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Choose your Texas certification area

Decide what you want to teach, and choose the teaching certificate that’s right for you. Read this page or download our free guide.

Download the Certification Guide

Before you can enroll in a teaching program, you’ll need to decide which teaching certificate you want to earn. Your teaching certificate lets you teach a specific set of grades and subjects.

On this page, we’ll go over your certification area options. 

In some cases, you may have multiple certification options to choose from. For example, if you are looking to teach older elementary or middle school students, you could get certified to teach either PreK–6th grade or 4th–8th grade.

I’m not sure what subject I want to teach

If you already know what grade and subject you want to teach: Fabulous! You can jump to the next section. If you’re not sure, consider a Texas shortage area or a subject that lets you teach all grades.

What teacher certifications can I earn in Texas?

A sample chart of teacher certification areas in Texas

Ready to find your Texas teacher certification area? This search tool can help. 

To use this tool:

  • Select the grade and subject you're interested in teaching, and the chart will update to show you what certifications you need.
  • Hover to explore additional notes and details.

For more information on teaching certificate options, and to see similar certifications grouped together, expand the tabs in the next section. 

Find Your Certification Area

You can earn certifications in different subjects throughout your teaching career in Texas. You don’t have to get all your certifications at once. (2)

Learn more about Texas teacher certification areas

Once you know the subject and grades you want to teach, you can choose your certification area. Click the tabs for a full list of teaching certificate options. (3) “EC” means “Early Childhood” in these charts.

Talk to a Coach

A future Texas teacher talks to a TeachDFW career coach on the phone

Not sure which certification area is right for you? A TeachDFW coach can help you narrow down your options and choose the right fit. Sign up for your free advising session today! 

Get Started

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. Additional Certification by Exam Information. Texas Education Agency. https://tea.texas.gov/texas-educators/certification/additional-certifications/additional-certification-by-exam-information 
  3. Education Preparation Program Map. Texas Education Agency. https://tea-texas.maps.arcgis.com/apps/dashboards/8fdeed6e29b741ba8bac151ac023186d