{"id":44585,"date":"2023-10-04T01:40:42","date_gmt":"2023-10-04T06:40:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.teachersoftomorrow.org\/?p=44585"},"modified":"2023-10-10T14:00:50","modified_gmt":"2023-10-10T19:00:50","slug":"renewal-of-texas-teachers-certification","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.teachersoftomorrow.org\/blog\/insights\/renewal-of-texas-teachers-certification\/","title":{"rendered":"Renewal of Texas Teacher’s Certification in 2023"},"content":{"rendered":"
To teach in Texas, you must have a <\/span>valid teaching certificate<\/span> and renew it every five years. According to the Texas Education Agency (TEA), your educator license becomes inactive if you fail to renew it before the expiration date.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n As the saying goes, \u201cFailing to plan is planning to fail.\u201d You should plan and ensure that you meet the requirements for certificate renewal before the expiration date.<\/span><\/p>\n Planning ahead helps you avoid last-minute rush and anxiety associated with the renewal process. It also allows you to take advantage of conferences, training, and other professional development opportunities presented during the renewal period.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n This article delves into the requirements of renewing your teacher certificate in Texas<\/a>, the costs, and all the relevant information and guidelines to guarantee your certificate renewal before the expiration date.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n The Texas Teacher Certification program is state-approved and trusted by teachers and school districts in preparing teachers for an initial teaching certificate. To qualify to enroll for a teacher certification program, you should have a baccalaureate degree and a GPA of at least 2.5.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The path to certification as a teacher in Texas involves the following steps:<\/span><\/p>\n The teacher certification process in Texas is similar to other states. To get licensed in Texas, you must complete an educator preparation program approved by the Texas Education Agency (TEA), including a teacher certification examination.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The Texas teachers’ examination evaluates the educators’ pedagogical and content area knowledge on the required tests for their certification.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Texas has two unique sets of examinations:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Once you have completed the teacher preparation program, you should send your application for certification to the Texas Education Agency using the online platform <\/span>TEA Login (TEAL)<\/span><\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Other documents that you are required to attach include:<\/span><\/p>\n The Texas Examination of Educator Standards(TExES) is a teacher examination in Texas meant to measure aspiring teachers’ knowledge and determine their teaching readiness using an established criterion.<\/span><\/p>\n TExES examines teachers in more than 60 specialties, including Core subjects: mathematics, computer science, health, physical science, and English language arts.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n To teach in Texas, you must also take and pass one content examination. But getting certified in multiple specialties gives you a competitive advantage over other candidates.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Clusters of the TExES examinations are divided according to the grade level you intend to teach. For instance, if you want to teach at the elementary level, register to take the CORE subjects EC-6. The test at this level consists of 267 multiple-choice questions that range from Early Childhood to grade 6.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n To be certified to teach at a middle school in Texas, register for the CORE Subjects 4-8 exam. The test has 200 multiple-choice questions aligned with grades 4-8 curriculum.<\/span><\/p>\n These TExES tests are computer-administered and begin with a 15 to 20-minute tutorial, after which each test lasts 5 hours.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n You must score <\/span>at least 240 points out of a maximum of 300 points<\/span><\/a> on each test to record a passing score. TEA allows you to retake the test if you fail your first attempt. However, you have to wait for 45 days before your subsequent attempts. <\/span>Prepare adequately<\/span><\/a> to pass the tests on the first attempt, saving you time and money.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Also, you can register for your TExES examination <\/span>online 24 hours a day<\/span><\/a>, seven days a week.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Most TExES examinations, such as the Core Subjects EC-6 and Core Subjects 4-8, cost <\/span>$116.<\/b> Subtests, such as test codes 801-809, cost <\/span>$58<\/b>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Also, once you have registered for a test, your registration is valid for only 170 days after the issue date, after which it expires without the option of a refund.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Your standard educator certificate must be renewed every five years. The <\/span>Texas Education Agency<\/span><\/a> sends you a reminder for renewal on the email address in your educator account six months before the expiration date.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n But even if a reminder is not sent, you must meet the renewal requirement failure to which your certificate becomes inactive.