TExES Success Office
The TExES Success Office is responsible for helping students prepare for the statewide educator certification exams, including the TExES, AAFCS, and PASL exams.
Begin with the Getting Started section of this page for information on setting up your TEAL Account, as well as to locate specific information about your required certification exams.
Fall 2023 Practice Exams - October dates are now open.
- Use the calendar to register for available practice exams. Once an exam slot is booked, the registration form will become inactive.
- EC-6 candidates can now access their practice exams through Canvas. Email COE-TSO@unt.edu to request access. Please include your name and UNT ID number.
- The Science of Teaching Reading (293) practice exam is only available on Canvas. EC-6 and ELAR 4-8 candidates should email COE-TSO@unt.edu for access. Please include your name and UNT ID number. Once given access, students must complete the practice exam within 10 days.
- Accommodated testing requests should be made with the TExES Office prior to scheduling. Please email COE-TSO@unt.edu for more information. Please include your name and UNT ID number.
Getting Started
Preparing for Exams
Director of TExES Success
Jessica Powell
Jessica.Powell@unt.edu
Office Support Associate
Jeff Riley
Jeffrey.Riley@unt.edu
Contact
State Testing Policy
Texas Administrative Code, §230.21(e) specifies the state laws for certification requirements, including certification exams, which UNT must abide by. All candidates for either an initial teaching certificate or an advanced professional certificate are required by Texas law to pass all certification exams aligned with the certification being sought. The UNT Educator Preparation Program cannot recommend a candidate for any certificate until they have passed all their tests.
All certification candidates should be aware that standards for certification are revised by the Texas Education Agency (TEA) periodically. This means that certification exams and certificate requirements also change. While UNT endeavors to communicate all upcoming changes to current and former students via email and on the TExES Success Office webpage, it is the responsibility of each certification candidate to stay current on exam changes and certification requirements.
UNT Testing Policy
- Exam Approval.
Exam approval is required before a candidate will be able to register for any official certification exam. UNT can only grant exam approval for exams directly related to each candidate’s certification program. After a candidate has graduated and earned their initial certificate, the Texas Education Agency does allow “certification by exam” for teachers who wish to become certified in other areas.- Teacher Candidates. Beginning Fall 2023, all newly admitted teacher certification candidates must complete both the Readiness to Test module and the exam acknowledge module in the TExES Section Canvas course before taking their TExES practice or real certification exams.
- Advanced Certificate Candidates (Principal, Superintendent, School Librarian, School Counselor, and Educational Diagnostician) are granted exam approval after they have been fully admitted by their program area and have met any program-specific requirements for exam approval. Please consult your program advisor for specific information.
- UNT Teacher Education Testing Requirements.
- Practice Test Requirements.
After completing the Readiness to Test module and the exam acknowledgment module in the TExES Section Canvas course, students should complete practice exams related to their certification field.
- Real Exam Requirements.
- EC-6 Candidates: Must take their EC-6 content and specialty supplemental exams (ESL, Bilingual, or Special Education EC-12) by established deadlines in order to begin Block C (Clinical Teaching). Deadlines are established by the Clinical Practice Office (see table in item 3 for specific deadlines).
- 4-8 Candidates: Must take their 4-8 content and ESL Supplemental exams by established deadlines in order to begin PDS 2 (Clinical Teaching). Deadlines are established by the Clinical Practice Office (see table in item 3 for specific deadlines).
- Secondary and All-Level Candidates: Must take their content exam by established deadlines in order to begin Clinical Teaching. Deadlines are established by the Clinical Practice Office (see table in item 3 for specific deadlines).
- All Teacher Candidates must pass their remaining TExES exams during Clinical Teaching in order to be eligible for certification upon graduation.
- Clinical Practice Exam Deadlines.
All candidates should use the chart below to determine their exam deadline to begin Clinical Teaching.Clinical Teaching Semester Exam Deadline Fall Semester July 15th Spring Semester December 1st
Candidates who have taken but did not passed their required exams for Clinical Teaching, should complete the Clinical Teaching Appeal form.
- Practice Test Requirements.
- Exam Attempt Limits.
Current law states that a candidate for any certificate is limited to five (5) total attempts to pass each of their required certification exams. Candidates who are unsuccessful after their fifth attempt must request additional attempts through a test-limit waiver submitted to the Texas Education Agency.Candidates who do not pass their actual certification exams will be granted successive testing attempts based upon a tiered remediation system established by UNT’s Educator Preparation Office. Students must complete all remediation as detailed in our correspondence to you in order to satisfy requirements and be released for an additional attempt:
- 1st Unsuccessful Attempt - Candidates will be required to complete remediation specified by the TExES Success Office before being allowed to retest.
- 2nd Unsuccessful Attempt - Candidates will be required to complete additional remediation specified by the TExES Success Office before being allowed to retest.
- 3rd Unsuccessful Attempt - The Director of TExES Success will conduct a score analysis to determine appropriate next steps to gain test approval.
- 4th Unsuccessful Attempt - Candidates must meet with the Director of TExES Success to determine appropriate next steps to gain test approval.
- 5th Unsuccessful Attempt - Candidates must complete the Texas Education Agency's waiver application, which includes participating in a minimum of 50 clock-hours of educational activities from approved TEA providers, in order to request additional testing attempts. This process is external to UNT and cannot be overridden by the Educator Preparation Office.
