College of Education

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 - Effective December 1, 2023

1. Required Certification Exams

• Teacher Candidates: Each certification program has a specific set of exams that are required for certification, as determined by the State Board for Educator Certification. The UNT Educator Preparation Program has specific exam policies and deadlines in place to help ensure candidates will complete exam requirements prior to program completion. Refer to the TExES Flight Plan associated with your program under the Getting Started menu for specific exam requirements, suggested testing sequence and deadlines. Exam requirements are also shared in the Welcome to TExES email candidates receive upon formal admission to the Teacher Education program. Additionally, requirements can be found in the program-specific Exam Requirements & Deadlines assignment in the TExES Section Canvas course.

Students who will not be seeking certification in Texas upon graduation should visit with their advisor about switching to a non-certification degree track prior to beginning any Early Field Experience. Students will not be exempt from testing requirements if they continue on a certification track and will be required to take their content and applicable supplemental certification exams prior to Clinical Teaching.

• Advanced certification candidates will take the TExES exam directly related to the certificate they are seeking (ie. Principal as Instructional Leader, Superintendent, Educational Diagnostician, School Counselor, or School Librarian). Principal candidates must also successfully complete the PASL exam for certification.  

2. Exam Approval

Exam approval is required before a candidate will be able to register for any official certification exam. In order to receive test approval for the TExES, AAFCS, or PASL exam required by their certification program, candidates should identify and follow the steps below as they relate to their certification program. Please be advised: 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 additional areas.

1. Teacher Candidates admitted on or after December 1, 2023 must complete all of the following steps in order to receive approval to take their required TExES certification exams:

• Complete the TExES Section Canvas course modules, which includes program-specific Exam Requirements & Deadline acknowledgments as well as four Readiness to Test videos.
• Achieve a score of 70 or better on each of the TExES practice exams required for your certification program. If an official practice exam is not available (i.e., Business & Finance, Computer Science 8-12, Dance 6-12, Family Consumer Science, Hospitality Nutrition and Food Science, Human Development Family Studies, LOTE French, Physics/Math 7-12, or Speech 7-12), please visit with the TExES Success Office for acceptable alternatives.
• Candidates who do not achieve a 70 or better on the practice exam will receive a list of remedial materials to prepare to retake the practice test. 

1. 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. You should correspond directly with your program advisor about your requirements. Your program advisor will submit your eligibility to test to the TExES Success Office, who will then grant you test approval.
   1. Principal candidates seeking test approval for the Principal as Instructional Leader (268) exam must complete one of the following requirements:

• Score a 70 or higher on the selected response section of the practice exam offered by the TExES Success Office and receive at least 10 points on the constructed response section.
• Score a 60 or higher on the selected response section of the practice exam offered by the TExES Success Office and receive at least 13 points on the constructed response section.
• Score a 75 or higher on the interactive practice exam offered through the Pearson website.

Principal candidates who do not achieve an acceptable score will receive a list of remedial materials and workshops to prepare to retake the practice test, including UNT Workshops, Region 13 Virtual Workshops, and 240 Tutoring.

Principal candidates seeking test approval for the PASL (368) exam must submit both of the following items for review by the program facilitator and practicum instructor:

• A certificate indicating completion of the UNT online, self-paced PASL course.
• A PASL Tasks Approval Form demonstrating that they have collected artifacts and made acceptable progress on the tasks to be able to submit the tasks before the submission deadline.

Principal candidates who do not receive a passing overall score after the first submission are eligible to resubmit any or all three tasks for a fee during the two resubmission windows. If a passing score is not achieved in either of the resubmission windows, candidates must work with their program facilitator and practicum instructor for remediation before additional approval to submit will be granted.

2. School Librarian candidates seeking test approval for the School Librarian (150) exam must follow the steps below to receive test approval:

• Take the practice exam offered by the TExES Success Office.
• If the score is 80 or higher, test approval for the actual TExES exam is granted by the TExES Success Office.
• If the score is below 80, the student must complete the TExES Study Module in INFO 5090, which includes video chats to help with testing strategies, 10 practice quizzes, creating test questions based on the Texas School Librarian Standards.
• After the student completes the study module, they will visit with their program advisor or INFO 5090 faculty to determine test readiness.

School Librarian candidates who do not pass the real TExES exam must visit with their INFO 5090 faculty to develop a study plan using additional study materials.

