Certification Announcements and Updates

These announcements include information about educator certification and testing.

Certification Deadlines and Required Tests

罢丑别听Required Texas Certification Tests听chart list the required test and deadlines to apply for certification. For certificates and/or tests set to expire, candidates must meet the deadlines to complete requirements such as testing, coursework, and internships/student teaching by the posted deadline and must also apply and be recommended by their educator preparation program for certification by posted deadline of the specified year.

The required tests below have proposed deadlines to apply for certification that are approaching soon:

Certificate Test Discontinued or to be Discontinued Last Date to Apply and Recommend for Certificate
ELAR: Grades 7-12 231 ELAR 7-12 TExES September 1, 2025
Physical Education: Early Childhood-Grade 12 158 Physical Education EC-12 TExES September 1, 2025
Health: Early Childhood Grade 12 157 Health Education EC-12 TExES September 1, 2025

Virtual Certificate Now Displays Current and Historical Views

The virtual certificate is considered to be the official record of educator certification in Texas that satisfies the Texas Education Code, 搂21.053(a).听The virtual certificate is being updated to show a 鈥渃urrent鈥 and a 鈥渉istorical鈥 version. Effective December 16, 2021, educators will have the option to view and print the online version of their certificate record that best meets their needs. The 鈥渃urrent鈥 version will only include the list of certificates with active dates,听while the 鈥渉istorical鈥 version will include the list of certificates with expired dates. Members of the public will听continue to have听access to听the feature on the 澳门最快开奖直播 website to听view an educator鈥檚 official record听of听certification if they have the correct name under which the educator obtained his or her certification. Educators with a sanction on their file will have that information appear on both versions of their certificate record.听听

The Science of Teaching Reading (STR) Exam

罢丑别听STR听exam will be required for the issuance of five certification听fields.听听

  • Early Childhood: EC 鈥 Grade 3听
  • Core Subjects with Science of Teaching Reading: Early Childhood鈥揋rade 6听
  • Core Subjects with Science of Teaching Reading: Grades 4鈥8听
  • English Language Arts and Reading with Science of Teaching Reading: Grades 4鈥8听
  • English Language Arts and Reading/Social Studies with Science of Teaching Reading: Grades 4鈥8听听

The STR exam will be required for the issuance of intern, probationary, and standard certifications听for these certification fields听beginning January 1, 2021.听听听

Teachers who are听currently听standard certified in Core Subjects: EC-6, Core Subjects: 4-8, English Language Arts and Reading: 4-8, or English Language Arts and Reading/Social Studies: 4-8听will not听be required to pass the STR exam for renewal of their certificate. The STR exam requirement only impacts candidates seeking certification after Jan. 1, 2021.听Additional information can be found by visiting听www.tea.texas.gov/str.听

Early Childhood: Prekindergarten-Grade 3 certificate

To obtain the Early Childhood: Prekindergarten-Grade 3 certificate you must complete an approved Educator Preparation Program. This certificate cannot be added via additional certification by examination.

Document Upload Available in the Educator Certification Online System (ECOS)

Via the "My Documents" tab in ECOS,听Educator's have the ability to view documents received by 澳门最快开奖直播 staff and upload documents themselves. Visit the documents upload instructions page for assistance.

School districts and听Educator Preparation Programs also have the ability to view documents received by 澳门最快开奖直播 staff and upload documents via the "Documents" tab in ECOS. Please see the Document Upload for Entities instructions for assistance.

Transcripts Now Accepted Electronically from the Institution

Official transcripts can be sent directly from your institution or servicer听via听email. Your institution should email the transcript directly to OSC75@tea.texas.gov. We will not accept emailed transcripts from you.

Teacher Shortage Areas

The 2023-2024 and 2024-2025 teacher shortage areas are now available.

Test Exemptions for Educators Who Hold a Standard Certificate Outside of Texas

The exemption of Texas tests is for eligible individuals certified outside the state, in accordance with 19 TAC Chapter 152, Commissioner鈥檚 Rules Concerning Examination Requirements, 搂152.1001, Exceptions to Examination Requirements for Individuals Certified Outside the State.

Instructions and required documents have been detailed on the Out-of-State Tests Exemption page.听

Minimum Salary Schedule

The 2024-2025 minimum salary schedule is now available on the听Minimum Salary Schedules听辫补驳别.

Contact Information

Staff in the Division of Educator Certification听are also available via the 澳门最快开奖直播听.
Allow several business days for staff to respond to your ticket.