TEACH.org Logo
  • 1

    Get the Certification Guide

  • 2

    How do I choose a teaching certificate?

  • 3

    What certifications can I earn?

Get the Certification Guide

Keep a list of certification areas handy, and get step-by-step details on pathways to teaching and how to get certified in Texas. It’s all free in our Certification Guide!
  • DFW cowboy hat icon

    Dallas-Fort Worth

    Get the Guide
  • Houston rocket icon

    Greater Houston

    Get the Guide
  • San Antonio Alamo icon

    San Antonio

    Get the Guide

How do I choose a teaching certificate?

If you already know what grade and subject you want to teach: Fabulous! You can jump to the next section.

Not sure? Consider a shortage area or a subject that lets you teach all grades.

You’ll have more job opportunities—and make a bigger impact—teaching in a state-designated shortage area.

Many schools offer extra pay or signing bonuses for shortage area teachers! You may also qualify for generous student loan forgiveness programs and other financial aid.

What are shortage areas in Texas?

These subjects are teacher shortage areas for the 2024–2025 school year: (1)

  • Bilingual Education
  • Career & Technical Education (all subject areas)
  • Computer Science
  • English as a Second Language
  • English Language Arts & Reading (Grades 7–12)
  • Math (Grades 7–12)
  • Special Education (all subject areas)
  • Technology Applications

Not sure what age group you want to teach? That’s okay! You can broaden your options by earning a teaching certificate that lets you teach all grade levels. These include (2):
 

  • Art
  • Deaf & Hard of Hearing
  • Health
  • Languages Other Than English 
  • Music
  • Physical Education
  • Reading Specialist
  • Special Education
  • Teacher of Students with Visual Impairments
  • Technology Applications
  • Theatre

What teaching certificates can I earn?

Once you know the grade and subject you want to teach, you can select your teaching certificate. Click the tabs to explore your options. (2)

Certification Area

Grades

Shortage Area?

Early ChildhoodPreK–3rd Grade 
Core Subjects with Science of Teaching Reading (a.k.a. Elementary Education)Early Childhood–6th Grade OR Grades 4–8 

Certification Area

Grades

Shortage Area?

ArtEarly Childhood–12th Grade 
Dance6–12 
MusicEarly Childhood–12th Grade 
TheatreEarly Childhood–12th Grade 

Certification Area

Grades

Shortage Area?

HealthEarly Childhood–12th Grade 
Physical EducationEarly Childhood–12th Grade 

Certification Area

Grades

Shortage Area?

English Language Arts & Reading7–12✅
English Language Arts & Reading with Science of Teaching Reading4–8 
English Language Arts & Reading/Social Studies4–8 
History7–12 
Journalism7–12 
Social Studies4–8 OR 7–12 
Speech7–12 

Certification Area

Grades

Shortage Area?

American Sign LanguageEarly Childhood–12th Grade 
ArabicEarly Childhood–12th Grade 
Chinese (Mandarin)Early Childhood–12th Grade 
FrenchEarly Childhood–12th Grade 
GermanEarly Childhood–12th Grade 
HindiEarly Childhood–12th Grade 
ItalianEarly Childhood–12th Grade 
JapaneseEarly Childhood–12th Grade 
KoreanEarly Childhood–12th Grade 
LatinEarly Childhood–12th Grade 
RussianEarly Childhood–12th Grade 
SpanishEarly Childhood–12th Grade 
TurkishEarly Childhood–12th Grade 
UrduEarly Childhood–12th Grade 
VietnameseEarly Childhood–12th Grade 

Certification Area

Grades

Shortage Area?

Chemistry7–12 
Computer Science8–12✅
Life Science7–12 
Math4–8 OR 7–12✅
Mathematics/Physical Science/Engineering6–12 
Mathematics/Science4–8✅
Physical Science6–12 
Physics/Mathematics7–12 
Science4–8 OR 7–12 
Technology ApplicationsEarly Childhood–12th Grade✅

Certification Area

Grades

Shortage Area?

Deaf & Hard of HearingEarly Childhood–12th Grade✅
Gifted & Talented

(Only available as an add-on certificate, not an initial teaching certificate)

N/A 
Special EducationEarly Childhood–12th Grade✅
Teacher of Students with Visual ImpairmentsEarly Childhood–12th Grade 

Note: Some career & technical education subjects may require vocational work experience.

Certification Area

Grades

Shortage Area?

Agriculture, Food & Natural Resources6–12✅
Business & Finance6–12✅
Family & Consumer Sciences6–12✅
Health Science6–12✅
Hospitality, Nutrition & Food Sciences8–12✅
Human Development & Family Studies8–12✅
Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC)

Note: You’ll also need a certificate from a military branch.

6–12✅
Marketing6–12✅
Technology Education6–12✅
Trades & Industrial Education6–12✅

Certification Area

Grades

Shortage Area?

Bilingual Education

(Only available as an add-on certificate, not an initial teaching certificate)

N/A✅
English as a Second Language

(Only available as an add-on certificate, not an initial teaching certificate)

N/A✅
Reading SpecialistEarly Childhood–12th Grade 
School LibrarianEarly Childhood–12th Grade 

Ready to teach in DFW, San Antonio or Houston?

Get the support you need with advising, thousands in scholarships, test prep and fee reimbursements. Select your region to start your journey today!
  • DFW cowboy hay icon

    Dallas-Fort Worth

    Learn more
  • Houston rocket icon

    Greater Houston

    Learn more
  • San Antonio Alamo icon

    San Antonio

    Learn more

Sign Up for Free Resources

Enter your email to get FREE resources for future Texas teachers—from tailored advising to funding opportunities and more. Already signed up? Sign in at the top of the page to access your dashboard.

By signing up, you agree to TEACH.org’sTerms of UseandPrivacy Policy. You understand that you will receive email and/or SMS communications from TEACH.org. You can opt out at any time by updating your Communication Preferences in your Profile. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the GooglePrivacy PolicyandTerms of Serviceapply.

Choose Your Texas Certification Area

Decide what you want to teach, and choose the teaching certificate that’s right for you. Download our free Certification Guide for even more info!

Get the Guide
A future Texas teacher looking excited. They are wearing bright red glasses and a red shirt and have their hand on their chin thoughtfully

Before you enroll in a teaching program, you’ll need to decide what you want to teach—the subject and grade level. These will determine the specific teaching certificate you earn. 

On this page, we’ll go over your options!

In some cases, you may have multiple teaching certificates to choose from! For example, if you want to teach middle school math, you could earn a math teaching certificate for grades 5–9 OR grades 7–12.

You can earn certificates in different subjects throughout your teaching career. You don’t have to get all your certifications at once. (3)

References

  1. Student Loan Forgiveness for Teachers. Texas Education Agency. https://tea.texas.gov/texas-educators/educator-initiatives-and-performance/student-loan-forgiveness-for-teachers 
  2. Education Preparation Program Map. Texas Education Agency. https://tea-texas.maps.arcgis.com/apps/dashboards/8fdeed6e29b741ba8bac151ac023186d
  3. Additional Certification by Exam Information. Texas Education Agency. https://tea.texas.gov/texas-educators/certification/additional-certifications/additional-certification-by-exam-information