Costs Associated with Certification
All candidates should be aware of the costs associated with certification upon admission to the Educator Preparation program at UNT and begin to plan their finances accordingly. Students who receive financial aid can speak with a Financial Aid counselor about a Cost of Attendance Adjustment or financial aid loan to help pay for these costs. Fees are subject to change at the discretion of the State Board for Educator Certification.
- Admission to Teacher Education Technology Fee - $35 (Billed within the first semester of your admission to the Educator Preparation program.)
- Certification Exams – Costs range from $116 - $200
Students are responsible for payment of certification exam fees. TExES exam fees can be found on Texas Educator Certification Examination Program website. The Texas Education Agency will waive certain fees for eligible military service members, military veterans, and military spouses.- All candidates can locate the cost of their TExES certification exams by going to http://tx.nesinc.com and locating the required exams under the Exams menu.
- Principal candidates should be aware that they are required to take the Performance Assessment for School Leaders (PASL) in addition to their TExES certification exam. The PASL exam costs $375.
- Application for Certification - $78
- Fingerprinting fees due to the Texas Education Agency - $50.25
Study Materials
- Materials for all candidates
TEKS Standards - The Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills are the standards that your state certification exams are testing you over. Do you know what TEKS you will be responsible to teach or how to align them to each grade level? Being familiar with the TEKS will not only help you on your exams, but will help prepare you for your teaching career.
Work Backwards Test Strategy - Kathleen Jasper describes an excellent strategy for how to answer test questions by working backwards. This video should be watched in conjunction with her Good Words, Bad Words video.
The Learning Liaisons TExES Test Prep offer for UNT Denton. Use the code UNT25 for 25% off your test prep purchase. Online. On-Demand. 90% Pass Rate. Clear up your teacher certification test confusion with premium online video boot camps. The Learning Liaisons' video trainings feature real teachers who have been in your shoes and know your frustrations. Choose your prep and pass your test! #WHENYOUPASS
240 Tutoring - Online, comprehensive study guides, flashcards, and practice exams that are guaranteed to prepare a student for their certification exams. Email coe-tso@unt.edu for an invite to the site and receive a discount of the normal price. You must use your UNT email address. Students who ask for the discount will pay a monthly subscription of $20 and will have access to every study guide offered by 240 Tutoring. The normal price is $39.99/mo. You can cancel at any time.
Please be aware that this site does not have every content area available.Certify Teacher - Interactive practice exams, study materials, flashcards, and more. UNT Students can receive a discount on products by using their UNT email address and the promotion code UNT4728. This code is only valid for UNT students.
Please be aware that this site does not have every content area available.Passage Preparation - Online courses designed by subject-matter experts to help candidates study for and pass their certification exams. Subscriptions start at $30/month for individual courses or $45/month for bundled courses.
Study.com — Videos, quizzes, and study guides for educator candidates in various subject areas. .
Mometrix - Offers a selection of study guides and flash cards for TExES certification exams.
Mometrix Academy - Use the free TExES practice test questions for select exams to get a better understanding of the TExES exam.
Pass the TExES - Offers books and e-books for a wide selection of TExES certification exams.
Quizlet - Learning tools and flashcards for a variety of TExES exams. Search by your exam name and number (ex. TExES Core Subjects EC-6 291) to find various resources.
IRIS - Modules and topics covering information about assessment, dyslexia, reading comprehension, and more.
The TExES Advising Office has study books available that students may check out at no charge to help them prepare for their exams. Due to limited availability, students are asked to only check materials out for 30 days at a time. Student who need the materials longer may ask for an extension if there is not a waiting list. Please call or email to find out if your book is available.
- PPR EC-12 Resources
TExES PPR EC-12 (160) 5e Book+Online Test Package — Package include a diagnostic test to identify areas of need, a study book, and 3 full-length practice tests that feature timed testing conditions, automatic scoring, and detailed answer explanations.
Work Backwards Test Strategy - Kathleen Jasper describes an excellent strategy for how to answer test questions by working backwards. This video should be watched in conjunction with her Good Words, Bad Words video.
PPR EC-12 Video Review — Video with 40 sample PPR EC-12 exam questions and answer rationales. Take the quiz along with the narrator, pausing after each question and answer choice is given, then resume play after you have selected your answer to hear the correct answer choice and rationale.
PPR EC-12 Preparation Manual and Interactive Practice Exam - Review the exam framework, sample questions, and take a $10 interactive practice exam.
T-CERT - Texas Certification Exam Review created to help TExES candidates pass their certification exams. $30 for 60 day access to all modules on the site.
- EC-6 and 4-8 candidates - ELAR
TExES Core Subjects EC-6 (291) Book + Online Practice Exams – Package contains study book with all five subject areas, online diagnostic test to identify areas of need, and two full-length practice exams that feature automatic timing and scoring, as well as diagnostic feedback on every question.
T-CERT - Texas Certification Exam Review created to help TExES candidates pass their certification exams. $30 for 60 day access to all modules on the site.
240 Tutoring Subject Area Videos – Videos to help prepare for the ELAR, Math, Social Studies, and Science domains of the Core Subjects EC-6 exam.
TExES Core Subjects EC-6 Review with Kathleen Jasper - Two part video series on ELAR, plus a video on tips for the Math domain.
Texas Teacher Today: Core Subjects - Online resources, practice exams, and tutoring for the Core EC-6 exam.
Oral Language - Understanding Its Components and Impact on Reading Instruction.
