Pre-Admission Content Test
A Pre-Admission Content Test (PACT) can be used for admission to an alternative certification or post-baccalaureate educator preparation program (EPP). Applicants enrolling in a preparation program that requires a PACT exam beginning January 27, 2020, must complete a passing score on the appropriate new TX PACT content examination (TX PACT) that corresponds with each certificate area. TX PACT exams are not the same as the TExES content-pedagogy certification exams used for standard certification.
When is PACT Required?
Law requires applicants to take and pass a PACT for admission into an EPP in the following cases:
- If the applicant has a GPA below a 2.5 or
- If the applicant has not completed at least 12 semester credit hours in the subject area of the certificate the applicant is seeking (15 hours if seeking certification in math or science above 7th grade).
A PACT is not required for applicants who meet the 2.5 GPA and have completed a minimum of either 12 or 15 semester credit hours of coursework. Educator preparation programs may have local policies that require applicants to pass a PACT as a requirement for admission, but those policies are local decisions. When considering a preparation program, applicants should ask that program whether the program requires PACT.
Additional information on choosing an EPP can be found on the Choosing an Educator Preparation Program page and how to become a certified teacher can be found on Becoming a Classroom Teacher page.
PACT Candidate Information
A candidate may take a PACT under the following conditions:
- You must hold, a bachelor’s degree or be within the last semester of receiving a bachelor’s degree to register for a PACT.
- You have never been admitted to a Texas approved EPP, or you have been admitted but are transferring to a different EPP. If you are transferring to a different EPP, your new EPP may request a Candidate Transfer Form.
PACT Test Registration
A TEA ID number is used for identification throughout the certification and exam registration process. You must know your TEA ID to set up your testing account. If you are registering for the first time, you must click "ECOS for Educators" on the top toolbar and create a TEA Login (TEAL) account. When you create your account, you will complete an Educator Profile and obtain a TEA ID number. Once you have obtained a TEA ID number, go to the online registration system for the testing vendor. For help with TEAL account access, please submit a request to TEAL Access through the TEA Help Desk.
Applicants needing to take a PACT exam in Arabic, Hindi, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Russian, Turkish, or Vietnamese must have an EPP submit their request to TEA through the Help Desk.
It is important that your TEA Educator Profile contains your mailing address, email address, and phone number. All updates and corrections to your TEA Educator Profile must be done on the TEA website; be sure to click the Continue button to save your updates. You should check your TEA Educator Profile on a regular basis to make sure all of your information is current.
