Teaching has been a long-honored profession in Texas for both females and males. With proper education and earning valuable experience, if you have the urge to directly guide those who are tomorrow’s hope, you too can teach virtually any course material to any number of age and at any education level in the state of Texas.
Education
For maximum satisfaction, job security and future growth, a sound foundation is first laid. While universities and colleges in Texas do not offer a specific teaching degree, you can still earn accreditation to teach in any environment within the state. Fortunately, so long as the school is accredited, you have both offline, campus-based schooling options and online, Internet-based course options for maximum convenience for most of your credit hours.
For example, if you like mathematics, your undergraduate degree would be in that field. You simply complete the degree requirements for that baccalaureate from an approved and accredited organization and include an educator preparatory program, similar in concept to a “minor” in teaching within your courses of study. The school you choose, though, must be accredited through the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB).
The state government displays a handy chart to determine which Approved Educator Preparation Program might suit your career needs.
If you already have at least a bachelor’s degree, you don’t need to repeat that process. So long as you successfully complete the Educator Preparation Program and your teacher’s certification test, you can find yourself standing in front of a classroom of students and introducing them to the wonders of your chosen subject.
Teaching Certification Levels
Unlike some occupations, teaching in Texas and other states is limited to what age range or grade level you target.
Your teaching credential may license you to teach kindergarten through sixth grade, for instance. Even as a short-term, temporary substitute, you cannot teach in any other age group. You can, however, qualify for certification in more than one age range. Separate testing and accreditation is required, though.
After Passing the Certification Tests
Your path to teaching in Texas does not stop as soon as you pass the state test. You still have a few more milestones to reach.
Within the certification process is a complete background check and fingerprinting. The state and parents do not entrust their children, and university students do not entrust their career education, to just anyone who can pass a test. The education preparation program should outline specific steps within this additional testing area that must be successfully traversed before your teaching license is awarded.
Post-Licensing Requirements
Educators must continuously maintain certification and training. Continuing education is a primary method through which you complete this requirement. Part of this continuous training and education is a teaching proficiency assessment if you want to teach in public schools. Private education venues are not held to this educator standard.
Unlike many testing platforms, you are not judged on your relative knowledge to other teachers but to your knowledge relating to subject and teaching standards.
After your testing and continuous education credits are completed and compiled, you are ready to tackle the classroom environment.