CERTIFICATIONS AND STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS
Our goal is to discover and connect talented individuals to growth opportunities by strategically building partnerships in order to provide students an exceptional educational experience.
Become a Certified Teacher in Austin ISD
TeachAustin
TeachAustin is a dynamic pathway to teaching designed specifically for Austin ISD employees aspiring to earn their teaching certification. TeachAustin currently offers certification in the following areas:
- EC-6 Core
- Math 7-12
- Science 7-12
- Bilingual Supplemental
TA 2 SPED Teacher
The TA to SPED Teacher Pipeline is a partnership between Austin ISD and Region 13 for teaching assistants to obtain their EC-6 Core & Special Education teaching certification. Program costs (excluding certification fees) are covered by the district.
Region 13 Austin Teacher Academy
The Region 13 ATA Program is an innovative and unique partnership between the Austin ISD and the Region 13 Educator Certification Program. This program is designed to develop Austin ISD teachers in critical needs areas of Special Education and CTE areas.
Participants will earn a standard Texas teacher certification upon completing any of these programs. To be admitted to either program, applicants must hold a Bachelor's degree with at least a 2.5 GPA. The Pre-Admission (PACT) is required for applicants who still need to meet this requirement. Applicants with a bachelor’s degree from a foreign institution will have their degree evaluated. TOEFL may be required. All programs are 18-months in length and require a 2-year commitment to the district upon successful completion.
See all state-approved Educational Preparation Providers here.
Other Certification Resources
AISD Multilingual Education Team (MET) offers a variety of training and support for those seeking supplemental certification in bilingual or ESL. See certification support offerings from Multilingual Education.
- Required Test Chart for Texas Certification
- TEA Educator Certification and Standards
- Out-of-State certificate guidelines*- TEA review can take up to four weeks
- Out-of-Country* - TEA review can take up to four weeks
- Adding Additional Areas to your Standard Teaching Certificate
- Renewal of a Standard Certificate
- Certification/Testing Website
- Financial Resources for Teacher Training through TEA
- Educator Login/Account Set-up
- Use this certification checklist to help determine your next steps based on your permit type.
- If you're currently teaching under a District of Innovation Permit, join (based on certification interest) one of the Alternative Certification Program listed above! Applications close December 5, 2024.
All teachers employed with AISD must be certified in Texas and have a copy on file with the AISD Office of Talent Strategy. The certificate must be valid for employment in Texas public schools.
University Partnerships - Employee Pathways to Advancement
Austin ISD is committed to hiring qualified employees and finding opportunities for all staff to obtain higher education degrees. The Office of Recruitment and Strategic Partnerships supports employee pathways to advancement by building strong partnerships with higher education institutions. Learn more about our partners!
- Austin Community College - community colleges are a great place to start if you are just beginning your bachelor’s degree journey. ACC offers the same high value coursework and flexibility in class offerings at an affordable price. In addition, if you’re interested in becoming a teacher, learn about TechTeach - an amazing partnership with ACC and Texas Tech University.
- Concordia University Texas - is a private university offering undergraduate, graduate, and online degrees as well as an adult degree program for part-time and returning students.
- Grand Canyon University - GCU 250+ online bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees. Great option for asynchronous courses and provides a tuition discount for online cohorts.
- Huston-Tillotson University - Austin’s only historically black university offers undergraduate and graduate degrees as well as an adult degree program for part-time and returning students.
- Peloton U - Earn an accredited self-paced associate’s or bachelor’s degree through their educational partner Southern New Hampshire University. Program offers 1:1 coaching support.
- Texas State University - offers a variety of bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees. With a campus both in San Marcos and Round Rock, see why TXST has grown to be one of the largest universities in the country.
- UT Austin - is a flagship institution of the University of Texas System and is consistently ranked for high quality and one of the nation’s best values in education.
- Western Governors University - WGU - earn a career-focused college degree from a university, at an accelerated pace, for an affordable price. All online.
Interested in Leadership Development opportunities with University Partners? See university partnerships within Talent Development.
Contact Us
If you have questions or need any additional information, please contact the AISD Office of Talent Strategy through email certifications@austinisd.org or book a meeting here.