How to Become a Health Teacher in Texas: Certification & Requirements

<p>Teachers with a health certification in Texas are qualified to teach the subject to students at all grade levels. Health teachers have the opportunity to promote nutrition, exercise, and healthy behaviors to their students. To become certified, prospective teachers must complete education, teacher preparation, and test requirements. Continue reading to learn more about the specific requirements for this certification. </p> <p /> <table border="1"><tr><td> Education Required </td><td> Bachelor's degree and state-approved educator preparation program</td></tr> <tr><td> Exam Requirements </td><td> TExES Pedagogy and Professional Responsibilities EC-12; TExES Health EC-12</td></tr> <tr><td> Certification Renewal Period </td><td> Five years</td></tr> <tr><td> CEU Credits Required for Renewal </td><td> 150 hours of continuing professional education</td></tr> <tr><td> Average Salary (2018) </td><td> $56,520 (Texas elementary school teachers); $56,580 (Texas middle school teachers); $58,190 (Texas high school teachers)*</td></tr> <tr><td> Estimated Job Growth (2016-2026) </td><td> 20.4% (Texas elementary school teachers); 20.5% (Texas middle school teachers); 20.6% (Texas high school teachers)**</td></tr> </table><p><i>Source: *U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), **Texas Workforce Commission </i></p> <h3 id="section---StartBachelorSEducation">Start Bachelor's Education</h3> <p>To become a certified teacher in Texas, all applicants must have at least a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university. Those interested in teaching health education typically major in subjects such as health studies, community health, physical education, or health education. As part of the degree program, students may complete coursework covering topics such as child development, human nutrition, school health education, and health promotion. </p> <h3 id="section---EnrollInTeacherPreparationProgram">Enroll in Teacher Preparation Program</h3> <p>All prospective teachers are also expected to complete an approved educator preparation program. Most applicants complete this as part of their degree program. The educator preparation program generally includes coursework in areas such as student instruction, classroom management, curriculum development, and teacher responsibilities. Students must also ensure that their coursework includes instruction on how to teach students with dyslexia. </p> <p>The educator preparation program also typically includes fieldwork as a student teacher in a local school, where students gain teaching experience in a real world setting. </p> <h3 id="section---PassCertificationTests">Pass Certification Tests</h3> <p>There are two exams required for heath teacher certification applicants. All prospective teachers must receive approval from their educator preparation program before they register to take these exams. </p> <p>The computer-based TExES Pedagogy and Professional Responsibilities EC-12 contains 100 selected-response questions covering general topics related to teaching students up to grade 12, including classroom management, curriculum development, and professional responsibilities as a teacher. The Health EC-12 is also a computer-based test with 100 selected-response questions. This exam covers subjects such as personal health, healthy relationships, and school health education. The minimum passing score for each exam is 240. </p> <h3 id="section---SendInTheApplication">Send in the Application</h3> <p>Once applicants have verified with their educator preparation program that they are eligible for certification and have completed the requirements, they can submit their application to the Texas Education Agency. Applicants must also complete a criminal background check and fingerprinting. </p> <h3 id="section---FulfillRenewalRequirements">Fulfill Renewal Requirements</h3> <p>The health teacher certification is valid for five years. To renew the certification, teachers must submit a renewal application, pay a fee, and complete 150 hours of continuing professional education (CPE). There are many ways to complete this requirement, such as attending conferences, completing workshops, or taking additional coursework at an accredited university. Teachers can obtain a list of approved CPE options from the Texas Education Agency.</p>