Applicants who have earned at least an undergraduate degree from an accredited university may apply. Additional requirements may be found on the Teacher Program Certification landing page.

Applications are taken during spring and summer. Preservice courses begin in the fall.

See the Teacher Certification Program homepage for details.

• Transcript review
• All materials, textbooks, and resources
• All certification coursework (300+ contact hours)
• Workshops on test-taking tips, interviewing techniques, and resume writing
• Test preparation sessions and practice exams
• Supervision during pre-service field observations
• Assistance with job placement
• Field supervision and classroom support during your internship year
• Administrative support from admissions through final certification

Yes. See the Teacher Program Fees page for details.

Cohort cycles start in the fall and spring. For the latest information, visit the Teacher Certification Program homepage or email CES@hcde-texas.org. 

The deadline to apply is one month prior to the beginning of the preservice courses.

Classes are online over Zoom.

Times for virtual classes are:

• 6–9 p.m. weeknights
• 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m. Saturdays

The state requirement is a minimum of 300 contact hours. Depending on your certification area, you will complete between 337 and 385 contact hours of coursework.

Typically, it takes 17 to 21 months to complete the certification process. This includes one full year of teaching as a teacher of record in your certification field.

You will take the TExES content exam(s) in your field during the pre-service phase. Permission to test will be issued by the Director based on demonstration of readiness to test. You will wait to take the TExES PPR EC-12 exam until the Spring semester of your internship year.

Visit the Texas Education Certification Examination Program website for more details.

You must meet eligibility requirements to accept a job offer and get an intern certificate.

Yes. In addition to passing your TExES content exam(s), you will also need to complete 30 hours of field observations and at least 150 hours of certification coursework before you are eligible to accept a job offer.