Liberty Hill ISD

Welcome to the Pathways to Becoming a Teacher in Texas! We understand that embarking on the journey to become an educator can be both exciting and overwhelming. To support you in this process, we have compiled a comprehensive guide filled with resources and information to help you navigate the steps to certification.

While this guide is designed to be thorough and informative, we know that you may still have questions or need additional assistance.

Tanya Lambert, Assistant Director of Talent Acquisition, can answer any inquiries you may have regarding certification. We are here to support you every step of the way.

According to Texas Education Agency, there are five steps to becoming a traditionally certified teacher:

Get a Bachelor's Degree from an accredited college or university.
Complete an Educator Preparation Program from a college or alternative certification program.
Pass the certification exams (TExES PPR, TExES content specialization, and any other subject-area tests).
Submit a state application.
Complete the fingerprinting process.

Learn more about traditional certification on the TEA University Certification page.

Alternative Teacher Certification

Hold a bachelor’s degree or higher and wish to become an educator in Texas? Alternative certification programs (ACPs) offer a nontraditional certification route that may allow you to serve as a teacher while completing the requirements:

Select an Approved Texas ACP for your desired subjects.
Meet the program's entry requirements and make a certification plan with the program.
Once enrolled, submit an online application with us. After you have a teaching position, you can apply for a probationary certificate.
Complete the requirements for a Standard Certificate and apply.

Visit the TEA Alternative Certification page for more information.

I have a degree which was earned outside of the U.S. and need to have my degree evaluated.

Create a TEAL account through Texas Education Agency (TEA).

See Out-Of-Country Application Checklist

Submit an original course-by-course evaluation by a recognized foreign evaluation service. See list of Foreign Credential Evaluators.
I have had my degree evaluated and need to pass the TOEFL.

Pathways to Teaching