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Texas State Capitol

How to become a TEFA vendor in Texas

Texas's education savings account program, run by the Comptroller with Odyssey as administrator. Families buy approved products and services in the TEFA Marketplace; vendors apply on a rolling basis.

Official application Build my document checklist What funds can pay for

Checked against official sources on Oct 8, 2026

Run by

Odyssey, for the state

Application decision

2 to 4 weeks12

Payment terms

Net 30 after you confirm delivery18

Provider types

4 with their own documents

116,574

participating students as of October 1, 2026.1

2,149

vendors of educational products and services on the state's published participating-vendor list.2

Who can apply

  • Applications are accepted on a rolling basis, and the Texas Comptroller reviews every vendor application and offering before it appears in the Marketplace.3
  • You must be a U.S.-based business entity, registered with the Texas Secretary of State, and in good standing on Texas franchise taxes if they apply to you. Sole proprietors and general partnerships can use an assumed-name registration from the county clerk.4
  • Out-of-state businesses qualify once they register with the Texas Secretary of State as a foreign entity (or convert to a Texas entity) and upload that proof.5
  • Public school districts and charter schools can be vendors only for services that don't count the student toward average daily attendance.6

Documents by provider type

Tutors and teaching services

  • Proof of one qualifying credential for each person who teaches: current or retired educator at an accredited school, a valid teaching license or relevant accreditation, or a current or retired higher-education teaching role.7
  • Texas business registration (Certificate of Fact, Formation or Filing from the Secretary of State, or a county assumed-name certificate).4

Therapists

  • An active professional license in your field (for example speech, occupational, physical or counseling).7
  • TEFA covers therapy fees only when they aren't covered by Medicaid, CHIP or the child's private insurance.8

Anyone who works with students (all service vendors)

  • Fingerprinting through the TEFA program for every person who will interact with a participating child, in person, online or by message. Earlier fingerprinting elsewhere doesn't count. The application asks for each person's legal name, email, date of birth, SSN and any license number.9
  • Fingerprinting costs $37 per person and starts after your application reaches "Approved - Pending Fingerprint".9
  • Add every staff member under Employee Management in the vendor portal. Nobody can work with a TEFA student until their status shows Approved.10

Product sellers

  • Texas business registration, and offerings filed under one of the Texas Marketplace categories (curriculum, books, STEM kits, instruments, technology and more).11

Getting approved and listed

  • Each program needs its own application and its own vendor portal. Odyssey says you'll hear back on an application within 2 to 4 weeks.12
  • Every offering is reviewed separately. Use a specific title ("6-Week Middle School Math Tutoring", not "Tutoring") and list sessions, length, delivery method and credentials in the description.13
  • Prices must sit within a reasonable margin of the blended market price. Build shipping into the listed price; tax is added at checkout.14
  • Marketplace purchases can't be cancelled by families. Service orders are cancelled only if the vendor authorizes it.15

How you get paid

  1. 1Approved vendors are paid by ACH through Stripe. Connect a Stripe account under Payment Set Up in the vendor portal before your first order.16
  2. 2When a family orders, confirm (or cancel) the order in the vendor portal. After confirming, contact the family within 48 hours.17
  3. 3Payment runs on net-30 terms, and the 30 days don't start until you enter a tracking number (products) or a receipt or confirmation number (services). If your system doesn't generate one, Odyssey says to enter the date and time you delivered the service.18
  4. 4Don't send families invoices or receipts for Marketplace orders. Odyssey records every transaction and says invoice, receipt and tracking numbers are managed only in the vendor portal.16
  5. 5Odyssey doesn't issue vendors a 1099. Keep your own records of Marketplace income.19
Work out when an order will pay

Price caps and purchase limits

  • Technology (laptops, tablets, monitors, printers, software, hotspots and similar) is capped at a combined 10% of the student's annual award. 3D printers are limited to one a year. Musical instruments are capped at $1,200.20

What trips providers up

  • Personnel who haven't cleared fingerprinting can't serve students. Add new hires in the portal before they start.10
  • Private-school students' awards arrive in installments (25% July 1, 25% October 1, 50% February 1), so their families' balances can be low mid-year. Homeschool and other students receive the full award up front.21

Sources

  1. 1.10.1.26 Participants Fact Sheet, Texas Comptroller (TEFA), updated Oct 1, 2026
  2. 2.TEFA Participating Vendors, Texas Comptroller (TEFA), updated Mar 1, 2026
  3. 3.Providers vendors, Texas Comptroller (TEFA), updated Oct 8, 2026
  4. 4.Who Can Become a Vendor and What are the Requirements, Odyssey help center, updated Sep 10, 2026
  5. 5.How Can Out of State Vendors or Service Providers Qualify for Texas Education Freedom Accounts TEFA, Odyssey help center, updated May 11, 2026
  6. 6.Can Public Schools be Vendors, Odyssey help center, updated Dec 9, 2025
  7. 7.When Are Professional Licenses Required in the TEFA Vendor Application, Odyssey help center, updated Jul 27, 2026
  8. 8.What are Eligible Educational Expenses for the Texas Education Freedom Accounts TEFA Program, Odyssey help center, updated Jul 27, 2026
  9. 9.Fingerprinting Requirements for Texas Vendors, Odyssey help center, updated Jul 13, 2026
  10. 10.How to Manage Employees in Your TEFA Vendor Portal, Odyssey help center, updated Mar 18, 2026
  11. 11.Texas Marketplace Categories for Offerings, Odyssey help center, updated Oct 1, 2026
  12. 12.The Vendor Experience, Odyssey help center, updated Nov 13, 2025
  13. 13.General Requirements for Service and Product Offerings, Odyssey help center, updated Nov 18, 2025
  14. 14.Marketplace Price Policy, Odyssey help center, updated Jul 9, 2025
  15. 15.Understanding Refunds Returns and Cancellations, Odyssey help center, updated Jan 23, 2026
  16. 16.How Do Vendors Get Paid, Odyssey help center, updated Aug 18, 2026
  17. 17.Vendor Application Lifecycle, Odyssey help center, updated Jul 2, 2026
  18. 18.How to Fulfill an Order, Odyssey help center, updated Aug 28, 2025
  19. 19.Do Vendors Receive a 1099, Odyssey help center, updated Feb 12, 2025
  20. 20.What Are the Purchase Restrictions for TEFA, Odyssey help center, updated Oct 5, 2026
  21. 21.Educationfreedom.texas.gov, Texas Comptroller (TEFA), updated Oct 8, 2026

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Photo: LoneStarMike, CC BY 3.0

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