3. Superintendent candidates will be granted test approval for the Superintendent (195) exam after all courses, including EDLE 6033, have been successfully complete. The program coordinator will automatically transmit candidates' eligibility to test to the TExES Success Office, who will then grant test approval.

4. School Counselor candidates will be granted test approval for the School Counselor (252) exam after all required courses are complete and student has successfully enrolled in COUN 5720. The program coordinator will automatically transmit candidates' eligibility to test to the TExES Success Office, who will then grant test approval.

5. Educational Diagnostician candidates will be granted test approval for the Educational Diagnostician (253) exam after all required courses are complete and student has successfully enrolled in EDSP 5540. The program coordinator will automatically transmit candidates' eligibility to test to the TExES Success Office, who will then grant test approval.

3. Clinical Practice Requirements & Deadlines for Teacher Candidates

1. All teacher candidates must attempt their actual TExES content and applicable supplemental exams (ESL, Bilingual, or SPED EC-12) prior to beginning Clinical Teaching based on semester they intend to begin Clinical Teaching. Refer to the TExES Flight Plan associated with your program under the Getting Started menu for specific exam requirements. Use the table below to identify the exam deadline based on the semester you will begin Clinical Teaching. The deadline means that you must have attempted your content and applicable supplemental exams on or by the associated date. Example: If you are Clinical Teaching in Fall 2025, you must attempt your content and supplemental exam (as applicable) no later than July 15, 2025.

   Clinical Teaching Semester	Exam Deadline
   Fall Semester	July 15th
   Spring Semester	December 15th

2. EC-6 and ELAR 4-8 candidates should aim to take the Science of Teaching Reading (293) exam prior to starting Clinical Teaching, if possible. Bilingual EC-6 candidates should also aim to complete the BTLPT (190) exam prior to Clinical Teaching, if possible. Following your recommended testing sequence for your program will help you to stay on track to complete requirements. Refer to the TExES Flight Plan associated with your program under the Getting Started menu for specific exam requirements.
3. All candidates should complete any remaining exam requirements during Clinical Teaching in order to ensure they will be eligible for certification upon graduation. Candidates may graduate without passing their required exams but will not be eligible for certification until all exams have been passed, as this is a state requirement. Refer to the TExES Flight Plan associated with your program under the Getting Started menu for specific exam requirements.
    

4. TExES 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.

UNT candidates will receive test approval for their first exam attempt after achieving the appropriate benchmarks as listed under the Exam Approval requirements in item 1 above. 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, unless their program has specific policies in place (i.e., Principal and School Librarian). Students will receive an email from the TExES Success Office following the release of their exam scores that will outline the options they can choose from in order to complete their remediation requirement. 

• 1st Unsuccessful Attempt - Candidates will be required to complete a minimum of six clock-hours of content-specific study and pass a practice exam with appropriate scores. Various vendors and options will be provided to candidates so that they may determine the best resource based on person preference, cost, or other factors. Candidates must submit evidence of completion (such as a certificate of completion, screenshot of account dashboard verifying time spent studying, and practice exam score report) to the TExES Success Office in order to receive approval to retake their exam.
• 2nd Unsuccessful Attempt - The Director of TExES Success will conduct a score analysis of both attempts on the exam to determine common areas of need as well as review prior remediation completed by candidate to determine additional options and avenues that candidates may choose from for more in depth review. This may include additional clock hours of study based on deficiencies determined on official score report, additional practice exams, or other suggested materials for review. Candidates must submit evidence of completion for their additional remediation to the TExES Success Office in order to receive approval to retake the exam. 
• 3rd Unsuccessful Attempt - Candidates will be asked to complete an exam reflection to discuss their exam experiences and evaluate whether they feel performance is affected by content knowledge, test anxiety, or other factors. Candidates will also work with the Director of TExES Success to discuss the resources they have previously used and what resources or assistance they feel would be most beneficial. Together, the candidate and Director will work together to create a plan of action for the candidate to complete in order to gain approval to retest.  
• 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

Moving Out of State and Certificate Reciprocity

As of December 2022, eight states offer full reciprocity with Texas teacher certification, meaning that Texas teachers can receive a standard teaching license in those states without meeting additional requirements:
Arizona, Florida, Hawaii, Illinois, Mississippi, Missouri, Nevada, and Oklahoma. 

