Overview
The Texas Examinations of Educator Standards (TExES) are the certification tests for people who want to teach or serve as educators in Texas public schools. Texas law requires educators to pass the appropriate tests before they are certified. The Texas Education Agency (TEA) oversees the programme, and Pearson runs test administration and registration through the Texas educator certification portal.
There is no single TExES paper. Each test matches a certification area, so which ones you take depends on the certificate level and subject you are seeking, as set out in state administrative code.
Who can apply
Anyone seeking Texas educator certification who needs to pass an exam for their chosen certificate. Educator preparation programmes can buy exam vouchers that give their candidates registration codes.
Exam pattern
Exams differ by subject. Some are single tests, while others are made up of several subtests or subject exams, for example Core Subjects (211 or 391) and Essential Academic Skills (700). The portal also lists related assessments such as TX PACT (Pre-Admission Content Tests), edTPA and AAFCS exams.
Experienced educators are hired on a temporary basis as professional scorers for the constructed-response parts of the exams.
Marking and results
On multi-part exams, the score from your best attempt on each subtest or subject exam is kept. Pearson and TEA can cancel scores if the retake policy is broken.
Fees
Exam fees are charged, but the pages read for this guide do not give amounts, so check the current fee schedule on the testing portal. Under House Bill 2, effective 4 June 2025, teachers pursuing Special Education or Bilingual Education certification receive fee waivers for their first content-pedagogy exam attempt and for certification application fees.
How to apply
Register online through the Texas educator certification testing portal. Educator preparation programmes may supply a voucher with a registration code.
After the exam
You must wait 30 days between attempts: the earliest appointment date for a retake is 30 days after the date of the previous attempt, once results have posted. A candidate is limited to five attempts at a certification exam. Anyone who needs more than five attempts must get a test-limit waiver from TEA. Individual subtests can be retaken on certain exams, such as Core Subjects (211 or 391) and Essential Academic Skills (700).
How many times can I take a TExES exam?
Up to five attempts per certification exam. More than that requires a test-limit waiver from TEA.
How long must I wait before retaking?
30 days from the date of your previous attempt, once the results have posted.
Do I have to retake a whole multi-part exam if I fail one part?
On certain exams, such as Core Subjects (211 or 391) and Essential Academic Skills (700), you can retake individual subtests, and your best score on each subtest is kept.