Phonics and Word Recognition - Instruction in Early Reading Programs: Guidelines for Children with Reading Disabilities
Fluency 101 - Basics of fluency and resources for teachers.
Fluency - Helping Struggling Readers.
Language Arts Games - Games designed for K-6+ that help students learn everything from the alphabet to parts of speech and more!
Reading 101: A Guide to Teaching Reading and Writing - Self-paced professional development course for teachers that provides them with an in-depth knowledge of reading and writing so they are prepared to guide their students into becoming skilled and enthusiastic readers and writers..
Reading 101 - Over 100 short classroom-centered videos on reading subjects to help you with the ELAR section of the EC-6 exam.
Glossary of Reading Terms - Helpful terms for the ELAR portion of the Core EC-6 exams.
TExES Help: Core EC-6 ELAR and Math - Online courses designed to help you pass the Core EC-6 ELAR and Math domains.
Read Write Think - Standards-based ELAR lesson plans for grades K-12.
STAAR Exams - Released test questions and answers from grades 3 through high school for Reading, Writing, Math, Science, Social Studies, Biology and U.S. History.
Khan Academy - Free online review and study for subjects in Math, History, Grammar, Science, and more.
Civil Service Practice Questions - Practice questions over grammar, spelling, synonyms, reading comprehension, and arithmetic.
- EC-6 and 4-8 candidates - Math
TExES Core Subjects EC-6 (291) Book + Online Practice Exams – Package contains study book with all five subject areas, online diagnostic test to identify areas of need, and two full-length practice exams that feature automatic timing and scoring, as well as diagnostic feedback on every question.
TExES Mathematics 4-8 (115), 2nd Ed., Book + Online Practice – Package includes comprehensive review guide and two full-length practice tests (in the book and online). The online tests are offered in a timed format with automatic scoring and diagnostic feedback to help you zero in on the topics and types of questions that give you trouble now, so you can succeed on test day.
T-CERT - Texas Certification Exam Review created to help TExES candidates pass their certification exams. $30 for 60 day access to all modules on the site.
Math Flash Cards - Practice addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division.
Math Games - Pick a grade level and learn through math games!
Math Formula Sheet - A quick reference sheet for area, perimeter, surface area and volume, data, and algebraic formulas.
Mathway - Provides students with the tools they need to understand and solve their math problems.
Numer Systems - Naturals, Integers, Rationals, Irrationals, Reals, and Beyond
Fact Monster Math - Games, flashcards, roman numerals, prime numbers, multiplication, and more.
Quick Math - Stuck on how to solve problems? Use quick math to see how to solve it, and find tutorials that teach you more about the concepts.
240 Tutoring Subject Area Videos – Videos to help prepare for the ELAR, Math, Social Studies, and Science domains of the Core Subjects EC-6 exam.
Texas Teacher Today: Core Subjects - Online resources, practice exams, and tutoring for the Core EC-6 exam.
TExES Help: Core EC-6 ELAR and Math - Online courses designed to help you pass the Core EC-6 ELAR and Math domains.
Math Progression Videos - Videos for early number & counting, addition & subtraction, progression of division and multiplication, and fractions.
Math Antics - Free video lessons from basic arithmetic and fractions to geometry and algebra basics.
Math Help - Videos and lessons on math subjects from 5th grade math to algebra 2.
That Tutor Guy - Video library by Stanford graduate with ten years professional tutoring experience. Lessons include middle school math, pre-algebra, algebra, geometry, trig, college algebra, pre-calculus, calculus, statistics, chemistry and physics.
STAAR Exams - Released test questions and answers from grades 3 through high school for Reading, Writing, Math, Science, Social Studies, Biology and U.S. History.
Praxis Core Math Review - Lessons over number and quantity, statistics and probability, algebra, and geometry.
Pre-K to 8th Grade Math Units - Quick units on math from pre-K level to 8th grade, including algebraic thinking, geometry, variables and expressions, and more.
Civil Service Practice Questions - Practice questions over grammar, spelling, synonyms, reading comprehension, and arithmetic.
- EC-6 and 4-8 candidates - Social Studies
TExES Core Subjects EC-6 (291) Book + Online Practice Exams – Package contains study book with all five subject areas, online diagnostic test to identify areas of need, and two full-length practice exams that feature automatic timing and scoring, as well as diagnostic feedback on every question.
240 Tutoring Subject Area Videos – Videos to help prepare for the ELAR, Math, Social Studies, and Science domains of the Core Subjects EC-6 exam.
TeachWriteLearn - A collection of content videos that cover all competencies of the Social Studies domain for the EC-6 exam, plus a few Science content videos.
T-CERT - Texas Certification Exam Review created to help TExES candidates pass their certification exams. $30 for 60 day access to all modules on the site.
Texas Teacher Today: Core Subjects - Online resources, practice exams, and tutoring for the Core EC-6 exam.
TExES Help: Core EC-6 ELAR and Math - Online courses designed to help you pass the Core EC-6 ELAR and Math domains.
Social Studies Review - Comprehensive review guide created by Dr. Dan Krutka to help students find study resources for most of the competencies in the Social Studies domain for the Core Subjects EC-6 exam.
Social Studies EC-6 TEKS Guide - Comprehensive guide, compiled by the TExES Success Office, of the Social Studies TEKS broken down by competency area and grade level. This guide will help you identify key topics to study for your TExES exam and offers suggestions of where to find study materials for each topic.
