Teacher certificate renewal by state: California, Texas, New York

Credential cycle

The Clear credential — the second-level credential held by most practicing California teachers — is issued for five years and is renewable. (The first-level Preliminary credential also runs five years but cannot be renewed; it is a stepping stone to Clear status.)

How renewal works

Clear-to-Clear renewals are done online through the educator's CTC account. Under the regulations summarized in the Commission's 2026 credential alert, a timely renewal takes its new five-year start from the old credential's expiration date, and the renewal application can be filed within the year before that date.

Fee

$125 for a Clear credential renewal or reissuance as of July 1, 2026, per the Commission's fee alert (Assembly Bill 126) — up from $100 before that date.

If the credential lapses

When a Clear credential is not renewed by its expiration date, the lapsed credential is reissued effective the date the online renewal is completed — and no California public school service is authorized in the gap unless the employer files a validation of service request. Renewing before the expiration date avoids the gap entirely.

Certificate cycle

Standard certificates issued since September 1, 1999 renew every five years, through the Educator Certification Online System (ECOS). Renewal is based on completing the required CPE hours (19 TAC Chapter 232).

CPE hours

• Classroom teachers: 150 CPE hours per five-year cycle
• Principals, superintendents, counselors, librarians, educational diagnosticians and reading specialists: 200 hours
• Educators holding multiple certificate types: 200 hours total

All educators renewing a standard certificate also complete CPE related to educating students with disabilities, including dyslexia training. Holders of multiple classroom teaching certificates renew them together — one fee and one set of hours covers all of them.

If the certificate expires

An expired standard certificate becomes inactive but can be renewed later by completing the CPE requirement, applying, and paying a late fee on top of the standard renewal — no retaking of certification exams is needed just because a certificate expired. Educators keep their own CPE documentation for five years and provide it only if audited. The current renewal and late fees are published by TEA.

Registration cycle

Holders of Permanent or Professional classroom teaching certificates register with the Department every five years. The Initial certificate that precedes them is valid for five years and leads to the Professional certificate (via experience, mentoring and a master's-level requirement) rather than renewing in place.

CTLE hours

Educators who hold a Professional certificate and practice in an applicable school complete 100 clock hours of acceptable Continuing Teacher and Leader Education (CTLE) in each five-year registration period — one requirement per educator, however many certificates you hold. Holders of only a Permanent certificate are not subject to the CTLE requirement.

Keeping records

NYSED publishes recordkeeping and documentation expectations for CTLE, and approved sponsors list coursework through the Department — the registration and CTLE pages linked below are the place to confirm current details for your certificate type.