If you are fulfilling the requirements in an EPP approved by the State Board for Educator Certification  (SBEC), you must receive approval from your EPP to take a certification exam.

There are several types of teacher training programs:

• University Initial — a program usually delivered as part of a baccalaureate program that includes clinical teaching
• University Post Baccalaureate — a program that may be offered to an individual who already holds at least a bachelor's degree and is seeking certification and an additional degree
• University Alternative Certification Program — an Alternative Certification Program offered by a university
• Alternative Certification Program — a nontraditional EPP for individuals who hold bachelor's degrees or higher that may involve university coursework or other professional development experiences as well as intense mentoring and supervision

After you receive approval from your EPP, if you are a first-time testing candidate, you must go to the TEA website at www.tea.texas.gov (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. You will be able to view your approved exams in your Educator Profile under "View Examinations."

Once you have viewed your approved exams, go to the online registration system on this website and create a testing account. (See "Creating Your Testing Account" below.) You will register to test through your testing account on this website.

If you want to register for an exam that does not appear in your list of approved exams, you must get approval from your EPP to take that exam. Once you have approval to test, you can go to your testing account on this website and register to test.

Further information about EPP programs and a list of approved EPPs is available on the TEA website .

If you hold a standard certificate issued by another state, a U.S. Territory, or another country and are seeking to be certified in the equivalent field(s), you must have your credentials reviewed by TEA. More information about credential reviews and test exemption eligibility is available on the TEA website's out-of-state certifications page .

To have your credentials reviewed, you must go to the TEA website at www.tea.texas.gov and click "ECOS for Educators" on the top toolbar to create a TEA Login (TEAL) account. When you create your account, you will complete an Educator Profile and obtain a TEA ID number. Once your account is created, you can complete an online application for review of credentials and submit the appropriate documents to TEA. After your credentials have been reviewed, you will be emailed information regarding the TExES content-pedagogy certification exams that you are approved to take.

Once you have approval to test, go to the online registration system on this website and create a testing account. (See "Creating Your Testing Account" below.) You will register to test through your testing account on this website.

If you hold a bachelor's degree and a Texas classroom teaching certificate, you may add classroom certification areas by successfully completing the appropriate examination for the area(s) you are seeking.

If you already have an Educator Profile on the TEA website and a TEA ID number, use your TEA ID number to create a testing account on this website and register for an exam. (See "Creating Your Testing Account" below.) A list of exams that you are eligible to take will be displayed in your testing account. This is where you will register to test. If you do not know your TEA ID number, go to your Educator Profile on the TEA website to retrieve it.

The Pre-Admission Content Test (PACT) route allows individuals to demonstrate content proficiency for possible admission into an educator preparation program (EPP) by passing the appropriate content exam before being admitted. Taking a PACT exam is not required for all candidates and does not ensure admittance into a preparation program. EPPs may have additional admission requirements. Some Texas charter schools may require their teachers to take a PACT exam to demonstrate content mastery in their assignment. Note that passing a PACT exam does not qualify teachers for a standard Texas educator certificate.

If you are a first-time PACT or Charter School candidate, you must go to the TEA website at www.tea.texas.gov (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 on this website and create a testing account. (See "Creating Your Testing Account" below.) You will register to test through your testing account on this website.

Individuals who hold a bachelor's degree or higher from an accredited college or university or are scheduled to receive a bachelor's degree are allowed to take a PACT content exam for purposes of admission into an alternative certification or university post baccalaureate educator preparation program. More information about testing eligibility requirements is available on the Pre-Admission Content Test (PACT) page.

Intensive pre-service is an educator assignment supervised through an educator preparation program that provides candidates the opportunity to practice content pedagogy and pedagogy skills in a classroom setting with instructional support. The intensive pre-service (IPS) route requires candidates seeking an intern certificate to successfully complete the pre-service educator training and demonstrate requisite subject-matter knowledge by passing the appropriate content certification exam (PACT). If you are an IPS candidate testing for the first time, you must go to the TEA website at www.tea.texas.gov (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 on this website and create a testing account. (See "Creating Your Testing Account" below.) You will register to test through your testing account on this website.

The Trade and Industrial Education 6–12, Marketing 6–12, and Health Science 6–12 certifications require specialized skills and experience in addition to testing. Generally, you will need approval from an EPP or a district to take these exams. They will review your qualifications and experience. These requirements are listed in TAC §233.14 . Step-by-step instructions for school districts and EPPs are available on the TEA website's Career and Technical Education page . When those steps are complete, TEA will add approval for you to register for the appropriate exam.

NOTE:
TEA Division of Educator Certification and Testing is not responsible for approving certification-by-exam or charter school candidates. Candidates with questions regarding testing approvals should submit a TEA Help Desk ticket .

If you are deaf or hard-of-hearing, you may be exempt from the TExES testing requirements. Texas Education Code §21.048  allows certain individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing to be issued a Temporary Exemption Certificate allowing them to teach in Texas public schools. Texas Administrative Code §230.25(b)(1)  requires "a report by a licensed audiologist documenting that the candidate has a hearing impairment so severe that the person cannot process written linguistic information." Also note that an individual who is exempted from TExES testing requirements will be unable to certify by examination later in his/her career. Visit the TEA website  for more information.

Please note that if your certification requires the Texas Assessment of Sign Communication (TASC), the Texas Assessment of Sign Communication–American Sign Language (TASC–ASL) and/or the TExES American Sign Language (ASL) exam(s), you must pass these exams to qualify for the certificate.