Texas Teacher Certification Lookup Directions

All states, including Texas, require that teachers be certified or licensed.

If you’re applying for a teaching position, or simply need to replace a lost or damaged teacher certificate, the process is easy.

Or, if you’re in the process of hiring someone for an educator position, and need to check to see whether that person has a valid teaching certificate, the Texas Education Agency (TEA) offers a convenient way to get this information online as well.

It’s important to note that the TEA no longer mails paper certificates, so you will need to use the online portal to access any certification information.

Below are simple steps you can take to look up a teacher certification in the state of Texas.

How To Access Your Certificate

To access a copy of your certificate, you will need to have an online account on the TEA website. If you do not have an account, you can request a new user account.

• Go to the website of the TEA and click on the “TEAL Login” link at the top of the site.

• Enter your username and password you chose when you set up your account in the Educator Certification Online System.

• After logging in, click on “Access Applications” under the self-service menu.

• Click “View My Educator Certification Account” link.

• An “Educator Profile Setup” screen will be displayed. Update any information necessary and click “Continue.”

• Click “View Certificates” about halfway down the menu along the left side of the screen, and click “Official Certificate” below it.

• Once you view your certificate, you can also print a copy. If you’re applying for several teaching positions, it might be a good idea to print several copies to have on hand for added convenience in the future.

Important note: If you have trouble printing your certificate, the help desk on the TEA website provides more information about print options in certain browsers. The site also allows you to submit a help request should you need further assistance.

How To Check A Valid Certificate

The State Board for Educator Certification on the TEA website is public information, so any member of the public can use the site to determine whether someone has a valid teaching certificate in the state of Texas.

All current, expired and inactive certificates are displayed using this site.

To look up a person’s teaching certificate, you’ll need to do the following:

• Go to the Official Record of Educator Certificates search page on the TEA website.

• You will be prompted to enter the full name of the person. First and last names must be entered to locate a certificate. Important note: The name must match what is in the TEA database. This is particularly important for women who earned their certification while under a maiden name.

• Click “Search.” If more than one name is returned from the search, you will need to click on the correct name to display the certification. Common names likely will produce multiple search results, so entering the person’s middle name may help narrow down these results.

• Once you choose the appropriate name, the site will display a complete copy of the Texas Educator Certificate. Results include:
• Specific grade level
• Subject certifications
• Effective date
• Expiration date
• Status of certification

Bottom Line

Because the TEA no longer mails paper certificates, you will need to use the website to access your Texas teacher certification or to check the certification of a teacher.

If you haven’t yet earned your certification, and want to learn more about how to teach in the state of Texas, our article, How To Earn Your Post Baccalaureate Teacher Certification Online, provides the information you need to know to get a teaching certificate.