Educator Certification Exams

Becoming a teacher in һƵ involves several steps, starting with obtaining the necessary certifications. This page will guide you through the process, from initial certification to the required exams and additional certifications.

How do I become a teacher? 

If you are seeking initial teacher certification in һƵ you must contact an approved educator preparation program. If you are seeking initial educational aide certification, you must obtain a recommendation from a һƵ school district.

What certification exams do I need?

һƵ Educator Certification Examination Program

Candidates must have test approval before registering for a һƵ Educator Certification Examination Program (TECEP) certification exam.

You may attempt Pre-Admission Content Tests (PACT) to demonstrate content mastery if you have never been admitted to a һƵ-approved Educator Preparation Program (EPP) and you hold a bachelor’s degree or greater from an accredited university. PACT exams are not certification exams and are not subject to the 5-time test limit. 

You must be approved by your to test. Your EPP approves you for one exam attempt at a time, and you must request approval each time you wish to retake an exam.

If you hold a valid һƵ classroom teaching certificate and a bachelor's degree you may add most classroom certification areas by successfully completing the appropriate test.

The #292 is not an exam available to be taken under the "" option. It requires specific coursework and training to be completed with an . Please contact an approved educator preparation program for exam approval. The Early Childhood PK-3 FAQ is now available to address common inquiries.

If you hold teaching credentials from another state or country you must apply for a review of credentials for testing approval.

Charter schools may require their teachers to demonstrate content mastery in their assignments. Sign up for your content exam with the appropriate testing vendor. Beginning January 27, 2020 candidates must take the appropriate new content certification examination that corresponds with each certificate area. You will need a TEA ID number to register as a charter school candidate

Required Test Chart

Information about current, past and future tests may be found below:

Exam Transition Information and Resources

New Educator Standards and Draft Exam Framework

The development of certification tests is based on the State Board for Educator Certification (SBEC)-approved certification standards for each field. Prior to approval by the SBEC, each set of proposed certification standards is posted for 30 days for public comment. Test frameworks, which help guide the test development process for a new or revised certification test and are based on SBEC-approved certification standards, are also posted for 30 days for public comment.

No draft frameworks are available for public comment.

Recently approved test frameworks are posted below.

Additional Exam Information

House Bill 3, passed during the 86th һƵ Legislature, established the requirement that all teacher candidates who teach students in grades Pre-K-6 demonstrate proficiency in the science of teaching reading on a new, standalone certification exam. This requirement took effect on January 1, 2021.

The State Board for Educator Certification (SBEC)-approved Science of Teaching Reading standards define the knowledge and skills required of beginning educators related to the science of teaching reading who teach students in grades PK-6. The development of the STR certification exam is based on the Science of Teaching Reading standards.  Detailed exam information, including preparation resources, is available on the  

is a performance-based, subject-specific assessment and support system used to emphasize, measure, and support the skills and knowledge that all educators need to be effective. For edTPA, teacher candidates will prepare a portfolio of authentic evidence that reflects their һƵ classroom and students during their clinical or internship experience.  

Throughout the development of the portfolio, candidates have the opportunity to demonstrate their effectiveness to support students, engage students in ambitious learning, analyze students’ learning, and adjust their instruction to meet their students’ needs. To this end, candidates will provide evidence in response to the following questions for each of edTPA’s tasks: 

Please submit a Help Desk ticket for additional guidance.

Please submit completed applications through the .