Educator Testing
Welcome to the Office of Educator Testing at the Texas Education Agency. The Office of Educator Testing is responsible for the overall management and monitoring of the statewide educator certification testing contract as well as the development and implementation of testing rules. This page provides testing information related to obtaining a Texas educator certificate. Texas law requires that educators pass appropriate tests to become certified. The appropriate examination(s) required for certification are specified in the Texas Administrative Code, §230.21(e). Further information about current, past and future tests may be found below:
Testing Information
Information related to testing is available below:
- Test Registration and Preparation
- Pre Admissions Content Testing (PACT)
- Test Approval
- Test Scores and Reports
- Test Center Comments and Complaints
- Test-Limit Waiver Information
Deaf and Hard of Hearing Test Exemption Information
- Deaf and Hard of Hearing Test Exemption Instructions
- Deaf and Hard of Hearing Test Exemption Application
- Audiologist Report Form
Please submit a Help Desk ticket for additional guidance.
Please submit completed applications through the online submission form.
Testing Announcements and Updates
Educator Preparation Program Exam Vouchers
Certification exam vouchers are available for purchase by educator preparation programs to provide candidates with codes to be used during registration for a Texas educator certification exam. Please contact your preparation program for more information.
Early Childhood PK-3 #292 Certification
The Early Childhood: PK–3 #292 is not an exam available to be taken under the "Certification by Exam" option. It requires specific coursework and training to be completed with an Approved Educator Preparation Program. Please contact an approved educator preparation program for exam approval. The Early Childhood PK-3 FAQ is now available to address common inquiries.
Educator Certification Examination Retake Limit Change
Candidates are limited to a total of 5 attempts to pass a certification examination under Texas Education Code §21.048. Beginning September 1, 2018, all attempts of the same examination, no matter when they occurred, will count toward the 5-attempt testing limit regardless of when the examination was first attempted.
Candidates who reach the 5-time testing limit must apply for a test-limit waiver to retest.
Note: TX PACT examinations are not subject to the 5-time test limit. Please visit www.tea.texas.gov/tlw
Testing Vendor Updates
Pearson - Texas Educator Certification Examination Program 1-800-877-4599
Mask requirements will be stated in your appointment reminder email, or you may call the test center directly to verify their requirements. Candidates who do not comply may forfeit their ability to take current and future exams. Pearson will not issue refunds to candidates who do not comply.
The search functionality on Pearson’s COVID-19 Update Page remains an excellent way for candidates to verify specific test center requirements.
ETS – Performance Assessment for School Leaders 1-855-628-5088
The PASL Assessment Spring 2025 dates are posted on the Registration and Submission page.
The Resources and Test Prep page contains a link to the guidance document for candidates who may be submitting their PASL assessment tasks while working in a virtual learning environment.
The PASL Assessment Task 3 Library of Examples page has been updated to include a virtual learning response for each textbox.
Additional information is also available at https://www.ets.org/pasl.html
Teacher Certification Exam Updates
The following content-pedagogy assessments will be updated to include both multiple-choice and constructed-response questions. The dates below represent the current target launch date and are subject to change to a later date. Any updates to the schedule will be made on this site.
All new assessments will have exam frameworks released about 12-18 months before the scheduled launch date on this website.
Opportunities to Participate in Exam Development Committees
There are upcoming opportunities for Texas educators to participate in exam development committees. Committee members receive Continuing Professional Education (CPE) credits for their participation in these exam development activities.
Visit our recruitment website for information about the development process, the types of meetings conducted, and how to get involved.
September 2, 2024
- ELAR 7-12 (331)
- exam #231 was last offered on September 1, 2024, and can be used for certification through September 1, 2025.
- ELAR 7-12 (331) informational one-pager is now available to address timelines and other frequently asked questions related to the exam launch, program requirements, and candidate preparation resources.
- Framework Overview and CRI Deep Dive Webinar
- Exam Framework Crosswalk
- Physical Education EC-12 (258)
- exam #158 was last offered on September 1, 2024, and can be used for certification through September 1, 2025.
- Physical Education EC-12 (258) informational one-pager is now available to address timelines and other frequently asked questions related to the exam launch, program requirements, and candidate preparation resources.
- Framework Overview and CRI Deep Dive Webinar
- Exam Framework Crosswalk
- Health EC-12 (257)
- exam #157 was last offered on September 1, 2024, and can be used for certification through September 1, 2025.
- Health EC-12 (257) informational one-pager is now available to address timelines and other frequently asked questions related to the exam launch, program requirements, and candidate preparation resources.
- Framework Overview and CRI Deep Dive Webinar
- Exam Framework Crosswalk
September 2, 2025
- Deafblind EC-12 (185)
- Deafblind EC-12 (185) informational one-pager is now available to address timelines and other frequently asked questions related to the exam launch, program requirements, and candidate preparation resources.
- Special Education Specialist EC-12 (186)
- Special Education Specialist EC-12 (186) informational one-pager is now available to address timelines and other frequently asked questions related to the exam launch, program requirements, and candidate preparation resources.
No earlier than September 2026
Exact dates are to be determined. Approved new or updated exam frameworks will be posted online as soon as they become available.
No earlier than September 2027
- Bilingual Special Education (187)
- Core Subjects EC–6 (491)
- Core Subjects EC-6 w/ Fine Arts, PE, and Health (492)
- Core Subjects EC–6 w/ Special Education (591)
- Reading Specialist EC-12 (251)
- School Librarian EC-12 (250)
No earlier than September 2028
- ESL Supplemental (254)
- Core Subjects EC-6 w/ESL (493)
- Bilingual Spanish Core Subjects EC-6 (494)
Educator Testing
Staff are available and quickly responding via the TEA Help Desk.
Please submit a Help Desk ticket through the link above.
Or messages can be left at 512-463-9039.