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State Assessments for Educator Certification

Texas Examinations of Educator Standards (TExES)

The Texas Education Agency (TEA), together with the Educational Testing Service (ETS) has developed exams for each educator certificate, called Texas Examinations of Educator Standards (TExES). 

NOTE: Several TExES Exams are changing. Read more about TExES Exam Changes (PDF) to find out if this affects you. 

Updates are made to the documents on this website frequently. To ensure you are accessing the latest version, refresh your browser or clear your browser cache. 

Certification Areas Available at UHCL

  • Art (Grades EC-12)  
  • Bilingual Education Supplemental-Spanish 
  • Core Subjects (Grades 4-8)  
  • Core Subjects (Grades EC-6)  
  • English Language Arts and Reading (Grades 4-8)  
  • English Language Arts and Reading (Grades 7-12)  
  • English Language Arts and Reading/Social Studies (Grades 4-8)  
  • English as a Second Language Supplemental
  • History (Grades 7-12)  
  • Life Science (Grades 7-12)  
  • Mathematics (Grades 4-8)  
  • Mathematics (Grades 7-12)  
  • Physical Education (Grades EC-12)    
  • Principal as Instructional Leader (Grades EC-12)  
  • Reading Specialist (Grades EC-12)  
  • School Counselor (Grades EC-12)  
  • School Librarian (Grades EC-12)  
  • Science (Grades 4-8)  
  • Social Studies (Grades 4-8)  
  • Social Studies (Grades 7-12)  
  • Special Education (Grades EC-12)   
  • Superintendent (Grades EC-12)  

Education Certification Policy and Procedures

Visit the Texas Educator Certification Requirements page for details regarding policies and procedures to become a certified Texas educator.

Steps to TExES Certification Exam Approval

Step 2: TExES Practice Tests

To determine which state assessments are required for your certificate, refer to the TExES Initial Certification Exam Chart (PDF) or contact your College of Education Advisor

Refer to the UHCL TExES Exam Policy for requirements for taking and passing your certification exam. 

After submission of a PSP for a TExES exam, students must take a TExES representative practice exam and achieve a minimum passing score; please note that not every testing program offers a representative practice exam. Students may select the one that best meets their needs. Requesting approval to take practice exams is not necessary. 

Upon completion of required representative practice exams, students will submit the final score report document to StateAssessments@uhcl.edu to request TExES certification exam registration approval. 

Step 3: Take the TExES Test

Initial Certification Students

  1. Initial certification students will be given approval to take their certification exams after they are admitted to the Teacher Education Program (TEP).

  2. Register for the TExES State Exam  (www.tx.nesinc.com).

    Reference:  Creating a Testing Account, Registering and Scheduling Your Exam

  3. Report score to StateAssessments@uhcl.edu and your College of Education Advisor

  4. If you fail your certification exam, refer to instructions on the UHCL Initial Certification TExES Exam Policy for next steps. 

Advanced Certification Students

  1. Advanced certification students will be given approval to take their certification exams upon completion of required courses as designated in the Advanced Certification TExES Exam Policy (PDF)

  2. Register for the TExES State Exam (www.tx.nesinc.com).

    Reference: Creating a Testing Account, Registering and Scheduling Your Exam (PDF)

  3. Report score to StateAssessments@uhcl.edu and your College of Education Advisor.

    If you fail your certification exam, refer to instructions on the UHCL Advanced Certification TExES Exam Policy (PDF) for next steps.

Upcoming Workshops

Check out these upcoming test prep workshops

External Webinars

UHCL Sponsored Workshops

  • Spring  workshops are being scheduled for spring 2023. 

TExES Preparation Resources

There are many preparation resources for every certification exam.  Select test preparation links specific to your certification.

Certify Teacher Study Guides and Practice Exams

CertifyTeacher provides online interactive practice tests/readiness reviews at a discounted price for UHCL students using promo code UHCL4728 and an account with their UHCL email address.

Our discounted, one-time fee provides access for up to three years or until you pass your state assessment, whichever comes first. Discounted prices are below: 

  • Content Titles: $35/student - regularly $80
  • Science of Teaching Reading (293): $35/student - regularly $80
  • Reading Specialist (151): $35/student - regularly $80
  • School Counselor (152): $35/student - regularly $80
  • Principal as Instructional Leader (268): $165/student - regularly $180
  • Superintendent (195): $100/student - regularly $115

Procedure:

  1. Go to https://www.certifyteacher.com.

  2. Select the study guide you wish to purchase.
    Make sure to select the online version option. You will have access to the program until you receive a passing grade from the state.

  3. Click Login under the Apply Promo Code option on the My Shopping Cart page.

  4. Click Sign In under “I Don’t Have an Account Yet” to create your account.
    You must use your UHCL email (include @uhcl.edu). The promo code will not work for any other email.

  5. Enter the promo code, UHCL4728 when prompted. The displayed price will drop to the discounted price after entering the promo code.

  6. Complete the purchase by providing your credit card information.
    You can access your online readiness review solution seconds after the purchase transaction is complete.

