Before answering if you can teach in Texas with Missouri certification, you should know that there are two types of teacher certificates valid in Texas:

1. Standard classroom teaching certificate
2. Stand-alone administrative or student service certification

A standard classroom teaching certificate requires you to have at least 1 year of full-time, verifiable, wage-earning experience as a classroom teacher. On the other hand, the latter implies you have at least 2 years of full-time, verifiable, wager-earning experience in the certificate area.

Now, to answer if Missouri certification allows you to teach in Texas, the straightforward answer would be NO. A teacher with Missouri teacher certification cannot teach in Texas, while a teacher with Texas teacher certification can teach in Missouri. This arrangement is termed the teacher reciprocity program. While other states are flexible and allow out-of-state certified teachers to teach in their state, Texas has more stern policies.

In short, Texas does not offer a teacher reciprocity agreement with any state. The Missouri certification won’t be enough to teach in Texas.

BUT, hold your horses because there is a way to use your Missouri certification best. There is a procedure that a teacher with Missouri certification should follow, known as the Review of Credentials, to qualify as a Texas teacher. Read ahead to learn more.

Texas Teacher Reciprocity with Missouri 

The new educator has to go through the lengthy process of the Texas educator program to get a Texas teacher certificate. However, if you hold a standard teaching certificate in Missouri, it won’t be enough to start teaching in Texas, but it will save you a lot of extra steps.

If you have any of the two certificates mentioned above, you have to just go through the Review of Credentials, i.e., get your credential reviewed and then get a Texas standard teaching certificate. You are also exempt from test eligibility.

However, if you have these certificates without any teaching experience, you are not exempt from testing.

Process of Review of Credentials in Texas

If you have a Missouri certification, this is the first step to becoming a teacher in Texas: a Review of Credentials. It’s a four-step process:

1. Create a TEA login account

The first step is creating an account on the TEA (Texas Educator Agency) website, www.tea.texas.gov.

Once you are on the website, click the TEAL Login button on the top menu bar. Now, click on Request a New User Account.

You will see an online form that needs to be filled out and completed. Within the form, under the Organization type category, choose ‘Educator.’ Once you submit the form, create your password. You will also be asked to submit three security questions that will help you reset your password.

2. Create an Educator Certification account

The next step is to create an Educator profile on the Educator Certification Online System (ECOS). You can access it if you have logged in to your Teal account. See a self-service menu on the left and the ‘View my Educator Certification Account’ link. If you cannot see the link, you will have to click on ‘Apply for Access,’ click on Request New Account > ECOSEducator, and follow the on-screen prompt thereafter.

If you can see the ‘View My Educator Certification Account,’ click on it, fill out the application form in front, make any changes (if required), and save the changes. Make sure to enter the current mailing address here (to be used further for mailing your results, the fingerprinting process, and more).

3. Fill out and submit the Review of Credentials application

Now, to fill out the Review of Credentials form. For this, click on Applications, which is found in the left vertical menu on the Educator Certification Online system page. Use this guide for any help.

From the drop-down menu, click on Out of State Certified Applicant > Review of Credentials in Another State or US Territory. An application form will open. Fill out the application following the on-screen prompts.

Herein, you will be asked to submit documents that support your Missouri certification, like your teacher certification, school transcripts, test results, and more.

4. Submit the application fee

After the application is submitted, you need to pay a $164 non-refundable fee for the review of credential documents.

Furthermore, if your review of credentials is approved, you have to pay additional fees for obtaining a 1-year certificate ($52), a standard certificate ($78), and fingerprinting ($40.25) as and when required.

Verification of Experience for Test Exemption

As mentioned above, along with a review of credentials, a Missouri teacher also has to fill out a Verification of Educator Experience form that will prevent you from appearing for further Texas tests.

A section of this form needs to be filled out by the educator and a part by the HR staff from the employing school district. Furthermore, this form should also be submitted by HR staff and not the educator itself.

If you have the required experience as per your subject matter, you will be given the test exemption; otherwise, you will not.

How Do I Check the Review of Credentials Results?

Your ‘Review of credentials results has been out’ notification will be emailed to your mailing address. The mail may sometimes end up as spam or junk.

However, to review your results, you have to access your ECOS portal. Under the ECOS portal, go to My Documents > Document Type, and you will see the ‘TEA Results of Review of Credentials’ document. Use Google Chrome to view the PDF.

How To Apply for Tests in Case of Non-Exemption of Tests?

If your Verification of Experience for Text Exemption is not accepted, you have to give tests after your Review of Credentials is accepted.

You also have to give tests if you do not have the required teaching experience for the test exemption. Nonetheless, to apply for the tests, you have to visit the www.tx.nesinc.com website, wherein you can access all information about TExES tests as per your subject matter. You will also find the study material on this website. Alternatively, you can also call (800) 877-4599 for information.

However, if you receive an email saying you are exempt from the test, you can directly apply for a Texas Teaching Standard Certificate after your review of credentials.

How Can an Out-Of-State Certified Applicant Apply for a Standard Certificate?

Follow the following steps to directly apply for a standard certificate after review of credentials (for out-of-state certified applicants only).

1. Go to your ECOS portal account.
2. Click on Applications from the left vertical menu. From the drop-down menu, click on Out of State Certified Applicants> Educator Out of State Certification Menu.
3. Click Continue at the bottom of the page.
4. On the next page of ‘Application for Out-of-State Certified Applicants,’ complete the applicant’s affidavit.
5. You will be asked to continue to ‘Educator’s Out-of-State Application for Certificate.’
6. Scroll to the bottom of the page and select ‘Standard Certificate-$78’.

Now, pay the standard certificate fee of $78 to complete the process. Thereafter, you will also have to undergo a fingerprinting process and pay the required fee.

Once your fingerprinting results are out, you can check and download your Texas standard educator certificate through your TEAL account. Login to your Teal account, go to Access Applications, View My Educator Certification Account > Continue > View Certificate> Official Certificate.

Download and print your certificate, as TEA no longer mails paper certificates.

You are now a Texas educator!

For any assistance on teacher reciprocity, contact Teacher Builder today.

Disclaimer

This article does not contain legal, educational, or government advice. As regulations can change from time to time, readers are advised to check with their local education departments to receive up-to-date information.