House Bill 2 (HB 2) Educator Certification Initiatives
House Bill 2 (89th Texas Legislature) established several significant educator certification initiatives designed to strengthen the educator workforce, increase access to certification pathways, support districts in addressing staffing challenges, and ensure students are taught by appropriately certified educators. In addition to the significant investment in teacher preparation and certification through the new Preparing and Retaining Educators (PREP) Allotment, these initiatives reflect Texas’ continued commitment to recruiting, preparing, certifying, and retaining high-quality teachers across the state.
This webpage serves as a central resource for information related to educator certification provisions enacted through HB 2, including requirements for the employment of certified teachers in foundation subject areas, incentives supporting teacher certification attainment, reimbursement opportunities for career and technical education (CTE) certification, and test registration and certification application fee waivers for eligible special education and bilingual education certificates.
The information provided below is intended to assist school districts, educator preparation programs (EPPs), current educators, and prospective educators in understanding these initiatives and accessing available resources. Through these efforts, Texas is working to expand and support a qualified educator workforce while advancing the goal of ensuring that every student has access to an appropriately certified teacher.
This page will be updated as additional guidance, resources, and program information become available.
Employment of Uncertified Classroom Teachers (TEC 21.0032)
Requires certification in foundation subject areas – reading/English language arts, mathematics, science, and social studies
- 2026-2027 school year: K-5 reading and mathematics teachers must be appropriately certified.
- 2027-2028 school year: All foundational subject teachers (i.e., reading/English language arts, mathematics, science, and social studies), all grade levels must be appropriately certified.
- Districts can no longer include foundational subject area teachers in their approved plans as part of exemptions from TEC 21.003, Certification Required.
Delay of Teacher Certification Requirements
HB 2 included a provision to allow approved districts additional time to comply with the certification requirements for teachers assigned to foundation subject areas. Districts with an approved Delay of Certification plan may continue using DOI certification flexibility until the start of the 2029-2030 school year, allowing time to ensure all teachers in all foundation subject areas are appropriately certified to teach all grade levels.
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Region
Approved
Region
Approved
Region 1 6
Region 11 16
Region 2 12
Region 12 50
Region 3 27
Region 13 19
Region 4 25
Region 14 22
Region 5 26
Region 15 26
Region 6 27
Region 16 56
Region 7 64
Region 17 38
Region 8 38
Region 18 16
Region 9 18
Region 19 1
Region 10 58
Region 20 27
The HB 2 legislation (TEC 21.0032(b)) allows continued use of teacher certification waivers (TEC 7.056) and school district teaching permits (TEC 21.055), for foundation subject areas, as approved by the commissioner of education.
All districts should work in partnership with educator preparation programs, where applicable, remain steadfast in the execution of their locally approved plans to reduce the total number of uncertified teachers, and join in statewide efforts to achieve the goal of ensuring that all teachers are appropriately certified before or by the start of the 2029-2030 school year.
Information regarding the appropriate certificate for a given personnel assignment can be found in 19 Texas Administrative Code (TAC) Chapter 231, Requirements for Public School Personnel Assignments.
Appropriately certified teachers are essential to ensuring students receive high-quality instruction aligned with state standards and to supporting positive educational outcomes across Texas classrooms. While HB 2 provides certain districts with additional time to fully implement certification requirements through locally approved plans, the long-term goal remains the same: ensuring that teachers are appropriately certified for the assignments in which they serve.
School districts should continue to prioritize the recruitment, development, support, and retention of appropriately certified educators and work closely with educator preparation programs and other partners to strengthen local certification pipelines. TEA will continue to provide guidance, resources, and support while monitoring statewide progress toward full implementation of HB 2 certification requirements.
Helpful resources are linked below:
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Region
Approved
Region
Approved
Region 1 6
Region 11 16
Region 2 12
Region 12 50
Region 3 27
Region 13 19
Region 4 25
Region 14 22
Region 5 26
Region 15 26
Region 6 27
Region 16 56
Region 7 64
Region 17 38
Region 8 38
Region 18 16
Region 9 18
Region 19 1
Region 10 58
Region 20 27
Teacher Certification Incentive (TEC 21.0033)
The HB 2 legislation created the teacher certification initiative, active in fiscal years 2026 and 2027 only, to provide districts with a one-time $1,000 payment for every eligible classroom teacher who meets the following requirements:
- Hired as an uncertified first-year teacher in the 2022-2023 or 2023-2024 school year, and were still uncertified as of January 1, 2025;
- Achieved standard certification by the end of the 2026-2027 school year; and
- Continuously employed as a teacher by the district beginning in the 2022-2023 or 2023-2024 school year.
The Teacher Certification Incentive recognizes the critical role school districts play in supporting educators throughout the certification process. From recruitment and onboarding to mentoring, instructional support, exam preparation, and certification attainment, districts serve as key partners in developing a well-prepared and appropriately certified educator workforce.
While districts have local discretion in determining how incentive funds are utilized, the initiative is intended to support ongoing efforts to recruit, retain, and develop certified teachers. By encouraging and recognizing successful certification attainment among previously uncertified teachers, the Teacher Certification Incentive advances statewide efforts to increase the number of appropriately certified educators serving Texas students.
