Certification
Contact Information
Educator Certification Summer Phone Hours (June 1 – August 31, 2026)
Due to increased certification application volume during the summer months, phone support will be available Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–12:00 noon. (CST).
Outside of these hours, please submit your questions through the TEA Help Desk, and our team will assist you as quickly as possible.
Phone: (512) 936-8400 option 2
Stay current by reviewing certification announcements and updates.
Educator account setup instructions, including step-by-step instructions and guides, can be found by using the ECOS for Educator tab at the top of the page. If you have trouble setting up your account, you may contact your ESC representative.
Certification Information
Certification information for Texas teachers and those seeking Texas certification:
Approved Texas Educator Preparation Programs
Military Community & First Responders
Out-of-State/Country Certified Educators
Renewing a standard certificate and continuing professional education (CPE) requirements
Additional certification by examination
Additional certification by examination that requires work experience
Principal and Superintendent certification
Student Services certification
Revalidating a lifetime certificate
Virtual certificate information (certificate lookup)
Visiting International Teachers
Certificate Issuance Update
Due to recent legislative changes, TEA has implemented a more comprehensive background check process for certification applicants. These enhanced reviews help ensure the safety of Texas students but may increase the time required for certificate issuance.
We understand that applicants are eager to receive their certificates and recognize that these delays can be frustrating. Unfortunately, TEA is unable to estimate how long an individual review will take and cannot provide a timeline for certificate issuance while these checks are pending.
We appreciate your patience and understanding as we complete these required reviews and issue certificates as quickly as possible while maintaining these important safeguards.
Assignment Information
Assignment information for Texas teachers and school districts:
- School district hiring information
- State Board for Educator Certification (SBEC) rules
- Teacher Assignment Chart
- Permit rules for school districts
- Special Education Personnel Assignment Guidance
Approved Districts for House Bill 2 Delay of Teacher Certification Requirements (TEC 21.0032)
The following districts have been approved to delay implementation of teacher certification requirements for foundation curriculum courses until the beginning of the 2029–2030 academic year. Each link directs to the district’s locally approved plan outlining how the district will transition to full certification by the deadline.
All districts were required to complete the Application Submission for Delay of Teacher Certification Requirements.
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There are 572 approved districts. For additional information or questions regarding a district’s plan, please contact the district directly.