAC 228

Next Steps Explained

Enroll in an ACP

When you apply to the certification program you will fill out an application and provide the program with your college transcripts. The program will make sure you have a GPA of 2.5 or higher (either overall or in the last 60 hours of coursework) and identify an “Area of Certification” – a certification area where you have 12+ college hours of coursework.

Source: TAC 227.10

Pass the Content Test

Each content test is specific to a content area; a content area is a specific subject and grade level you are eligible to teach.

So you need to make sure that whatever you want to teach, you take the appropriate content test.

Your certification program should walk you through each step of the process- so rely on your certification program for guidance.

If you have already taken a PACT exam and are unsure why you need to take a TExES exam, read our guide: PACT v. TExES: What’s the Difference and Why It Matters

Source: TAC 230.36.d.1

Get Hired

This is the hardest part of the journey- finding a job.

Once you apply and complete the 150 hours, you can be hired by a school to be a 100% salaried teacher. You can start teaching!

Already Hired?

If you are already hired- CONGRATULATIONS!

Also, most of this doesn’t 100% apply to you. There is a special provision in TAC 228.35.B.d that allows for someone hired within 45 days of the first day of school to complete the 150 coursework hours during their first year.

So if you are hired, there are some special circumstances and you should contact an ACP for more specific details.

What the Texas Administrative Code says about your situation.

Curious about where we get our information? It is straight from the Texas Administrative Code.

The Texas Administrative Code, or TAC, is the set of rules and regulations for all the education systems in Texas. The rules and requirements to being admitted into an alternative certification program are found:

Source: TAC 227

It is very complicated, so we have tried to make it easier for you.

And there are rules and regulations for Educator Preparation Programs (or EPPs). These rules and regulations can be found in section 228: TAC 228

Source: TAC 228

Next Steps Explained

Enroll in an ACP

When you apply to the certification program you will fill out an application and provide the program your college transcripts. The program will make sure you have a GPA of 2.5 or higher (either overall or in the last 60 hours of coursework) and identify an “Area of Certification” – a certification area where you have 12+ college hours of coursework.

If they cannot identify an “Area of Certification” you will most likely have to take the PACT exam.

Source: TAC 227.10

Complete the 150 Hours of Coursework

This might sound scary- but it will make your life A LOT easier once you are hired. Before you can be hired, you have to complete 30 hours of classroom observation and interaction and 150 hours of coursework.

While that might seem like it, it will go by quickly because you will be learning the most fundamental aspects of teaching. This is the first step real step in becoming a successful, impactful teacher.

Once you complete that 150 hours of coursework, you can be hired.

Pass the Content Tests

Each Content Test is specific to a content area; a content area is a specific subject and grade level you are eligible to teach.

So you need to make sure that whatever you want to teach, you take the appropriate Content Tests.

Your certification program should walk you through each step of the process- so rely on your certification program for guidance.

If you have already taken a PACT exam and are unsure why you need to take a TExES exam, read our guide: PACT v. TExES: What’s the Difference and Why It Matters

Source: TAC 230.36.d.1

Get Hired

This is the hardest part of the journey- finding a job.

Once you apply and complete the 150 hours, you can be hired by a school to be a 100% salaried teacher. You can start teaching!

Already Hired?

If you are already hired- CONGRATULATIONS!

Also, most of this doesn’t 100% apply to you. There is a special provision in TAC 228.35.B.d that allows for someone hired within 45 days of the first day of school to complete the 150 coursework hours during their first year.

So if you are hired, there are some special circumstances and you should contact an ACP for more specific details.

Next Steps Explained

Pass the PrePACT

In order to be accepted into a certification program, you would first need to pass the PACT Mathematics: Grades 7-12 or PACT Science Grades: 7-12 exam.

To be accepted into a certification program for a secondary (or grades 7th through 12th) math or science certification area, the Texas Administrative Code requires a teacher to either have 15 hours of college coursework in Math or Science or pass the appropriate TX PACT exam.

Source: TAC 227.10.a.4.B

Enroll in an ACP

When you apply to the certification program you will fill out an application and provide the program your college transcripts. The program will make sure you have a GPA of 2.5 or higher (either overall or in the last 60 hours of coursework) and identify an “Area of Certification” – a certification area where you have 12+ college hours of coursework.

If they cannot identify an “Area of Certification” you will most likely have to take the PACT exam.

Source: TAC 227.10

Complete the 150 Hours of Coursework

This might sound scary- but it will make your life A LOT easier once you are hired. Before you can be hired, you have to complete 30 hours of classroom observation and interaction and 150 hours of coursework.

While that might seem like it, it will go by quickly because you will be learning the most fundamental aspects of teaching. This is the first step real step in becoming a successful, impactful teacher.

Once you complete that 150 hours of coursework, you can be hired.

Pass the Content Tests

Each Content Test is specific to a content area; a content area is a specific subject and grade level you are eligible to teach.

So you need to make sure that whatever you want to teach, you take the appropriate Content Tests.

Your certification program should walk you through each step of the process- so rely on your certification program for guidance.

If you have already taken a PACT exam and are unsure why you need to take a TExES exam, read our guide: PACT v. TExES: What’s the Difference and Why It Matters

Source: TAC 230.36.d.1

Get Hired

This is the hardest part of the journey- finding a job.

Once you apply and complete the 150 hours, you can be hired by a school to be a 100% salaried teacher. You can start teaching!

Already Hired?

If you are already hired- CONGRATULATIONS!

Also, most of this doesn’t 100% apply to you. There is a special provision in TAC 228.35.B.d that allows for someone hired within 45 days of the first day of school to complete the 150 coursework hours during their first year.

So if you are hired, there are some special circumstances and you should contact an ACP for more specific details.