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Learn more about required state exams. We encourage you to register early for exams to ensure you secure an appointment. As you wait for your testing date to arrive, avail of our resources and test prep discounts to help you prepare.
As required by the Texas Education Agency, each teacher candidate must pass a subject-specific certification exam to demonstrate subject matter knowledge. Content Exams are administered through Pearson.
Once hired on your Intern Certificate, all candidates are required to take the Pedagogy and Professional Responsibilities (PPR) exam in order to become fully certified and receive their Standard Certificate. We strongly recommend using a preparation tool in conjunction with our required PPR online test review and practice exam.
As of January 1, 2021, all teachers in the state of Texas are required to pass the Science of Teaching Reading (STR) exam if you are seeking certification in one or multiple of the following subject areas listed below. Texas Teachers will provide you immediate access to our comprehensive online STR review coursework, once you enroll in the program.
Candidates pursuing certification in the following must take the STR exam:
– Core Subjects EC-6,
– English Language Arts and Reading 4-8; and/or
– English Language Arts and Reading/Social Studies 4-8.
Texas Teachers must have your completed application, official transcripts, enrollment fee, and personal information, including:
• Legal Name
• Social Security Number
• Date of Birth
• E-mail Address
• Test(s) you are interested in taking
Note: If you do not have a U.S. Social Security number, we will issue you a temporary PIN number to use in place of it.
You must create an account with the Texas Education Agency. Follow these important set up instructions. Select “Candidate Participating in Educator Preparation Program” under “Application Applying For.” Once you have set up the account, you will immediately be able to confirm your TEA ID number.
Note: We recommend applying for your Intern Certificate once you are ready to begin your teaching job search. See the Job Search section of our FAQ page for more information.
Setup Your TEA AccountInstructions from the TEA
You must also set up a different account with Pearson. This will allow you to access the testing site and register for test(s). You will need your TEA ID number. Effective September 1, 2018, Pearson has replaced ETS as the testing vendor for the state.
Note: You will be unable to register for a test unless Texas Teachers has given you approval in advance.
Setup Your Pearson AccountInstructions from Pearson
If you have trouble registering, or if the error message says your information does not match, we’ll need to confirm the following.
• Date of Birth
• Social Security Number
• E-mail Address
• Legal Name
Note: The information you give the state in the above fields must match exactly what you give us. If the information does not match, you will not be able to register for any tests.
If the test you are registering for does not appear for selection, you will need to contact Texas Teachers to check what tests you have been approved to take. If the test date you want does not appear for the certification exam you have selected, then that location is full and you will need to choose another location or date.
A small investment goes a long way! Using a test prep resource company like The Learning Liaisons will help you pass your exams the first time so you can get back to focusing on the classroom! The Learning Liaisons offers live Workshops and on-demand video courses for the TExES and PPR exams. These interactive video courses give prospective teachers expert preparation. All skills tested are covered in-depth with content review, practice question analysis, and the strategies required for 1st attempt success. Get started with a special discount when you use promo code: TTTX25. Click here to join!
Texas Teachers has developed individual modules within our online training to help you prepare for each test. These test prep modules are required and can be found in your intern portal. Our innovative test preparation coursework offers a comprehensive review of all concepts covered on the test, and is designed to be utilized in conjunction with the other study materials listed here.
Pearson, the company that administrates the TExES exams, provides TExES Exam preparation materials that include free study tips and preparation manuals, which contain the competencies to be tested and sample questions. Interactive practice exams with scoring feedback are also available for $10 each.
The Pedagogy and Professional Responsibilities (PPR) exam is only taken once you are hired in the classroom. Study resources for the PPR Exam can be found in our resources related to Your Internship Year.
For more study resources, click here to view our additional resources page!
The kinds of questions on the TExES Content Exams are similar to many standardized test questions, in that they are a majority multiple-choice. The TExES content exams are made up of 90 – 150 multiple choice questions, and some include written responses. Time varies based on which content exam you are taking, but if an individual finishes the test early, it is recommended that they go over their answers and double-check their work.
The TExES content exams are tests that you must prepare for. It is important that all teacher candidates start preparing in advance and that they go through various studying resources. Because the test is rigorous, taking practice tests like our required test prep modules in advance is a must.
Prior to taking any Texas teacher certification exam, one should pack everything that they need to bring to the testing center. Individuals must bring a government-issued valid, primary, and secondary form of ID. The name on the ID must also match the name registered for the exam.
TExES stands for Texas Educator Standards. The Texas Educator Standards is a set of criteria, used to measure a teacher candidate’s knowledge. Their knowledge is measured in comparison to the criteria versus being measured against the performance of other teacher candidates.
In order to pass the Texas teacher content exam requires a minimum passing score of 240. The total amount of points a candidate can receive is 300, and getting below a 240 will result in a failed test.
If an individual gets below a 240 on the TExES exam, they will have to retake the test. Candidates can take the Texas teacher content exam a total of 5 times, and you must pay for each content exam that you take.
