Why Teach in Houston?
Teachers are in high demand in Houston. With over 25 school districts and an incredibly diverse student population, there are many opportunities to change lives here. Houston is also home to some of the best high schools—and teachers—in the nation. See how you can get certified to teach here and join talented colleagues.
Why live in Houston?
Something for everyone
Labeled the “capital of southern cool” by GQ, Houston’s thriving metropolitan scene, including multiple theaters and museums and NASA’s Johnson Space Center, is dedicated to promoting art, science, history, and culture.
And don’t forget about sports and nature! Houston is home to several professional sports teams and houses lots of green spaces for family fun.
Foodie haven
Houston is a major hub for foodies, with enough variety and flavor to suit anyone’s taste buds. There are Mexican restaurants on practically every corner, and the city boasts a wide array of authentic cuisines from Africa, India, and China. And don’t forget about all the fresh seafood!
Driven by diversity
Houston is one of the most ethnically and culturally diverse metropolitan areas in the U.S. Houstonians pride themselves on being able to find authentic cultural experiences right outside their doors, which brings a sense of community to the large city.
Relocating to Houston and need a helpful guide to assist you in your move? Look no further! The Here is Houston relocation guide is chock-full of the information you want and need, from neighborhood descriptions and helpful maps to details about local schools and transportation. You’ll also find details about the local restaurant and sports scene as well as shopping and cultural experiences.
This is your go-to guide for everything
Click here to download a digital version of the Greater Houston Partnership‘s relocation guide PDF!
Greater Houston Partnership Relocation Guide
Requirements to Teach in Texas / Houston
Once you’ve decided on your teaching certification area, you’re ready to start your journey to become an educator in Texas.
Information taken from Teach for Houston
Steps to Becoming a Teacher in Texas
Texas accepts degrees from many colleges and universities, but you should confirm that yours is accredited by one of the Texas-approved accreditation agencies
If you have a bachelor’s degree from outside of hte U.S., your educator preperation program must decide that your degree is equivalent to a texas accredited program. To meet this requirement, you may need to submit education documentation to a foreign credential evaluation service for review.
Paying for your program can feel a like a lot. That’s where our financial aid guide comes in get our favorite tips to find grants, scholarships loan forgiveness opportunites and other strategies to cover your costs.
You can meet this requirement as part of your undergraduate coursework (for example, if you earn a bachelor’s degree in education).
If you already have a bachelor’s degree, you can attend a post-baccalaureate educator preparation program. This could be a master’s degree and certification, certification-only or an alternative certification program (also known as a residency). Learn more about teacher training programs at the TEACH for Houston About Programs page.
Ready to start looking for teaching programs?
Browse undergraduate and post-baccalaureate teaching programs with TEACH for Houston Program Explorer. You can also check out the Texas Education Agency’s full database of all Texas-approved educator preparation programs.
Need a little support to prepare your teaching program applications? Our teacher prep program application guide ahs all the info you need to ace your exams, request your transcripts, write a top-notch essay, and more.
TEACH Houston can help you reduce your teaching program application costs! We’ll reimburse up to $100 for any expenses required for you to apply to a teaching program (like application fees, transcript fees, and more). Get the details on our Fee Reimbursements page.
To get certified, you’ll have to pass one or more exams to evaluate your knowledge of teaching and your subject area. Depending on your teaching program, you may need to pass your subject area exam before you apply, or you might end up taking it after you enroll.
TEACH for Houston’s State Testing Guide can help you prepare for your teaching exams in Texas! Get information on what the exams cover, find out how to register and get study tools and tips.
After you’ve graduated and passed your certification tests, it’s time to formally apply for your teaching certificate. First confirm with your program that you are eligible to apply, and use any supports they can provide in the process.
Download the Texas Education Agency’s instruction resource to create an account and apply for your teaching certificate through the online portal.
Frequently Asked Questions
Good Reason Houston and the College Football Playoff Foundation, with support from the Harris County-Houston Sports Authority’s local Host Committee, launched the campaign to help support teacher recruitment and recognition in Houston. Our city is struggling to fill teacher vacancies and current teachers need more support from the community. This campaign aims to bring more talent to Houston and reward those hard-working teachers who devote themselves to educating our future generations.
The campaign was launched by Good Reason Houston and the College Football Playoff Foundation with support from the Harris County-Houston Sports Authority’s local Host Committee. We are adding corporate and philanthropic partners every year. These partners are committed to education and education efforts through their focus areas, and they add multiple layers of resources to the campaign to create amazing opportunities for Houston teachers.