Texas History Study Guide - Created by UNT Faculty member Cortney Haynes.
Early US History Study Guide - Created by UNT Faculty member Cortney Haynes.
Modern US History Study Guide - Created by UNT Faculty member Cortney Haynes.
Geography Study Guide - Created by UNT Faculty member Cortney Haynes.
Government Study Guide - Created by UNT Faculty member Cortney Haynes.
EC-6 Social Studies Competencies & Resources Guide - Created by UNT Faculty member Cortney Haynes.
CrashCourse - Short YouTube videos on various subjects such as history, science, and economics.
Mission US - Developed for use by middle school students in the classroom, Mission US provides a learning experience of US history through interactive narrative games and activities.
Digital Tools for Process and Skills TEKS - A guide with various links to help students hone skills.
STAAR Exams - Released test questions and answers from grades 3 through high school for Reading, Writing, Math, Science, Social Studies, Biology and U.S. History.
US History - A brief introductory course for US History.
Fact Monster US History - Timeline, Declaration of Independence, Lewis and Clark, Territorial Expansion and more!
World History Timelines - The 100 Most Significant Events of the Last Thousand Years, an ancient history timeline, world history timelines and more.
AP/College US History - 1491 to Present
World History Project - Origins to the Present
World History Projects - 1750 to Present
Texas History Timeline - Story of Texas
Texas State Historical Association - Digital gateway to Texas history through a collection of resources.
US Government and Civics - Course includes foundations of American democracy, interactions among branches of government, civil liberties and civil rights, citizenship, and more.
Civics Practice Test - Test your knowledge of U.S. history, culture, economics and more.
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Exam - 100 questions and answers over American Government, American History, and Civics.
Fact Monster World Geography - Brush up on your world geography facts and knowledge.
Fact Monster US Geography - Brush up on your US geography facts and knowledge.
Fact Monster Government - Brush up on your government facts and knowledge.
Fact Monster Laws and Rights - Brush up on your laws and rights facts and knowledge.
- EC-6 and 4-8 candidates - Science
TExES Core Subjects EC-6 (291) Book + Online Practice Exams – Package contains study book with all five subject areas, online diagnostic test to identify areas of need, and two full-length practice exams that feature automatic timing and scoring, as well as diagnostic feedback on every question.
240 Tutoring Subject Area Videos – Videos to help prepare for the ELAR, Math, Social Studies, and Science domains of the Core Subjects EC-6 exam.
TExES Core Subjects EC-6 Science Playlist - A collection of content videos to help you review for the Science domain of the exam.
T-CERT - Texas Certification Exam Review created to help TExES candidates pass their certification exams. $30 for 60 day access to all modules on the site.
Texas Teacher Today: Core Subjects - Online resources, practice exams, and tutoring for the Core EC-6 exam.
Amoeba Sisters - YouTube content creators that demystify a variety of science subjects.
Science Games - Games for K - 6+ over the water cycle, states of matter, and more!
Five Minute Science - Texas Educator Michael Hayes presents 19 5-minute mini-reviews for the EC-6 science section. He covers topics like lab safety, the scientific method, measurement in science, energy, plate tectonics, matter, reproduction, life cycles, and more.
USGS Science Resources for Primary Grade (K-6) - Selected educational resources that may be useful to educators in primary school grade.
STAAR Exams - Released test questions and answers from grades 3 through high school for Reading, Writing, Math, Science, Social Studies, Biology and U.S. History.
Khan Academy Science - Units in biology, chemistry, physics, environmental science, and cosmology and astronomy.
- Fine Arts, Health, and Physical Education resources
Fine Arts & Physical Education EC-6 Playlist - A collection of videos to help prepare for the Fine Arts/Health/PE domain of the Core Subjects EC-6 exam.
Elements of Art - Art vocabulary terms
Elements and Principles of Art - An overview of basic elements and principles of art.
Art History - Khan Academy course from prehistoric art through present-day.
Famous Art Works - Famous works of art from around the world.
Descriptive Words for Music - Includes types of music, timbre, texture, and more.
Glossary for Music Standards - Useful definitions for music terms and standards.
Music Genres from Around the World - A list of the music popular music types by country/region/
Musical Multiculturalism and Diversity - A brief lesson music multiculturalism and diversity from Lumen Learning's Music and the Child series.
Body Systems - Overview of the human body and the body's systems.
Diseases - Types of diseases and their symptoms.
Disease Transmission - How Are Diseases Transmitted?
Nutrition 101 - A quick guide to nutrition.
Physical Fitness - Five components of physical fitness.
Exercise and Physical Fitness - Information and resources for improving health and fitness.
Types of Movement - Video review of types of movement.
Critical Elements of Movement - A look at critical elements for mature pattern in movement.
Manipulative Skills - Types of manipulative skills and how they develop.
TEKS Perception - Theatre (K-8).
Elements of Drama - A quick overview of elements of drama.
More Elements of Drama - Another quick overview of elements of drama.
Conventions in Theatre - A quick overview of conventions in theatre.
Evolution of Theatre - History of theatre.
Theatre and Cultural Diversity - A look at cultural diversity in theatre.
- Science of Teaching Reading candidates
Science of Reading Research Hub – A number of good resources, that will help with terminology and practice.
