Out-of-State Certified Educators

Individuals who hold a standard educator certificate from another U.S. state or territory and are seeking certification in Texas must first apply for a Review of Credentials through the Texas Education Agency (TEA). A standard certificate is defined in 19 TAC §230.1(22) as a certificate issued to an individual who has met all requirements for a specific class of certification. 

House Bill 1178, enacted by the 89th Texas Legislature, requires that any out-of-state certificate submitted for a Review of Credentials must be both valid and active at the time the complete application is received.

Texas does not have reciprocity with any other state, meaning it does not automatically recognize or accept out-of-state teaching certificates to move into immediate issuance of a standard certificate in Texas. However, TEA conducts a credentials review to determine whether an applicant’s certification, teaching experience, and exams align with Texas standards. Even if an educator holds a valid standard certificate elsewhere, they must still apply for Texas certification and may be required to complete additional exams unless they qualify for a test exemption.

The pathway for individuals certified from other states and countries is simplified to provide efficiency and ease of process for applicants.  In many cases, individuals can qualify for exemptions from most or all required Texas examinations.

Application Requirements and Review Process

A complete credentials review application includes the following:

• A submitted review of credentials application and payment of the required fee
• A copy of your out-of-state standard certificate uploaded to your Educator Certification Online System (ECOS) account
• An official transcript sent directly to the Texas Education Agency (TEA) from the issuing institution

Important: Before ordering your transcript, ensure you have created a TEAL/ECOS account, as this account is required to store documents that will accompany your application.

Once all required materials have been received and uploaded to your account, your application will be placed in the review queue in the order it was completed. Applicants should allow up to 20 business days for processing. After the credentials review is complete, you will receive an email notification prompting you to check the “My Documents” tab in your ECOS account for the review results letter, including the next steps for obtaining Texas certification.

Note: Applicants are strongly encouraged to submit score reports and verification of experience for test exemption as part of their initial credentials review application. For more information about test exemption requirements, please refer to the next section, “Requirements for Test Exemption Review."

To guide you through the application process, please refer to the detailed checklist available at the link below.

View Detailed Checklist

Requirements for Test Exemption Review

Educators certified outside of Texas may be eligible for exemption from some or all Texas certification exams. This process allows qualified applicants to have their credentials evaluated based on comparable certification, teaching experience, and exams completed outside of Texas. To begin, applicants must submit a Review of Credentials application using the detailed checklist at the link above, pay the required fee, and provide all necessary documentation.

The Texas Education Agency offers two review options depending on your background and the exams you have taken. Please note that exemptions for the Science of Teaching Reading (STR) exam are based on specific criteria found in the Texas Administrative Code, Chapter 152, §152.1001(c)(2). 

To ensure the most efficient processing of your application, it’s best to submit all required test exemption documents at the same time as you apply for your initial credentials review.

For complete information, including the required test exemption forms and submission instructions, please visit the Out-of-State Educator Test Exemption Review webpage linked below.

View Test Exemption Information

Requirements for Administration or Student Services Only Certification

If you hold an administration (superintendent and principal) or student services (school counselor, school librarian, educational diagnostician, and reading specialist) certificate but do not hold a classroom teaching certificate, you must submit documentation verifying two years of acceptable school experience in the area of your certification. This documentation must be submitted using the official Verification of Experience form, which is available on the Out-of-State Test Exemption Review webpage.

Please note that the TEA does not review credentials for the following fields:

• School Psychology
• Speech-Language Pathology
• Nursing
• Social Work
• Daycare Certifications

For these fields, certification must be pursued through the appropriate state licensing or credentialing authority.

Science of Teaching Reading (STR) Exam Requirement

If your certification area falls within certain grade levels or subject areas, you may be required to take the Science of Teaching Reading (STR) exam as part of your Texas certification process. This requirement, established by House Bill 3 during the 86th Texas Legislative Session, took effect on January 1, 2021 and applies if your credentials are successfully reviewed for any of the following certification areas:

• Early Childhood: EC–Grade 3
• Core Subjects with STR: EC–Grade 6
• Core Subjects with STR: Grades 4–8
• English Language Arts and Reading with STR: Grades 4–8
• English Language Arts and Reading/Social Studies with STR: Grades 4–8

If you were required to take an exam comparable to the Texas STR exam in your previous state, please be sure to upload a copy of your official exam score report when submitting your Review of Credentials application. This documentation is essential for determining eligibility for a test exemption.

Frequently Asked Questions