  7. Read How to Use CertifyTeacher (PDF) for the recommended approach to the modules in the program.

240 Tutoring Study Guides and Practice Exams

240 Tutoring provides free online interactive practice tests/readiness reviews. There is a monthly subscription which gives you access to all the state or test series study guides, diagnostic tests, and practice exams, including the Science of Teaching Reading certification exam. 

240 Tutoring offers a lesser subscription rate for users who create an account via invitation sent directly to your UHCL email.

If you would like to access this discounted subscription, please email stateassessments@uhcl.edu and request to be added to the 240 UHCL subscription list.  Please include your Full Name, UHCL ID#, and UHCL email address all in the body of the email. 

You MUST use your UHCL email address to access this discounted subscription rate link.  You will receive an email invitation directly from 240 Tutoring.  The cost of this access would be $20/month and your subscription can be cancelled at any time.  

If you are an existing user, you will log into your existing account and cancel the current subscription from the profile tab. Once this is done you can accept the new invite sent to your UHCL email and sign in using your existing credentials instead of creating a new account. So when accepting the invite you should click "Sign in" on the registration page. 

TEA Learn

The TEA Learn is provided to you for free at no cost by TEA.  This is a module self-paced course, meaning you set out a dedicated time to work. This will help build continuity and prepare for your exams. 

You must register and complete the modules assigned.  For each course completed you can earn Professional Development credit hours, and also log into your PSPs. 

To register visit TEA Learn

Pearson Preparation Materials and  Practice Exams

Preparation materials are available for every exam. Select an exam from the dropdown list to access preparation materials by exam, or choose from a variety of tools, resources and support material directly from the testing provider. Visit the Prepare section of the Texas Exam Website for more information. 

Pearson's TExES Interactive Practice Exams are designed to simulate the actual testing experience. They include questions representative of the actual exam.

Each interactive practice exam offers:

  • Convenient online access
  • An interactive exam simulation featuring sample exam questions
  • Comprehensive, immediate feedback on your performance for the selected-response questions
  • A realistic online experience similar to an actual computer-administered testing environment.
  • The fee for each interactive practice exam is $10.
  • Limited selection of TExES certification exams available. 

Science of Teaching Reading Information

Review the TEA STR Requirements and Timelines Powerpoint (PDF).

Visit our STR Study Aids webpage for more help including help with the constructed response questions. 

The following STR Test information is taken from the TEA Science of Teaching Reading webpage. 

Overview of the STR Exam Requirements

House Bill 3, passed during the 86th Texas 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 takes effect on January 1, 2021.   

The STR exam will be required for the issuance of five certification fields:  

Teachers who are currently standard certified in Core Subjects: EC-6, Core Subjects: 4-8, English Language Arts and Reading: 4-8, or English Language Arts and Social Studies: 4-8 will not be required to pass the STR exam for renewal of their certificate. The STR exam requirement only impacts candidates seeking certification after January 1, 2021.  

Content, Standards, Design, and Framework

The Science of Teaching Reading Content and Design document (PDF) provides information on the structure of the exam. 

STR Preparation Manual

The Preparation Manual for Science of Teaching Reading (293) is now available on the Texas Educator Certification Examination Program website. 
This preparation manual includes:

  • The STR examination framework
  • Approaches to answering different question types
  • Sample selected-response questions
  • In-depth rationales for correct and incorrect responses
  • A sample constructed response question, including the video exhibit
  • Sample strong and weak constructed-responses and rationales
  • A list of preparation resources 

Scholarships

Neumann Library Study Aids

Visit UHCL's Neumann Library for state educator certification exam test preparation resources, links to applications and resources and grade-specific textbooks on various subjects in the curriculum library:

  • TExES preparation books and ebooks:
    • Most are traditional study guides (e.g., Barrons, Research & Education Association).
    • Some support the study of a content area such as "A Young Person's History of the United States" or "Everything You Need to Know about English Homework."
    • Print books are on reserve behind the circulation desk and may be checked out by currently enrolled UHCL students for 3 weeks.
  • Learning Express Library - Free for UHCL students

    Create an account in Learning Express to access practice exams:
    • PPR EC-12
    • Core Subjects (EC-6): Social Studies
    • Core Subjects (EC-6): Mathematics
    • Core Subjects (EC-6): Science
    • Core Subjects (EC-6): Fine Arts, Health, and Physical Education
    • Core Subjects (EC-6): English Language Arts and Reading (ELAR) & the Science of Teaching Reading
  • Multicultural/Bilingual links:

Student Success Center

Success Coaching with Student Success Center
Meet regularly 1-on-1 with an success coach either one hour/week or every other week at to master academic skills. Or, request a one-time session on one skill.

Skill areas include:

  • Organization and time/task management
  • Academic reading speed and strategy 
  • Note taking
  • Test-taking strategy
  • Critical thinking
  • Public speaking

Check your UHCL email for upcoming review sessions, which occur periodically.

Contact

  • College of Education State Assessments Office

    Phone: 281-283-3623
    stateassessments@uhcl.edu

    Bayou Building 1231-16
    2700 Bay Area Blvd, Box 188
    Houston, TX 77058-1002