While most states will recognize Texas teacher certification through reciprocity agreements, if you are planning to transfer your certificate out of state, you may still need to meet additional requirements in the state you want to teach in. For example, Virginia requires out-of-state teachers to complete the regular Application for Virginia Licensure and provide all required materials. If you are planning to move out of state after you have received your Texas teaching certificate, it is your responsibility to verify the requirements for out-of-state certification in the state you plan to relocate to.  If your state requires you to submit a program verification form, you can send your form to Elizabeth Dracobly. Please be sure you fill in any candidate information and include your name and UNT ID number in your email request to Elizabeth. 

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 $25 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 Success 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.

  Free PPR EC-12 Course -- Offered by Passage Preparation, this course is self-paced and covers all the main content you can expect to be tested on. There is also a practice assessment to test your knowledge. 

  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.

  TeachingHistory.org - a leader in helping K–12 history teachers access resources and materials to improve U.S. history education in the classroom.

  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.

  TEA AP Macroeconomics - is designed to meet the scope and sequence requirements of a typical one-semester Macroeconomics course. The text provides comprehensive coverage of economic principles, research, and impacts. 

  TEA AP Microeconomics - covers the scope and sequence requirements of a typical one-semester college-Microeconomics course. The text provides comprehensive coverage of economic principles, research, and impacts.

• 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, Music 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.

  The Annotated Mona Lisa - A crash course in Art History from Prehistoric to Post-Modern.

  TExES Art EC-12 Flashcards - Review set from Quizlet.

  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.

  TMEA.org - Resources to help candidates prepare for the TExES Music EC-12 (177) exam. 

  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.

  Texas Educational Theatre Association - Curriculum guides, lesson plans, and TEKS alignments for Theatre Arts.

  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.

  World-Readiness Standards for Learning Languages - The 5 C (Communication, Cultures, Connections, Comparisons, & Communities) goal areas for learning a language.

  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.

  TEKS for LOTE & 5 C's - Performance expectations for novice-, intermediate-, and advanced-level learners based on TEKS for LOTE using the ACTFL 5 C's.

  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

  ESL Supplemental Training & Course -  free resources to support Texas schools in building capacity of English as a Second Language (ESL) certified teachers serving emergent bilingual students in the classroom.

  Bilingual and BTLPT Training & Courses - 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

  Texas SPED Support - houses a suite of valuable TEA resources for educations, administrators, and support staff working with students receiving special education services. Search Texas SPED Support by topic, type, or audience.

  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.

  TeachingHistory.org - a leader in helping K–12 history teachers access resources and materials to improve U.S. history education in the classroom.

  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.

  TEA AP Macroeconomics - is designed to meet the scope and sequence requirements of a typical one-semester Macroeconomics course. The text provides comprehensive coverage of economic principles, research, and impacts. 

  TEA AP Microeconomics - covers the scope and sequence requirements of a typical one-semester college-Microeconomics course. The text provides comprehensive coverage of economic principles, research, and impacts.

• 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

1. Wait until you have your new valid ID with your legal name.
2. Submit a name change request through the Texas Education Agency.
3. 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.
4. Once your name matches your ID, register for your test and schedule the exam.
5. 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 contact the TExES Success Office in order to determine your eligibility to take the new certification exams. Please be aware that if your program has had significant changes (i.e.., EC-4 to EC-6) UNT may be unable to grant you approval to the new certification exams. Please include your full name as it was when you attended UNT and either your UNT ID number or TEA ID number so that we may locate your records for review.  In most cases, you will be required to complete a practice exam prior to receiving test approval. The TExES Success Office will review the age of your coursework and provide options for you to choose from.

Candidates who completed the Educational Leadership for Principal Program

If you completed the Principal program but did not 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.

Candidates who completed the Superindent Program

Please contact the TExES Success Office and include your name and UNT ID number or TEA ID number so that we may access your records. If our office does not have your certification plan on file, we will provide you with further instructions before test approval can be granted.

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

1. Go to http://tea.texas.gov and click TEAL Login at the top of the main page.
2. Click Request New User Account.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. 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.
6. Click Submit.
7. 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.
8. 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.

1. From the Self-Service menu, click My Application Accounts.
2. Then click Request New Account.
3. Click on ECOSEducator.
4. Enter your Social Security Number and birth year, then click Create.
5. 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. 
6. 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

1. Click on the "View my Educator Certification Account" link above your TEA ID number to navigate into your TEAL Educator Profile.
2. 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.
3. 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)
4. 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.