Helpful resources are linked below:
CTE Reimbursement to Districts (TEC 29.190)
HB 2 expanded provisions in TEC 29.190 to allow TEA to reimburse school districts for eligible certification costs (i.e., certification exam fees, certification application fees, fingerprinting fees) paid to support teachers in obtaining the standard certificate in one of the following approved career and technical education (CTE) areas:
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Beginning with fiscal year 2026, districts will be able to request CTE certification reimbursements annually. A set of funds has been dedicated every fiscal year to support the CTE Reimbursements to Districts process.
Career and technical education programs provide students with opportunities to develop technical knowledge, industry skills, and workforce readiness necessary for success after graduation. Recognizing the unique staffing needs associated with CTE assignments, HB 2 expanded TEA’s authority to reimburse eligible certification costs incurred by districts that support teachers pursuing certification in approved CTE certificate areas.
By offsetting certification expenses such as examination fees, application fees, and fingerprinting costs, this incentive helps reduce financial barriers for educators seeking certification and supports districts in building a stronger pipeline of appropriately certified CTE teachers. The reimbursement program complements broader statewide efforts to recruit, develop, and retain qualified educators while helping districts meet workforce demands in high-value CTE programs.
Districts are encouraged to work closely with local leadership, educator preparation programs, and industry partners to identify and support educators pursuing certification in approved CTE fields.
Helpful resources are linked below:
Special Education and Bilingual Education Certification Fee Waivers (TEC 21.0411)
Legislation provides fee waivers for the first administration of applicable special education and/or bilingual education certification examinations taken June 4, 2025, or later, and certification application fees for corresponding special education and bilingual education certificates.
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- Deafblind Supplemental: Early Childhood – Grade 12
- 185 Deafblind EC-12 TExES
- Special Education Specialist: Early Childhood – Grade 12
- 186 Special Education Specialist EC-12 TExES
- Teacher of Deaf and Hard of Hearing: Early Childhood – Grade 12
- 181 Deaf and Hard of Hearing EC-12 TExES
- Teacher of Students with Visual Impairments Supplemental: Early Childhood – Grade 12
- 182 Teacher of Students with Visual Impairments (TVI) TExES
- Bilingual Education Supplemental: Spanish
- 164 Bilingual Education Supplemental TExES and
- 190 Bilingual Target Language Proficiency Test (BTLPT) Spanish TExES (through August 31, 2027) or
- 165 Bilingual Education Spanish Supplemental TExES (beginning September 1, 2026)
- Bilingual Education Supplemental: American Sign Language
- 164 Bilingual Education Supplemental TExES
- 184 American Sign Language (ASL) EC-12 TExES
- 073 Texas Assessment of Sign Communication-American Sign Language (TASC-ASL)
- Bilingual Education Supplemental: Arabic
- 164 Bilingual Education Supplemental TExES
- ACTFL 614 Oral Proficiency Interview (OPI) - Arabic
- ACTFL 615 Writing Proficiency Test (WPT) - Arabic
- Bilingual Education Supplemental: Chinese
- 164 Bilingual Education Supplemental TExES
- ACTFL 618 Oral Proficiency Interview (OPI) - Chinese (Mandarin)
- ACTFL 619 Writing Proficiency Test (WPT) - Chinese (Mandarin)
- Bilingual Education Supplemental: Japanese
- 164 Bilingual Education Supplemental TExES
- ACTFL 616 Oral Proficiency Interview (OPI) - Japanese
- ACTFL 617 Writing Proficiency Test (WPT) - Japanese
- Bilingual Education Supplemental: Vietnamese
- 164 Bilingual Education Supplemental TExES
- ACTFL 620 Oral Proficiency Interview (OPI) - Vietnamese
- ACTFL 621 Writing Proficiency Test (WPT) - Vietnamese
- Deafblind Supplemental: Early Childhood – Grade 12
Eligible examination registration fees will be automatically waived during the test registration process on the Texas Educator Certification Examination Program website. No additional steps are necessary.
Eligible certification application fees will be waived for intern, probationary, and standard certificate applications through Texas educator preparation programs (EPPs) and via the additional certification by examination pathway.
Candidates for certification no longer must submit a help desk ticket to Educator Certification to request the HB 2 fee waiver, but everyone enrolled in a Texas EPP must first be recommended for certification before the HB 2 $78 application fee waiver can be fully executed.
Special education and bilingual education educators play a critical role in supporting diverse student populations and helping Texas schools meet the needs of all learners. By eliminating examination and certification application fees for eligible candidates, this initiative reduces financial barriers to entry and makes certification more accessible for individuals pursuing these high-need certification areas.
The fee waiver program supports both educator candidates and school systems by encouraging more individuals to pursue certification in special education and bilingual education while helping districts recruit and retain appropriately certified teachers in areas that have historically experienced workforce shortages. As more educators obtain these certifications, students benefit from increased access to qualified teachers with the specialized knowledge and skills needed to support their academic success.
This initiative reflects Texas’ ongoing commitment to strengthening the educator workforce, expanding opportunities for aspiring educators, and increasing the number of appropriately certified teachers serving students across the state in critical shortage areas.
Helpful resources are linked below: