Visiting International Teachers
Out-of-country certified educators who are actively participating in a TEA-approved Exchange Visitor Program may be eligible to receive the Visiting International Teacher certificate. The certificate is valid for three years and may be extended two additional years, for a maximum total of five years, for all candidates actively enrolled in and in good standing with a TEA-approved Exchange Visitor Program.
Visiting International Teacher Certificate rules are defined in 19 TAC §230.41.
TEA Approved Exchange Visitor Programs
TEA collaborates exclusively with the program sponsors listed below. Each program is subject to a comprehensive review and approval process to ensure compliance with state requirements and standards. Educators actively participating in the Exchange Visitor Programs specified below may qualify for the issuance of the Visiting International Teacher certificate.
If you have been designated as a sponsor of an Exchange Visitor Program and officially approved by the United States Department of State and would like your participants to be issued a Texas Visiting International Teacher certificate, please submit your request to the TEA Help Desk.
Exchange Visitor Programs seeking a no-objection letter must submit a formal request to the TEA Help Desk.
District Staff Information
Only approved school districts that are partnering with a TEA-approved Exchange Visitor Program have access to submit the VIT application via the Educator Certification Online System for Entities.
For assistance with accessing the VIT application menu, please submit your request to the TEA Help Desk. Please include "VIT Support" in the subject line of your request, along with your job title and 6-digit district organization number.
Visiting Teacher Requirements
Verified by the Exchange Visitor Program
- Visiting teachers meet requirements in the Texas Administrative Code (TAC) 230.11.
- Visiting teachers must possess valid teaching experience, hold a teaching credential from another country, and have the equivalent of a bachelor's degree or higher in the United States.
- Demonstration of English language proficiency.
- Subject matter competence in the subject area the teacher is licensed to teach.
- Monitor the exchange teachers’ time in the United States to ensure they are fulfilling their teaching responsibilities effectively.
Verified for certificate issuance
- Teachers must obtain a Social Security number to complete fingerprinting and a background check via the Educator Certification Online System.
- VIT Application submitted online by the employing ISD.
- $78.00 application fee paid online.
- $39.00 fingerprinting fee paid online, and a complete fingerprint status.
- Copy of current DS-2019 form uploaded to the educator account.
- *New requirement effective 9/1/2025 – Submit a course-by-course evaluation by a recognized foreign evaluation service.
Frequently Asked Questions
The processing time for the VIT certificate may vary depending on the completeness of the submitted documents and the number of applications being processed. After the employing ISD submits the application for the VIT certificate, visiting teachers should confirm that they have provided all necessary documentation for certificate issuance. Once all required documents and fees are received, please allow at least two weeks for the processing and issuance of the VIT certificate.
No. VIT certificate holders are not eligible to take Texas certification exams.
After the VIT application is submitted online by the employing ISD, and if the educator has a social security number, the educator will have access to pay for fingerprinting through their ECOS account. After the fingerprinting fee is paid, the educator will receive a pre-enrollment email from IdentoGO (nobody@identogo). The email will provide unique codes and instructions on how to schedule a fingerprinting appointment specifically for TEA through IdentoGO’s website.
For fingerprint processing questions, you may submit a help desk ticket request to Fingerprinting and Registry Support.
The TOEFL-iBT is not required for the issuance of the VIT certificate. The exchange visitor program sponsor and the employer are responsible for verifying English language proficiency. Visiting teachers must possess sufficient proficiency in the English language.
An applicant who has been issued a one-year certificate and does not satisfy the appropriate examination requirements to establish a standard certificate during the validity of the one-year certificate is not eligible for any type of certificate or permit.
It is recommended that, once a visiting international teacher concludes their participation in a teacher exchange program and seeks to obtain full standard certification in Texas, they may apply for a review of their out-of-country credentials to meet all requirements for a standard certificate.
The issuance of a VIT certificate does not prohibit the issuance of a one-year certificate following a successful review of credentials. The educator must apply for a review of credentials and submit all required documents. Eligibility for the one-year certificate will be determined at the time of review.
The exchange program and the employer are responsible for identifying the appropriate teaching assignment for visiting teachers according to their experience and foreign credentials. The teacher must possess licensure and experience from their home country in the subject area they will teach in Texas.
The VIT certificate is a temporary certificate and is non-renewable. The intention is to offer visiting teachers an SBEC-issued credential for the duration of their participation in a teacher exchange program, with the intention of returning to their home country. A Texas standard certificate is a renewable credential and is issued to candidates who seek full licensure in Texas and satisfy all requirements outlined in TAC §230.11.
If a VIT certificate holder is no longer an active participant in a teacher exchange program or ceases employment with their school district, before the certificate expiration, the VIT certificate will no longer be valid for use in Texas. TEA will be notified, and the VIT certificate will expire.