Have a Degree? Add on a Teaching Certificate

There are a few scenarios where you might be able to skip a standard teaching program and start teaching right away:

• You have career experience in your teaching subject, such as chemistry or math. If you’re a career changer, you may be able to start teaching right away through an alternative certification program! Learn more about alternative certification.
• You’re a tradesperson. If you have vocational work experience, you may be able to get certified in Career and Technical Education, or CTE. Depending on your field, you may be able to start teaching without going through a standard teaching program! Learn more.

• You’re certified in another state or country. If you’re already certified to teach outside of Texas, you may be able to fast-track or save money on your Texas teacher certification. Learn more.

Most teaching programs work like this: You’ll take classes to learn how to teach, then finish your program with an internship or student teaching placement. There, you’ll work in a classroom alongside an experienced mentor teacher.

This can be a good option if you:

• Have less experience with students or your subject matter. 
• Want more hands-on mentorship before you lead your own classroom. 

It depends! Most post-grad teaching programs take one to two years, depending on your chosen subject and whether you’re earning a master’s.

Your costs will vary depending on your teaching program and the tests required for your particular teaching certificate. Learn more about teaching program costs.

In addition to program tuition, you can expect to pay fees for things like your teaching certificate application, background check and TExES exam. (2)(3)

If you have a bachelor’s degree in one subject, but want to teach something else, you may need to take a few courses before you can enroll in a teaching program. A post-baccalaureate, or “post-bac,” program through a college or university can help you get the extra credits you need.

Check with teaching programs to find out how many credits you need to have in your future teaching subject.

Wondering how to pay for your program? We can help!

Look for grants, scholarships and other financial aid opportunities with our TEACH Financial Aid Explorer. 

As a Texas educator, your pay will depend on your years of experience and where you work. The overall average teacher salary in Texas is about $61,000. (4)

You can increase your salary with added credentials, such as a master’s degree. If you’ve taught for at least three years, you can also earn more with a National Board Certification.

Learn more about Texas teacher pay and benefits.