Updated May 15, 2008

Agriculture Science requires a B. S. degree in Agriculture and a teaching certification in agriculture science and technology education. Horticulture is one of the areas of agriculture science.

Business Education consists of courses with content in keyboarding, recordkeeping, administrative procedures, computer information systems, banking and financial systems, business law, business management, business ownership, telecommunications and networking, multimedia, webmastering, accounting, and international business operations. This area requires a B. S. degree and teaching certification in Business Education. Individuals who hold an Office Education certification also qualify. Technology Applications certification does not qualify one to teach Business Education.

Career Investigation is a middle school course that leads students to consider future career options by exploration of the 16 career clusters. This course requires a Vocational Occupational Orientation certification OR a teaching certificate in any Career & Technology Education program area, such as: Business Education, Family & Consumer Sciences, Marketing Education, Health Science Technology, Technology Education (not Technology Applications), or Trade & Industrial Education, AND participation in a Texas Education Agency approved two-hour workshop for beginning Career Investigation/Career Connections teachers prior to teaching the course, and must also attend and participate in a Texas Education Agency sponsored Career and Technology Education Professional Development Conference prior to assignment.

Family & Consumer Sciences consists of courses in child development, family studies, nutrition, food science, hospitality, interior design, housing, management, consumer economics, management, parenting, career studies, career preparation related to food services, hospitality services, services for adults, textile and apparel production, institutional maintenance, education and child services. This area requires a B.S. degree and teaching certification in Family & Consumer Sciences or Home Economics. There are now three certificates: Composite, Hospitality and Family Studies. The last two limit what the teacher may teach to specific courses.

Health Science Technology consists of courses related to health care science. On comprehensive high school campuses these courses are Health Science Tech I and II. At the High School for Health Professions at Yvonne A. Ewell Townview Center these courses are more specialized, such as dental technology, dental assisting, nurse assisting, etc. This area requires a B.S. degree, a health science licensure or certification that requires two years to acquire and two years of work experience using that licence or certification, plus teaching certifcation in Health Science Technology.

Marketing Education consists of courses related to retailing, marketing, selling, management, services marketing, travel and tourism, entrepreneurship. Individuals must have a B. S. degree and two years of work experience in marketing within the last eight years.

Technology Education (Tech Ed) consists of courses with content in construction technology and systems; energy, power and transportation technology and systems; manufacturing technology and systems; engineering principles; communications systems; bio-related technology systems; computer applications; architectural graphics; engineering graphics; communication graphics; architectural construction; electricity/electronics technology; and computer multimedia and animation technology. This area requires a B.S. degree (usually in Technology Education, Industrial Education, Industrial Technology, Industrial Arts) and teaching certification in Technology Education. Technology Applications certification does not qualify one to teach Tech Ed.

Trade and Industrial Education consists of a variety of trade areas including transportation systems (small engines, auto technician, auto body, aviation, diesel), construction (plumbing, carpentry, electrical trades, HVAC, welding, building maintenance), cosmetology, criminal justice, electrical-electronics systems (computer maintenance, telecommunications services), manufacturing (plastics), media and communications (commercial photographic, advertising design, architecture drafting and design, computer-aided drafting, media technology). Teaching certification is specific to the trade area and requires work experience. B.S. degreed individuals are required to have three years of work experience. Those with less than a B.S. degree are required to have five years of work experience. Work experience must be within the last eight years. All individuals are required to have an industry-related license or certification or to pass an industry competency test.