Texas Wesleyan offers multiple ways to start your career in education. You’ll get hands-on training with clinical teaching experience from expert professors and certified teachers. You’ll graduate prepared to take on your own classroom from day one and lead your students to success.  Here five requirements that you need to know to become a certified teacher in the state of Texas.

Step 1: Get your Bachelor’s Degree 

First step? Get that bachelor’s degree. You’ll need to obtain a degree from a college or university accredited by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.  

Step 2: Complete an Educator Preparation Program (EPP) 

If your bachelor’s degree isn’t in education, you’ll need to complete an Educator Preparation program. And if you’re already getting an accredited degree in education, your program will already include an EPP.  

Worried about that first day in the classroom? The EPP has got your back. You’ll learn what it’s like to teach in the classroom while getting some mentorship and guidance. Most programs will give you information on child development and classroom management while also providing student-teaching experiences, so you can rock that class on day one. 

Step 3: Pass Certification Exams 

If you’re going to teach in Texas, you have to pass a few tests. The Texas Examination of Educator Standards, or TExES, is an exam that tests you on the subject you want to teach and your knowledge of teaching methods. For example, if you want to be a high school social studies teacher, you’ll have to pass the 7-12 Social Studies TExES. Not all teachers have to pass a test that specific — some teachers, including elementary school teachers, will take exams based on a range of core subjects. The test is graded on a scale of 100-300, but you’ll need a 240 to pass. 

Step 4: Submit a State Application  

Once you’ve completed the steps above, you can submit your application to become a teacher. Head over to the Texas Education Agency’s website to create an account and start your online application.  

You’ll need to show you completed an EPP, passed your TExES exams and submit your college transcripts with the application.  

Step 5: Complete Fingerprinting 

All first-time applicants must be fingerprinted as part of a national background check. But don’t worry, unlike Pearl in finding Nemo, you won’t even need any ink. It’s all done digitally and can be done in just a few minutes. You’ll start the process once you apply and pay for your certification. 

Texas Wesleyan offers multiple ways to start your career in education. You’ll get hands-on training with clinical teaching experience from expert professors and certified teachers. You’ll graduate prepared to take on your own classroom from day one and lead your students to success.