Science of Teaching Reading Overview - Dr. Kristy Mulkey break down everything you should know about the TExES 293 Science of Teaching Reading
Science of Teaching Reading Constructed Response Example - Dr. Lillian McEnery walks through an example of completing the Science of Teaching Reading Constructed Response question.
Science of Teaching Reading Preparation Manual and Practice Exam - Review the exam framework, sample questions, writing assignment, and take the $10 interactive practice exam.
- Language Other Than English candidates
LOTE Tutorials - Character Selector tutorial, Pearson testing center overview, sample audio files, and more.
LOTE French EC-12 Preparation Manual - Review the exam framework and sample questions.
LOTE German EC-12 Preparation Manual - Review the exam framework and sample questions.
LOTE Spanish EC-12 Preparation Manual - Review the exam framework and sample questions.
National Spanish Exams - Practice your vocabulary, grammar, reading, and listening skills.
Spanish Listening Free lessons on a variety of topics.
National Spanish Exams - Printable past exams from the National Spanish Exams to help with grammar, reading, and vocabulary skills.
LOTE Spanish (613) Pedagogy Course - Designed to help you pass the pedagogy portion of the LOTE Spanish exam. Sample test questions are included to help you check your comprehension. A sample lesson plan and tips are available to show you how to write an effective lesson plan, and you even have the opportunity to upload your own lesson plan and receive feedback on how to improve your score.
LOTE Spanish EC-12 Preparation Manual and Interactive Practice Exam - Review the exam framework, sample questions, oral and written assignments, and take the $10 interactive practice exam.
LOTE Spanish Study Materials and Tips - Digital course and study materials, specifically designed for the pedagogy section of the exam.
Comprehensive Spanish Examinations - Released Spanish exams from the NY Office of State Assessment. Includes the teacher dictation and scoring guide.
Comprehensive French Examinations - Released French exams from the NY Office of State Assessment. Includes the teacher dictation and scoring guide.
Comprehensive German Examinations - Released German exams from the NY Office of State Assessment. Includes the teacher dictation and scoring guide.
Spanish Lessons - Beginner-level lessons over formal vs informal 'you', definite and indefinite articles, and more.
French Lessons - Beginner-level lessons over possessive adjectives, definite article, French idioms, and more.
German Lessons - Beginner-level lessons over nouns, verbs, sounds, symbols, and more.
German Course for Beginners - Basic verb forms and an introduction to German syntax and grammar.
World Languages - Tips and resources for teaching foreign languages.
Websites for Teaching Spanish - 21 best websites for teaching Spanish in K-12.
Websites for Teaching French - 20 best websites for teaching French in K-12.
- ESL and Bilingual Supplemental candidates
FREE ESL Course - TEA is offering a free ESL Supplemental (154) course that provides 12 hours of CPE credit. It contains five modules and will cover each of the domains of the exam, and offers a practice exam.
Bilingual and BTLPT resources - free preparation resources for Texas educators seeking Bilingual certification in order to build capacity in their Local Education Agency (LEA)
TExES ESL Supplemental (154) Book + Online Practice – Package includes a study book that contains in-depth reviews of all the competencies tested on the TExES ESL Supplemental (154) exam, and two full-length practice tests offered online in a timed format with instant scoring, diagnostic feedback, and detailed explanations of answers.
TExES Bilingual Education Supplemental (164) Book + Online Practice – Package includes comprehensive review of all content categories tested on the TExES Bilingual Education Supplemental exam, diagnostic test (online and in the book) that pinpoints strengths and weaknesses to help focus study, full-length practice test (online and in the book) based on actual exam questions with answers explained in detail.
ESL Review Module - Prepared by Region 10 and presented to attendees of UNT ESL Review sessions.
ELPS-TELPAS Proficiency Level Descriptors - Learn the difference between beginner, intermediate, advanced, and advanced high ELLs.
Summary of ELPS - Introduction, District Responsibilities, and Student Expectations for English Language Proficiency Standards.
ELPS Proficiency Level Descriptors for Instructional Planning - Summary of each proficiency level from beginning to advanced high.
ELPS Overview and Strategies - Excellent resource for teachers working with second language learners.
Components of Language and Reading Instruction - In-depth chapter reading on language and reading.
Stages of Language Proficiency - Chart of the stages of language proficiency from pre-production to intermediate fluency.
Colorín, Colorado - Provides free research-based information, activities, and advice to parents, schools, and communities for educators and families of English language learners (ELLs) in Grades PreK-12.
Spanish-English Cognates - Comprehensive list of Spanish-English cognates.
ESL Printables - A website where English Language teachers exchange resources, worksheets, lesson plans, activities, etc.
T-CERT - Texas Certification Exam Review created to help TExES candidates pass their certification exams. $30 for 60 day access to all modules on the site.
BTLPT Preparation Manual and Interactive Practice Exam - Review the exam framework, sample questions, oral and written assignments, and take the $10 interactive practice exam.
BTLPT Study Materials and Tips - A reading comprehension test, a sample lesson plan, a sample essay, and a sample response to an email for the BTLPT Spanish 190 exam, as well study suggestions and tips.
BTLPT Tutorials - Character Selector tutorial, Pearson testing center overview, sample audio files, and more.
- Special Education EC-12 candidates
TExES Special Education EC-12 (161) Book + Online Practice – Package includes comprehensive study guide and two full-length practice exams offered online in a timed format with instant scoring, diagnostic feedback, and detailed explanations of answers.
