TRS service credit is an important part of determining eligibility for TRS benefits including TRS-Care.
Service credit affects the amount of a service or disability retirement benefit you may receive when you retire. In the event of your death as a TRS active member, service credit can also affect benefits paid to your beneficiary.
You establish service credit in two ways:
- Through eligible employment in Texas public education
- By purchasing service credit when eligible
You should carefully consider purchasing service credit when you are first eligible to do so because the cost to purchase service credit generally increases over time.
More Information About Service Credit
Purchasing Service Credit
In addition to earning membership service credit through employment with a TRS-covered employer, you may be eligible to purchase additional service credit for the calculation of service retirement benefits.
Service Credit Purchase Chart
Review eligibility requirements, cost, deadlines, and more for purchasing the different types of service credit.
Unreported Service and/or Compensation Credit Including Substitute Service
View deadlines for verifying unreported service and/or compensation credit to TRS.
Five Years Membership Service Credit
Vesting is an important concept to understand because, once vested, you're entitled to a future benefit. It also helps you decide when it's the best time to begin receiving that benefit.
ERS/TRS Transfer
Eligible active members of TRS can transfer service credited under the Employees Retirement System (ERS) to TRS. Similarly, eligible active members of ERS can transfer TRS-credited service to ERS.
Proportionate Retirement
If you have active membership credit in more than one Texas public retirement system, you may be eligible to combine all your service credit and therefore be eligible for service retirement under TRS.