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Texas Teacher Certification Requirements



  • State Exams
  • Practice Exams
  • Approval To Test
  • Standard Certification

All candidates seeking certification to work in Texas public schools are required by the Texas Education Agency to pass exams through the Texas Examinations of Educator Standards (TExES) program. 

Candidates seeking certification as a teacher must pass a minimum of two exams – one in their content area and the Pedagogy & Professional Responsibilities exam.  Preparation for the exams begins when students enroll in the Certification Preparation course. 

For all candidates – teacher, principal and school counselor, the representative practice test must be passed with at least a 75% to receive approval to take the state exam.  If taking the Core Subjects exam, candidates must score a minimum 75% on each section.

Candidates are limited to a total of 5 attempts to pass each certification exam.  Information on the process of requesting a waiver beyond the five attempts is available through the Director of Educator Certification.

Information about the exams, including preparation materials, can be found on the TExES website at http://tx.nesinc.com

In order to prepare for state exams, candidates are required to score at least a 75% on the LETU practice test to receive approval for the state exam.  Preparation for this will begin when a student enrolls in Cert Prep.  At that time, students can begin taking the practice test.

FAQ: 

  • What is a practice exam?
    A practice exam is a useful tool for discovering if you are adequately prepared to take a state exam. The practice exam is representative of the actual state exam. When scheduling your practice exam, be sure to take into consideration when you would like to take the state exam and the corresponding registration deadlines so that you can be sure to allow ample time for the practice exam as well as time for the Certification office to process your test approval. 
  • Should I study before attempting a practice exam?
    Practice exams should be taken seriously. Failure to adequately prepare will probably result in a low score.
  • Are study guides available?
    TExES preparation materials are available at http://www.tx.nesinc.com/Home.aspx at no cost.
  • Are practice tests available for all certification areas?
    Practice exams are available for all PPR exams and content area exams. 
  • The following practice exams are available:
    • 160 PPR EC-12
    • 240 Chemistry (Grades 7-12)
    • 291 Core Subjects (Grades EC-6)
    • 211 Core Subjects (Grades 4-8)
    • 117 English Language Arts and Reading (Grades 4-8)
    • 231 English Language Arts and Reading (Grades 7-12)
    • 154 English as a Second Language Supplemental (ESL)
    • 233 History (Grades 7-12)
    • 238 Life Sciences (Grades 7-12)
    • 115 Mathematics (Grades 4-8)
    • 235 Mathematics (Grades 7-12)
    • 158 Physical Education (Grades EC-12)
    • 237 Physical Sciences (Grades 6-12)
    • 068 Principal (Grades EC-12)
    • 152 School Counselor
    • 116 Science (Grades 4-8)
    • 236 Science (Grades 7-12)
    • 118 Social Studies (Grades 4-8)
    • 232 Social Studies (Grades 7-12)
    • 163 Special Education Supplemental (Grades NA)
  • How do I register for a practice exam? 
    Visit the LETU Practice Exam form. Be sure to choose the correct link and to follow all directions since failure to register correctly may cause you to miss the practice exam opportunity.
  • Are there any fees charged for practice exams? 
    There is no charge for practice exams.

APPROVAL TO TEST FAQ:

I just received Approval to Test and I don't have an account with TEA. What should I do now? 
Go to the TEA Login website
 to create an account with the Texas Education Agency (TEA). When creating your profile, enter all of your information very carefully and be sure to use an email address that you regularly check. Typos may prevent you from registering for the state exam. After you create your account, make a note of your TEA ID #, which will be located next to your social security number.

When creating an account with TEA, I have to choose an application type. What type of applicant am I? Choose EDUCATOR PREPARATION PROGRAM PARTICIPANT since you are enrolled in an educator preparation program.

Where can I go at the TEA web site to see my test approval(s)? 
Log in at the
 TEA Login website and choose "View Examinations" in the left sidebar. This will show you scores for any tests taken as well as any approvals that you currently have in the system.

Do I need my TEA ID# before I can register for an exam? 
Yes. Before you can create an account and register for an exam with Pearson, you must obtain your TEA ID #. 
Then go to the Pearson registration site. Follow the prompts to set up your account. Once you have established an account, you can proceed to exam registration.

Does all of my information in my TEA profile need to match my Pearson profile? 
Yes. All of the information in your TEA profile must match exactly with your ETS profile. Additionally, make sure that the email address in both profiles are the same.

What should I do if the Pearson website shows that I've been approved for an exam that I don't think is correct? 
Students are responsible for ensuring that they register for the correct exam. Contact BethNelms@letu.edu 
immediately if you believe that an error has been made. Do not continue through the registration process until you are sure that you are registering for the correct exam.

What resources can help me better understand the system? 
Check out this document.

What should I do if I need further help with test registration? 
Contact BethNelms@letu.edu.

**If we need to get in contact with you for any reason after you graduate, the way we look for you is through your TEA account, so please always keep it current.**

Candidates to be recommended for standard certification must successfully complete:

  • Required curriculum with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.50
  • A grade of C of higher in all coursework
  • Student Teaching or Internship
  • State-mandated Exams
  • TEACH and Traditional students must have degrees conferred
  • MEd in Educational Administration must have degree conferred to be recommended for a Principal certification

Additionally, candidates must clear:

  • Outstanding financial obligations to LeTourneau University

To clear financial holds, contact Student Accounts.

The certification office is responsible for ensuring that all requirements for recommendation have been met.

After the Director of Educator Certification recommends the candidate to the Texas Education Agency (TEA), the educator may log in at https://tealprod.tea.state.tx.us and print a copy of the completed certification after it has posted. TEA no longer mails a copy of teaching credentials. The candidate is officially certified when the virtual certificate is posted. How am I recommended for standard certification by the Director of Certification?

Step 1
  • Complete all coursework and student teaching or internship
  • Meet curriculum requirements with a 2.50 GPA and grades of C or higher in all coursework
  • Pass state-mandated tests
  • Pay all financial obligations to the university
Step 2
  • Apply for standard recommendation at the TEA website
  • Go to https://tealprod.tea.state.tx.us and log in to TEAL
  • Click on Educator to access your information
  • Choose Applications on the left
  • Choose STANDARD CERTIFICATE TEXAS PROGRAM
  • Follow the prompts, which will require paying a credentialing fee and a fingerprinting fee
  • Update your contact information (personal — not LETU — email, mailing address and phone number) while logged in to TEAL
  • Wait for:
    • Grades to post
    • Degree to be conferred
    • TEA to post passing scores for state-mandated tests
Step 3

Keep the email address used above in TEAL in case you need to be contacted about your recommendation. If you have not heard anything within 14 days of applying, contact Beth Nelms at 903.233.3884.