Special Education EC-12 Playlist - Video playlist of content covered on the SPED EC-12 (161) exam.
T-CERT - Texas Certification Exam Review created to help TExES candidates pass their certification exams. $30 for 60 day access to all modules on the site.
- Math 7-12 candidates
Pre-K to 8th Grade Math Units - Quick units on math from pre-K level to 8th grade, including algebraic thinking, geometry, variables and expressions, and more.
TExES Math 7-12 Study Guide and Practice Exam Questions - Includes test-taking strategies, number concepts, patterns and alegbra, and more, as well as practice questions and answer explanations.
Math Progression Videos - Videos for early number & counting, addition & subtraction, progression of division and multiplication, and fractions.
Math Antics - Free video lessons from basic arithmetic and fractions to geometry and algebra basics.
Math Help - Videos and lessons on math subjects from 5th grade math to algebra 2.
That Tutor Guy - Video library by Stanford graduate with ten years professional tutoring experience. Lessons include middle school math, pre-algebra, algebra, geometry, trig, college algebra, pre-calculus, calculus, statistics, chemistry and physics.
STAAR Exams - Released test questions and answers from grades 3 through high school for Reading, Writing, Math, Science, Social Studies, Biology and U.S. History.
Math Antics Math 7-12 Preparation Manual and Practice Exam - Review the exam framework, sample questions, and take the $10 interactive practice exam.
- Science 7-12 candidates
Khan Academy Science - Units in biology, chemistry, physics, environmental science, and cosmology and astronomy.
Amoeba Sisters - YouTube content creators that demystify a variety of science subjects.
USGS Educational Resources for Secondary Science Grades (7-12) - Selected resources that may be useful to educators in secondary school grades.
T-CERT - Texas Certification Exam Review created to help TExES candidates pass their certification exams. $30 for 60 day access to all modules on the site.
Science 7-12 Preparation Manual and Practice Exam - Review the exam framework, sample questions, and take the $10 interactive practice exam.
- History 7-12 and Social Studies 7-12 candidates
US History - A brief introductory course for US History.
AP/College US History - 1491 to Present
World History Project - Origins to the Present
World History Projects - 1750 to Present
World History Timelines - The 100 Most Significant Events of the Last Thousand Years, an ancient history timeline, world history timelines and more.
Best of History Websites - Quick, convenient, and reliable access to the best history-oriented resources online in a wide range of categories and has been designed to benefit history teachers
Texas History Timeline - Story of Texas
US Government and Civics - Course includes foundations of American democracy, interactions among branches of government, civil liberties and civil rights, citizenship, and more.
Civics Practice Test - Test your knowledge of U.S. history, culture, economics and more.
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Exam - 100 questions and answers over American Government, American History, and Civics.
HistoryTeacher.net - Quizzes and resources for US History & Government, and global studies.
Texas State Historical Association - Digital gateway to Texas history through a collection of resources.
TExES Social Studies 7-12 (232) Book + Online Practice – Package includes comprehensive review of all content categories tested on the TExES Social Studies 7-12 exam, online diagnostic that pinpoints strengths and weaknesses to help focus study, and two full-length practice exams that feature timed testing, automatic scoring, and topic-level feedback.
T-CERT - Texas Certification Exam Review created to help TExES candidates pass their certification exams. $30 for 60 day access to all modules on the site.
Fact Monster World Geography - Brush up on your world geography facts and knowledge.
Fact Monster US Geography - Brush up on your US geography facts and knowledge.
Fact Monster Government - Brush up on your government facts and knowledge.
Fact Monster Laws and Rights - Brush up on your laws and rights facts and knowledge.
- Dance 6-12 candidates
Short History of Dance - Part I: Prehistory and Ancient Times
Cultural Anthropology: Dance - Dance in different cultures
Dance Facts - History, Interesting Tips and Types of Dance
- Tutoring Resources
When seeking tutoring services, you should have the following materials on hand so that your tutor can help you identify what it is you need to study: 1.) Preparation Manual for your exam, 2.) Practice Exam score report(s), and/or 3.) Previous score reports if you have taken the real TExES exam. Be aware that tutoring is a service that may incur personal expense. Speak to your program faculty or mentor teachers about other options that may be available to you. There may be teachers in the schools you are observing/clinical teaching in that may be willing to help tutor you.
TExES Exam Prep - Online one-on-one tutoring services for all certification fields.
Tutor Doctor - Private tutoring in subjects like Math, Science, English, and LOTE (Spanish and French).
Texas Teachers Today - Online courses and tutoring available for Core EC-6, LOTE Spanish, BTLPT, Bilingual and ESL Supplemental, and PPR EC-12 exams.
UNT Writing Center - Available to current students for help with structure, grammar, punctuation and more. Students who have a written component to their exams (such as ELAR 7-12, BTLPT, or LOTE exams) and struggle with writing, may wish to meet with a tutor prior to taking their TExES exam.
Study Tips and Strategies
Computer-Administer Test Overview - Tutorial that will prepare you for how the test will be administered, and how your screen may look the day of the exam.
What to Expect - Video on what to expect from checking in on test day, to completing your exam.
Preparing for the TExES Exams - A guide on how to prepare and study for the exams.
TExES Exam Question Formats - An explanation of the types of questions you can expect to see on your certification exams.
Student's Guide to Improving Study Skills - How to assess and advance your study habits.
