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Texas teacher license transfer

How to transfer your teaching license to Texas

Texas requires a Review of Credentials rather than automatic reciprocity for an out-of-state standard certificate.

Build my license plan See official sources

Starting point

Does Texas accept out-of-state teaching licenses?

An out-of-state license can open a path to Texas certification, but it does not transfer automatically. The state decides which certificate, endorsements, tests or additional requirements apply.

Your exact route can still depend on your license type, preparation, experience, subjects, grade levels and testing history.

How teacher license reciprocity works · Look up your current license

Keep your place

Your Texas application checklist

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State review still applies

What can change your path

  • • The out-of-state certificate must be valid, active and standard when the complete application is received
  • • Without a standard out-of-state certificate, the applicant cannot use Review of Credentials and generally must complete a Texas educator-preparation program
  • • Additional exams may apply unless TEA grants an exemption
  • • Early Childhood-Grade 3, Core Subjects Early Childhood-Grade 6, Core Subjects Grades 4-8, English Language Arts and Reading with Science of Teaching Reading Grades 4-8, and English Language Arts and Reading/Social Studies with Science of Teaching Reading Grades 4-8 have specific Science of Teaching Reading treatment

What the state says

2 official sources

These facts come from official sources. The state agency still makes the final licensing decision.

Required review

Texas requires a Review of Credentials for an out-of-state standard certificate rather than automatic certificate exchange.

Exam determination

TEA determines examination exemptions after reviewing the active credential, verified experience and prior exams. Five certificate areas that include Science of Teaching Reading have specific exemption treatment: Early Childhood-Grade 3, Core Subjects Early Childhood-Grade 6, Core Subjects Grades 4-8, English Language Arts and Reading with Science of Teaching Reading Grades 4-8, and English Language Arts and Reading/Social Studies with Science of Teaching Reading Grades 4-8.

Core evidence

The ECOS review uses the uploaded valid active standard certificate, an official transcript sent electronically by the institution to OSC75@tea.texas.gov, prior score reports and experience verification when requesting exemptions.

Published review time

TEA asks applicants to allow six to eight weeks after the Review of Credentials file is complete and posts the result letter in My Documents in ECOS.

Review of Credentials fee

Texas publishes a nonrefundable $164 Review of Credentials fee. One-year or standard-certificate, fingerprint and testing fees may apply later.

State certification help

6 guides

01Application documentsSee the core records to prepare and who may need to send themOpen 02Out-of-state testingSee how the state treats prior tests for an out-of-state applicationOpen 03Application feeCheck the published amount and what it does not includeOpen 04Processing timeRead the agency’s published timing and which application it coversOpen 05Certificate renewalCheck the renewal requirements for the teaching certificate shown in the state recordOpen 06Expired or inactive certificateCheck the reactivation requirements for an expired or inactive certificateOpen

Why your details matter

State websites describe the possible routes. The right one for you can depend on your license, preparation, experience, subjects, grades, tests, National Board status and compact eligibility. TeachPassport uses those details to work out your path and handle the steps it can do for you.

One thing to know: TEA decides certificate alignment and examination exemptions after reviewing the applicant's active credential, experience and exams.

Plan the whole move

Questions to answer before you apply

The application is only one part of the move. Check the costs, timing and records that can hold up an otherwise complete file.

01What could this cost?Plan for state fees, records, tests and fingerprints.Read 02How long could it take?See what affects review time and when to start.Read 03Will my test scores count?Check prior Praxis scores before registering again.Read 04Will I need new fingerprints?Use the destination’s required process and vendor.Read 05How will my experience count?Prepare the verification the state actually accepts.Read 06Should I apply to jobs first?Work out whether the license or job offer comes first.Read

Common license moves to Texas

6 routes

01CA → TXFrom CaliforniaOpen 02FL → TXFrom FloridaOpen 03NY → TXFrom New YorkOpen 04LA → TXFrom LouisianaOpen 05IL → TXFrom IllinoisOpen 06CO → TXFrom ColoradoOpen

Official sources

State agency material

Texas Education AgencyOut-of-State Certified EducatorsTexas Education AgencyOut-of-State Application Checklist