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.

 

The following policies establish the standards and expectations for all University of North Texas (UNT) teacher candidates completing certification requirements. While individual programs may vary in the specific exams and testing sequences required, these core exam policies apply to all undergraduate and post-baccalaureate teacher candidates within the UNT Teacher Education Program.

• Exam Prerequisites: Before taking any official certification exam, all teacher candidates must complete a practice exam and achieve the minimum required score to receive test approval. For certification areas that do not have an official practice exam, candidates are required to complete an alternative assignment determined by the TExES Success Office in coordination with program faculty. Test approval will not be granted until the required practice exam or alternative assignment has been completed, verified, and meets the established score benchmarks. Your specific exam prerequisites can be found in the Flight Plans on this page or in the TExES Canvas course.
• Exam Schedule and Deadlines: All teacher candidates must adhere to the established exam schedule and deadlines to ensure steady progress toward certification. Candidates are required to complete all designated certification exams prior to beginning Clinical Teaching, Residency, or Internship experiences. Candidates should review their program’s exam timeline each semester to remain aware of required benchmarks and testing deadlines. Failure to meet these deadlines may result in delays in program progression or placement. Deadlines can be found in the Flight Plans on this page or in the TExES Canvas course.
• Failure to Meet Exam Requirements: Candidates who do not meet required exam benchmarks or deadlines as outlined in their program’s exam schedule will be subject to additional review by the TExES Success Office and their program faculty advisor. Depending on the nature of the deficiency, candidates may be required to:
  • Complete a TExES Individual Support Plan (ISP) to address areas of need in order to retake a failed certification exam.
  • Delay progression to the next semester, Clinical Teaching, Residency, or Internship until all exam requirements are met.
• Exam Retakes: Candidates who do not successfully pass their official certification exam(s) will be required to complete additional preparation or an individualized TExES Individual Support Plan (ISP) prior to receiving approval to retest. The specific remediation activities will be determined by the TExES Success Office based on multiple factors (see next tab).
• Former Candidates: Candidates who graduate without passing their required certification exams are not released from UNT testing policies. To receive approval to take any remaining exams associated with their certification program, graduates must continue to meet UNT’s established test readiness requirements and provide verified evidence of exam preparedness to the TExES Success Office. If a certification exam expires or changes before you are able to pass it or complete the remaining requirements for certification, you will be responsible for passing the new version of the exam. To receive approval for the updated exam, you must demonstrate test readiness by successfully completing a practice exam and submitting your score report to the TExES Success Office for verification.

The UNT Educator Preparation Program has specific exam policies, benchmarks, and deadlines in place for each of our certification programs to help ensure all candidates will complete exam requirements prior to program completion.

• Principal Candidates:

  The Educational Leadership Department has specific exam readiness criteria that students must meet for both the Principal as Instructional Leadership (268) and PASL (368) exams.

  • Principal as Instructional Leader (268): The official practice exam is available in the TExES Canvas course and is offered monthly during each long semester, and once during the summer. Candidates must register for one of the designated testing windows by emailing Marilyn Deuble. When the practice exam is available during your assigned window, you should plan to complete both the Multiple-Choice and Constructed-Response sections. Dr. Duncan will review your score for the Multiple-Choice section, and Dr. Pedevilla will review your Constructed-Response section. Together, Dr. Duncan and Dr. Pedevilla will determine your overall test readiness based on these scores and provide you with next steps. If you are approved to take the official exam, your information will be forwarded to the TExES Success Office, and you will receive test approval along with instructions on how to register for the exam.
  • PASL (368): Candidates who are ready to submit their PASL tasks must first request the PASL Task Approval Form from Marilyn Deuble and submit it to Dr. Duncan. Dr. Duncan will review your form and provide you with next steps. If approved for the exam, your information will be provided to the TExES Success Office and we will grant you test approval and send you instructions on how to register for the exam.

  Candidates who do not pass the real 268 or 368 exams must work directly with Dr. Duncan to develop a study plan for eligibility to retake the exams.

