Career and Technical Education Program

Begin your rewarding career as a CTE teacher! The application for the upcoming cohort will open September 15, 2025.

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Become A Certified Teacher

CTE educators are vital to preparing students for college and career. In the CTE educator certification cohort, we aim to help educators integrate their expertise into the secondary classroom using evidence-based teaching practices. Teachers within our program will receive a blended model of self-paced and live, online teacher-directed classes as well as continuous support in and out of the classroom.

Our Career and Technical Education Program (CTE) is designed to provide a pathway to teacher certification for professionals who already have education, work experience, and/or industry licensure/certification in a content area. 

Offered statewide, our program provides the flexibility and support you need to transition confidently into the classroom. With multiple learning methods—including a balanced hybrid model (a blend of in-person and online learning), and fully live online cohorts—you can choose the path that fits your schedule and learning style. 

CTE Program Learning Formats

Balanced Hybrid

  • Learning Style: Blends in-person learning with the flexibility of online coursework. Offers structure with added independence.
  • Best For: Candidates near Region 13 who are self-motivated but value occasional in-person community and hands-on activities.
  • Format: Combination of self-paced online coursework and live in-person classes at Region 13 ESC. Coursework evenly split before and during internship with “just-in-time” sessions.

Live Online

  • Learning Style: Fully remote with the convenience of online coursework plus live virtual instruction for interaction and collaboration.
  • Best For: Candidates across Texas who want flexibility, prefer learning from home, and still value live online interaction.
  • Format: Self-paced online coursework combined with live Zoom sessions. Coursework evenly split before and during internship with “just-in-time” sessions.

CTE Certification Areas and Requirements

Trade & Industrial Education

This certification area is for future teachers who have previous industry work experience and certification/licensure that aligns with their work experience. There are numerous work approval areas that would qualify a participant based on their industry experience.

Health Science

This certification area is for future teachers who have an associate degree and previous industry work experience as a healthcare practitioner that utilizes a current medical certification/licensure. 

Marketing

This certification area is for future teachers who have a bachelor’s degree and previous industry work experience in the marketing field overseeing or developing a marketing campaign throughout the entire lifespan of a product, service, or idea.

All Other CTE Certification Areas

These certification areas require a bachelor’s degree with a required number of hours on transcript in the certification area and a minimum GPA of 2.5 OR passing a PACT exam. These areas include Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources, Family Consumer Sciences, Business & Finance, Technology Applications, Technology Education, and Math/Physical Science/Engineering.

 

CTE Options

View full list of CTE certification areas and their requirements

CTE Certification by Exam

Information about adding CTE certification by exam for already certified teachers.

Curriculum

Our certification program curriculum is aligned with Texas Education Agency standards and educational best practices.  All curriculum is taught by certified staff and content area experts.

Training

CTE participants will receive training specific to their certification program which includes:
  • delivering engaging instruction
  • developing and using student assessments
  • understanding student diversity and instructional differentiation
  • preparing for formal classroom observations
  • preparing for TExES PPR exam
  • integrating the core principles from The Fundamental Five
  • establishing/revitalizing CTE student organizations
  • increasing awareness and knowledge of CTE issues and initiatives
  • integrating CTE into campus/district
  • marketing CTE courses/programs
  • developing partnerships and collaboration in CTE programs
  • exploring strategies to implement and manage work-based learning

Technology

In the CTE certification program, technology is an integral part of curriculum and instruction. Our program emphasizes:
  • incorporating the effective use of current technology in instruction
  • evaluating students’ technologically produced products and projects
  • utilizing technology applications in problem-solving situations and project-based learning activities
  • managing technology platforms to increase communication with student families on academic and behavior progress

What’s Next?

Info Sessions

Find out more about our programs by attending one of our info sessions.

Apply

Complete our online application and take the first step in becoming a fully certified teacher.