Understanding the Land of TExES - Three-part video series that breaks down the history, language, and culture of the TExES exams so that you can better understand your exams.
Five Star Study App - Five Star has released Notebooks that can be scanned by their Study App so you can automatically turn your notes into flashcards!
Pearson Testing ID Requirements
Two forms of ID
- Primary ID must be government issued:
- Valid Driver’s License
- State Identification Card
- Military ID card (with signature)
- Passport
- Secondary ID must be valid and contain:
- Your name and a clear photograph (ex. UNT ID card) OR
- Name and signature (ex. credit card with a signature on the back)
NAME ON BOTH MUST MATCH WHAT IS ON FILE WITH PEARSON
If your name does NOT match, do not register for your exam before you change your name with TEA.
Steps to Submit Name Change Request
- Wait until you have your new valid ID with your legal name.
- Submit a name change request through the Texas Education Agency.
- Wait for confirmation that the change has been made and check your Pearson Testing Account Personal Information to ensure that the update has been made.
- Once your name matches your ID, register for your test and schedule the exam.
- Make sure your supplemental ID also contains your legal name.
Expired Certification Exam Information
Initial Teacher Candidates
If you graduated from UNT but did not complete certification requirements before your exams or certification program expired, please follow the steps below in order to request permission to take the new TExES certification exams.
- Use the Required Texas Certification Tests chart to identify which exams are currently in place for your program. For example, if you were a Generalist EC-4, the program has changed to Core Subjects EC-6. The required exams for this program are Core Subjects EC-6 (391) and the PPR EC-12 (160).
**If ESL or Bilingual Supplemental was part of your program at UNT, you are required to take the appropriate exams in order to complete your requirements for certification.** - Complete six clock-hours of review and pass a full-length practice exam through either 240Tutoring.com or CertifyTeacher.com for EACH of the certification exams you will be requesting to take. This includes the content exam, pedagogical exam, and any supplemental exams.
**EC-6 candidates must pass a practice exam in all five of the exam domains (ELAR, Math, Social Studies, Science, Fine Arts/Health/PE).** - Send an email to COE-TSO@unt.edu with the subject line Former Student – TExES Exams.
- Attach the score report(s) for the practice exam(s) showing a passing score of 240 (80%) or higher. A screenshot showing the exam name and score will also suffice.
- Include a brief explanation of why you did not complete certification at the time of your graduation and why you are choosing to complete certification now.
- Provide your full name when you were a student and your eight-digit UNT ID number or TEA ID number. Do not include your Social Security Number.
The Director of TExES Success will review your documentation and grant test approval as appropriate. If any documentation is missing or is not appropriate, you will be asked to resubmit your request. Candidates who did not complete the Teacher Education Program requirements (other than testing) will be denied. You will be notified by email of the decision, and provided with further instructions at that time.
Please allow 7-10 business days after your submission for processing.
Candidates who completed the Educational Leadership for Principal Program
If you completed the Principal program but did not take the Principal (068) exam or obtain your certification prior to 9/1/2019, please email Linda.Stromberg@unt.edu for the requirements to obtain test approval for the new Principal as Instructional Leader (268) exam and PASL (368) assessment.
×TEAL Educator Account Access
WHAT IS TEAL?
Every student who is admitted to an Education Preparation Program must create an Educator Profile through the Texas Education Agency’s (TEA) Educator Certification Online System (ECOS). TEAL is your personal gateway into TEA’s system where you will apply for teaching certificates, renew your certificates, print copies of your certificates, and view the certification exams you have taken. Whenever the Texas Education Agency needs to contact you, they will use the contact information contained in your profile, so it is important that you keep your phone number, home address, and email address current.
Complete STEPS 1 and 2 to establish your TEAL Educator Account. Read the instructions carefully.
STEP 1 — Creating Your Educator Account
- Go to http://tea.texas.gov and click TEAL Login at the top of the main page.
- Click Request New User Account.
- Enter required information on the TEAL user information page. You must enter the name in TEAL as it exists on your Texas Driver's License/State ID card. Do not use nicknames (example: "Bill" vs. "William") or other variations. Also, capitalize the first letter of your first and last name and make the rest lower case. For example: Jane Doe; Not JANE DOE or jane doe.
- Select "Educator" for the Organization Type, enter your Social Security Number and birth year. Please make sure you enter your Social Security Number accurately. If you do not have a Social Security Number, please contact the TExES Success Office at COE-TSO@unt.edu or 940-369-8601.
- Enter your phone number and address. It is recommended that you use whatever address is tied to your debit and/or credit cards. This address can be updated at any time if you move.
- Click Submit.
- You will be assigned a username—be sure to write it down in a secure location—and prompted to create a password. Your password must meet the TEAL security requirements listed on that page. Then, you will be prompted to set up answers to three security questions. The answers to your security questions will be used to reset your password if needed.
- After completing the security questions, you should see the Self-Service menu on the left side of your screen and a link that reads View My Educator Certification Account with your TEA ID number beneath it on the right side of the screen. If you do not see the "View My Educator Certification Account link", complete the additional steps below. If you do see the link, continue to Step 2 – Educator Profile Setup.
Complete the following additional steps if you see the "Apply for Access" link instead of the "View My Educator Certification Account" link after logging on to TEAL.
- From the Self-Service menu, click My Application Accounts.
- Then click Request New Account.
- Click on ECOSEducator.
- Enter your Social Security Number and birth year, then click Create.
