Educational Psychology
Self-paced online Educational Psychology course (Psychology 120). NCCRS recommends 3 semester credits; each college decides how it applies them.
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Educational Aide I, II, III in Texas: what each level needs
By the team. Checked 15 Nov 2026.
The short answer
Texas educational aide levels go up by experience or by college hours. Aide I needs a diploma and approved experience. Aide II needs two years as Aide I, 15 semester credit hours with child growth and development work, or a skill the district confirms. Aide III needs three years or 30 hours. Your district recommends the level.
The three levels side by side
TEA's page on becoming an educational aide sets out three certificate levels under 19 TAC Chapter 230, Subchapter E. Every level starts with the same base: a high school diploma or equivalent, and experience working with students or parents that your employing superintendent approves. The levels differ in what you add on top.
| Level | Route by experience | Route by college hours | Other route |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aide I | Approved experience with students or parents | Not needed | High school education and training course pathway |
| Aide II | Two creditable years as Aide I | At least 15 semester credit hours, including child growth and development | A specialized skill the district confirms |
| Aide III | Three creditable years as Aide I or II | At least 30 semester credit hours, including child growth and development | None |
Educational Aide I: the starting level
Aide I is the level most new hires start at. Beyond the diploma, the experience requirement is light and is judged by your superintendent: volunteering, coaching, tutoring or work in a church nursery can be enough if the district agrees. There is also a high school route. A student who completes at least three of the listed education and training courses, worth four or more credits with at least one at Level 3 or 4, can qualify once the district verifies them.
Aide I needs no college hours at all, so it is the right first step while you plan the hours for the next level.
Educational Aide II: two years or 15 hours
Aide II gives you three choices. The slow one is two creditable years as Aide I. The fast one is 15 semester credit hours of college coursework, which TEA says must include coursework related to child growth and development. The third is a specialized skill the district confirms, such as sign language interpreting.
Fifteen hours is five three-credit courses. If you take them online, the hours still need to appear on a college transcript, because that is what a district reviews. Plan one course that clearly covers how children grow and learn; it is the piece most likely to be questioned.
- Five 3-credit courses = 15 hours
- Include child growth and development coursework
- Hours must be on a college transcript
Educational Aide III: three years or 30 hours
Aide III is the top level. You reach it with three creditable years as Aide I or II, or with 30 semester credit hours that again include child growth and development coursework. Thirty hours is ten three-credit courses, or about a quarter of a bachelor's degree. Aides who want to teach later often choose courses that also count toward a degree, such as English composition, college algebra, psychology and sociology.
Who decides your level
The district decides. TEA's page says your employing district must recommend you and determines whether you qualify at level I, II or III. Only after that do you apply and pay in TEA's online certification system. That is why the first step for anyone counting college hours is a written answer from the district about which courses it will count, and how it reads child growth and development.
What to ask in writing
Before you enrol
Ask your school district's certification or HR office in writing which college courses it will count toward Educational Aide II or III, before you enrol.
UPI Study is not a college and is not accredited. ACE and NCCRS review our courses and recommend credit; a college decides whether to give that credit and records it on its own transcript.
ACE and NCCRS have over 2,100 cooperating colleges that will consider accepting credits; the final decision is with the universities.
Questions people ask
Can I skip Aide I and start at Aide II?
Yes, if you already meet an Aide II route when hired, for example 15 semester credit hours that include child growth and development coursework. You still need the diploma and approved experience every level asks for, and the district must recommend you at that level.
How many courses is 30 semester credit hours?
Usually ten three-credit courses. Some science and math courses carry four credits, so the count can be a little lower. The total must include coursework related to child growth and development, and the district judges which courses meet that.
Does Aide III pay more than Aide II in Texas?
That depends on your district's salary schedule. Many districts set separate steps by aide level, but neither TEA nor the rule sets aide pay. Ask HR for the published schedule before you plan your hours around a raise.
Courses that fit
ACE-recommended or NCCRS-recommended courses, studied online at your own pace.
Introduction to Psychology
Self-paced online Introduction to Psychology course (Psychology 110). ACE and NCCRS recommend 3 semester credits; each college decides how it applies them.
See the course →
English Composition 1
Self-paced online English Composition 1 course (ENG 101). NCCRS recommends 3 semester credits; each college decides how it applies them.
See the course →Start when you have it in writing
Every course in one plan; plan your 15 or 30 hours with the district's answer in hand.
Sources
- TEA: Becoming an Educational Aide in Texas (official)Aide I: diploma plus approved experience; Aide II: 2 years as Aide I, 15 college hours incl. child growth and development, or a district-judged skill; Aide III: 3 years or 30 hours; the district must recommend; rule is 19 TAC Ch. 230 Subch. E. Checked on 15 Nov 2026.