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Remember:<\/b> TEA no longer mails paper certificates. You should be able to check the status of your virtual, official certificate on the TEA database. To locate your certificate, you should enter your first and last names. Your current and certificate history will be available by <\/span>clicking on the link<\/span><\/a> at the top of the certificate.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n You must have continuing professional education (CPE) to renew your standard certificate.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n You must have written documentation of all your Continuing Professional Education (CPE) activities to renew your certificate.<\/span><\/p>\n Continuing Professional Education (CPE) is the ongoing training that educators undertake to update their knowledge and skills in their teaching careers.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n You are expected to take classes, attend workshops, or participate in other training to stay up-to-date with teaching practices and educational technology.<\/span><\/p>\n You must keep written documentation of your CPE activities, including the provider name, ID number, date, details of the CPE activity, and the number of clock hours claimed.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n For classroom teachers:<\/span><\/p>\n For educators who hold administrative and\/or student services certificates:<\/span><\/p>\n You can easily apply for your standard teacher certificate renewal online. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to apply for your certificate renewal:<\/span><\/p>\n 1- Access your educator account by logging into your <\/span>TEAL account<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n 2- Click View My Educator Certification Account in TEAL to log into your Educator Certification Online System (ECOS) account.<\/span><\/p>\n 3- In ECOS, verify that your profile information is correct. Once confirmed, click <\/span>Continue<\/b> at the bottom of the page.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n 4- On the main menu list to the left, select <\/span>Applications<\/b>, Then click on <\/span>Renew a Standard Certificate<\/b>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n 5- Submit the online renewal applications and pay the fee using the prompts.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n To set up your TEAL and ECOS accounts, check on the <\/span>ECOS for Educator page<\/span><\/a>. If you need help accessing your existing TEAL account, submit a help desk request for account access.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n If you don’t renew your teaching certificate, it is placed in inactive status. To reinstate it, you will pay an additional fee of $40 and meet the CPE requirements for renewal.<\/span><\/p>\n If you have defaulted on your student loan and\/or child support obligations, your teaching certificate will be revoked.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Once revoked, you must pay an additional $50 to reinstate it after making payments and fulfilling your CPE requirements.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The Texas Education Agency sets standards for beginning educators and continuing educator certificate renewal every five years.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n These educator standards are based on the Texas essential knowledge and skills required for statewide public school curriculum. Continuing professional education is essential for your certificate renewal every five years.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The Texas Education Agency may revoke your teaching license if you fail to meet the CPE hours requirement. You receive CPE credit points for participating in specialized training in teaching, enhancing your skills and knowledge for better curriculum instruction and learner management.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Texas requires that at least 80% of your CPE hours for certificate renewal be directly linked with the certificate being renewed and focus on the standards required for issuing the certificate. Some of the approved content areas include:<\/span><\/p>\n The Texas Education Agency requires that a classroom teacher must attain at least 37.5 hours of CPE training that directly relates to the following topics:<\/span><\/p>\n Other professional development activities that can earn you CPE hours for certificate renewal include:<\/span><\/p>\n Texas state expects all Texas teachers to embrace lifelong learning and participate in activities that promote their professional development. You should continually update your knowledge of content, best practices, research, and technological interactions relevant to your educator role.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Your continuing education activities should be related to the certificate you hope to renew, including the content area and skills, professional ethics, and standards of conduct.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Here are several ways you can gain CPE hours:<\/span><\/p>\nWhat Is Texas Teacher Certification?<\/b><\/h2>\n
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The Texas Examinations of Educator Standards (TExES)<\/b><\/h3>\n
Renewing Texas Teacher’s Certification<\/b><\/h2>\n
Renewal Requirements<\/b><\/h3>\n
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Steps to Renewing Your Teacher’s Certification<\/b><\/h3>\n
Certification Renewal Costs<\/b><\/h3>\n
Approved Topics for Certificate Renewal<\/b><\/h2>\n
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How to Gain CPE Hours<\/b><\/h2>\n
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