- The system should display a confirmation message in green. If an error message is displayed, you will need to file a Help Desk Ticket with TEA. You will click on the "TEAL Access" tile to submit the ticket. Let them know the specific error message you receive.
- If you receive the green confirmation message, click back on the Applications tab and click Refresh Links. You should now see the "View My Educator Certification Account" link with your TEA ID number listed beneath it. Proceed to Step 2 – Educator Profile Setup.
STEP 2 — Educator Profile Setup
- Click on the "View my Educator Certification Account" link above your TEA ID number to navigate into your TEAL Educator Profile.
- You will need to fill in any field that has a RED asterisk (*) next to it. Fields that are grayed out can only be changed by a TEA administrator.
- Make sure that the following fields has been filled in:
- Gender
- Phone Number
- Ethnicity/Race (click on ‘Select/Update Ethnicity’ to choose from a list of options)
- Driver License Number
- Driver License State (state that issued your license)
- Mailing Address (leave foreign address blank if you are a US citizen)
- Billing Address (leave foreign address blank if you are a US citizen)
- After all fields are updated, click Continue at the bottom of the page.
You are now in your TEAL Educator Profile! On the left, you will see a menu with various options, including Applications. At the end of your graduating semester, if you have completed all requirements and passed your certification exams, you will navigate back to this screen and use the Applications tab to apply for certification. You will also use this profile to renew your educator certificates every five years, or add additional certifications for any exams you complete beyond your initial certification program. Do not apply for certification until you meet all eligibility requirements. A list of requirements can be found at https://coe.unt.edu/educator-preparation-office/educator-certification along with instructions for how to apply for certification at the end of your graduating semester.
You will not use your Educator Profile to register for your certification exams. You will need to create a testing account to register for all of your certification exams. We have a step-by-step guide on how to create your testing account and register for your actual certification exams at https://coe.unt.edu/texes/exam-registration-guide.
×PASL Candidate Registration
Eligibility
Candidates seeking Principal as Instructional Leader certification must have program approval to take the Performance Assessment for School Leaders (PASL) assessment. Please contact your advisor in Educational Leadership to determine your eligibility for the PASL. Most candidates will be eligible to register for the PASL within their Internship semester.
About the PASL
The PASL assessment allows you to show how you apply the knowledge and skills needed to begin working as an effective school leader. You will likely complete the PASL assessment tasks during your Internship semester. The tasks focus on addressing a problem/challenge, developing continuous professional development, and building a collaborative culture. The PASL assessment will help determine if you’re prepared to enter a school leadership position and is aligned with national and state-specific school leader standards.
For more information, please visit https://www.ets.org/pasl/test-takers/about.html.
Registering for the PASL
After you have received test approval from the Educational Leadership program, you will be able to register for the PASL through your ETS Account. If you do not have an ETS account, you will need to create an account. Once you have logged into your account, you will be able to select the PASL exam and the submission window. You will select Texas and University of North Texas when asked which Educator Preparation Program is requiring you to take the assessment. Choose up to four recipients to receive your scores, then answer the background questions and pay for the exam. You will be able to access the assessment through your ETS account when the submission window opens.
For information on how to register for the exam, including fees, dates, and submission deadlines, please visit https://www.ets.org/pasl/test-takers/register.html.
PASL Resources
For PASL Assessment resources and test prep, including handbooks and guides, please visit https://www.ets.org/pasl/test-takers/resources.html.
×ELAR 7-12 Exam Changes
The Texas Education Agency has provided a time frame for the rollout of the new TExES ELAR 7-12 (331). The new ELAR 7-12 (331) exam will now launch on September 2, 2024. The current ELAR 7-12 (231) exam will no longer be offered after September 1, 2024. Candidates who will be Clinical Teaching in Fall 2024 will be the last group eligible to take the current ELAR 7-12 (231), and must pass the exam by July 15, 2024 per the Clinical Practice deadline.
Candidates who are Clinical Teaching Spring 2025 and beyond will take and pass the new ELAR 7-12 (331) for certification starting September 2, 2024.
Former students who have not yet passed the ELAR 7-12 (231) exam have until September 1, 2024 to complete the exam or will be required to pass the new version of the exam beginning September 2, 2024.
Candidates who pass the ELAR 7-12 (231) exam must complete all remaining certification requirements and be recommended for certification by September 1, 2025 or will be required to complete the new ELAR 7-12 (331) certification exam.
Physical Education EC-12 Exam Changes
The Texas Education Agency has provided a time frame for the rollout of the new TExES Physical Education EC-12 (258). The new Physical Education EC-12 (258) exam will now launch on September 2, 2024. The current Physical Education EC-12 (158) exam will no longer be offered after September 1, 2024. Candidates who will be Clinical Teaching in Fall 2024 will be the last group eligible to take the current Physical Education EC-12 (158), and must pass the exam by July 15, 2024 per the Clinical Practice deadline.
Candidates who are Clinical Teaching Spring 2025 and beyond will take and pass the new Physical Education EC-12 (258) for certification starting September 2, 2024.
Former students who have not yet passed the Physical Education EC-12 (158) exam have until September 1, 2024 to complete the exam or will be required to pass the new version of the exam beginning September 2, 2024.
Candidates who pass the Physical Education EC-12 (158) exam must complete all remaining certification requirements and be recommended for certification by September 1, 2025 or will be required to complete the new Physical Education EC-12 (258) certification exam.
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