TExES Exam

The Texas Education Agency offers the Texas Examinations of Educator Standards (TExES) Program, a series of tests designed to measure a candidate’s knowledge against an established set of criteria rather than against other test takers. The state of Texas requires anyone who wants to become a licensed teacher in Texas to take and pass comprehensive examinations to make sure that the teacher candidates possess the basic knowledge necessary to succeed in an entry-level teaching position in the Texas public schools. Test topics include knowledge areas such as Art, Business Education, Chemistry, English as a Second Language, English Language Arts, Mathematics, and Science, as well as professional growth areas such as School Counselor, School Librarian, or Superintendent.

Tests are available both in paper format and on a computer. You can register for either type of test either online or by phone. If you cannot or do not want to pay electronically, you can also register by mail. For the computer tests, most subject areas are comprised entirely of multiple choice questions. Exceptions include the foreign language subject tests and the Music Early Childhood – Grade12 test.

To take the Texas teacher certification test, you will need to be approved by the testing administrator. If you are a candidate for the Educator Preparation Program (EPP), a type of teaching training program, you will need to ensure that your EPP is included on the list of approved programs on the TEA website. If you already have a teaching certification from another state or country, your credentials first need to be reviewed by the TEA before you can take the appropriate TExES tests. The application for a review of your credentials is available on the TEA website. If you have a bachelor’s degree and already have a Texas classroom teaching certificate, you can take a TExES exam in a new area to add an additional certification to your qualifications. You can also take the TExES exam if you are enrolled in an approved Temporary Teaching Certificate (TTC) program. However, you will need to apply on the TEA website for a Review of Transcripts request before you will be granted permission to register for the TExES exam. You may also be required to take the general Pedagogy and Professional Responsibilities test that covers basic teaching skills and knowledge for Early Childhood Education through Grade 12.