How to Become a Teacher in Houston

Short answer: Yes.

Longer answer: To teach in Texas public schools, you’ll eventually need a teaching certificate. But if you have a bachelor’s degree or vocational work experience, you may qualify for alternative pathways that put you in the classroom faster! (3)

• Do you have a bachelor’s degree? Certification-only or alternative certification programs take less time and cost less than standard certification programs. Learn more about alternative certification.

• Are you a tradesperson? If you have vocational experience, you may be able to get certified to teach as a Career & Technical Education instructor. Positions are available in fields such as automotive repair, health sciences, agricultural science and others. Look for programs.

How long your teacher certification takes will depend on your background and the type of teaching program you choose.

Here’s what you can expect for most programs:

• Bachelor’s degree & certification: About 4 years
• Master’s degree & certification: 1–3 years
• Alternative certification: 1–2 years
• Certification-only: Up to 1 year

If you’re already a certified educator—in Texas or elsewhere—you may be able to skip certain exams or other steps. You should review the Texas Education Agency certification page for info on your specific situation.

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. 

If you’re an international student, you’ll need extra documentation when you apply to your teaching program. It’s a good idea to start collecting those documents as soon as possible.

You may need to take a test to meet your program’s language proficiency requirements, or provide other documentation, such as visas, work authorizations or transcript evaluations. Check with your program to find out what documentation they require.

If you have a bachelor’s degree from outside the U.S., you’ll also need to submit a course-by-course evaluation of your transcript from a foreign credential evaluation service. Find an approved foreign credential evaluator.

As a Texas educator, your pay will depend on your years of experience and where you work. 

In the Houston area, many districts offer starting salaries around $60,000. That’s one of the highest first-year teacher salaries in the country! (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. 

Wondering how to pay for your program? We can help! Here are a few of the tools TEACH for Houston offers:

• TEACH for Houston scholarships for future educators
• $100 back for any application-related costs
• Information about financial resources with our Finances Guide
• Explore scholarships and other opportunities with our Financial Aid Explorer.