Houston Community College Pathways

Why choose a community college?

Starting at a Houston community college? You’re already on your way to becoming a teacher. Here’s how the path works:

1
Choose a two-year degree designed for future teachers.
Look for the Associate of Arts in Teaching, or AAT. It’s built to help you transfer smoothly to a four-year university and continue on the path to teacher certification.
2
Plan your transfer to a four-year university with a teacher prep program.
As you’re working on your associate degree, explore four-year universities in Texas that offer teacher certification programs. Public universities across the state accept the Associate of Arts in Teaching. You’ll transfer as a junior and jump right into upper-level courses.
Interested in a private university? Just be sure to check their transfer agreements ahead of time.
3
Enroll in a bachelor’s program that leads to certification.
Once you transfer, choose a major in education or the subject you want to teach—like math, science or English. Make sure your program includes teacher certification. Some programs bundle both into one streamlined path.
4
Complete your degree and get certified to teach.
Finish your bachelor’s and your certification requirements, and you’ll be ready to step into the classroom and start changing lives.

Texas has a wide network of community colleges with programs built for future teachers. Here are some great places to start:

Get free career advice and answers. With 1-on-1 and group advising, we’ve got flexible options to fit your life.