• School Librarian Candidates :

  Dr. Kuon will submit your information to the TExES Success Office to be added to the TExES Canvas course for the School Librarian (150) practice exam during your practicum courses. You should complete the practice exam by the deadline established in these courses.

  • If you score an 80 or higher on the practice exam, you will receive approval to take the real exam, and the TExES Success Office will provide you with instructions on how to register.
  • If the score is below 80, you must visit with Dr. Kuon to determine test readiness and complete any established requirements. Once approved, Dr. Kuon will notify the TExES Success Office and you will then receive approval to take the real exam along with registration instructions.

  School Librarian candidates who do not pass the real TExES exam must visit with Dr. Kuon to develop a study plan using additional study materials. If you do not pass the real exam by the end of your practicum courses, you should discuss next steps with your program advisor.

• School Counselor Candidates:

  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.

  Candidates who do not pass the real exam must work directly with their program advisor to develop a study plan for eligibility to retake the exam.

• Educational Diagnostician Candidates:

  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.

  Candidates who do not pass the real exam must work directly with their program advisor to develop a study plan for eligibility to retake the exam.

• Superintendent Candidates:

  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.

  Candidates who do not pass the real exam must work directly with their program advisor to develop a study plan for eligibility to retake the exam.

At the University of North Texas (UNT), candidates receive test approval for their first exam attempt after meeting the required benchmarks outlined in the program policies on the previous tab.

After each unsuccessful exam attempt, all candidates will receive an email from the TExES Success Office outlining any required remediation activities and/or next steps. These emails are typically sent the next business day following the release of your scores. If you do not receive an email, please contact the TExES Success Office.

Teacher candidates who do not pass an exam on the first attempt, will follow a tiered remediation system established by the Educator Preparation Office to provide structured support and promote exam success:

 

• 1st Unsuccessful Attempt: A personalized TExES Individual Support Plan (ISP) will be developed, which may include:
  • Additional study hours and
  • Additional practice exams
• 2nd Unsuccessful Attempt: The Director of TExES Success will review score reports from both prior exam attempts to identify patterns in areas of need, and will amend the TExES ISP to include additional remediation activities around content-specific needs with input from program faculty.
• 3rd Unsuccessful Attempt: Candidates will complete an exam reflection analyzing test performance and identifying challenges such as content gaps, testing anxiety, or other contributing factors. After the exam reflection has been submitted, the Director of TExES Success and program faculty will continue to tailor the TExES ISP to the student's needs with deeper remediation activities.
• 4th Unsuccessful Attempt: The candidate will meet with the Director of TExES Success to discuss additional support strategies and determine the next steps required for approval to retest.
• 5th Unsuccessful Attempt:

  Candidates must submit a TEA Waiver Application to request authorization for further exam attempts. The Texas Education Agency (TEA) requires a minimum of 50 clock-hours of educational activities from TEA-approved providers. This waiver process is managed solely by the TEA and cannot be altered or overridden by UNT.

  If the Texas Education Agency (TEA) does not approve your waiver request, you will not be eligible for certification. If the exam you previously attempted is scheduled to change or be replaced, you may contact the TExES Success Office to discuss the steps required to become eligible for approval to take the new version of the exam.

Advanced Candidates (Principal, School Librarian, School Counselor, Educational Diagnostician, and Superintendent) who do not pass their exam(s) will work directly with their program advisor to develop a study plan and determine next steps for test approval to retake any failed exams.

Our goal is to ensure that every candidate has the support, guidance, and resources necessary to achieve certification success. The TExES Success Office is committed to partnering with candidates through each step of the process—providing individualized support, structured preparation opportunities, and clear pathways toward successful completion of all certification requirements.

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

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!

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)

YOUR FIRST AND LAST NAME ON BOTH IDS MUST MATCH WHAT IS ON FILE WITH PEARSON.

If your first and last names do NOT match, do not register for your exam before you change your name with TEA. Your middle name does not matter -- it is only first and last name that need to match.

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 email COE-TSO@unt.edu 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 todd.duncan@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 Superintendent 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

 

Candidates who completed School Librarian, School Counselor, or another program not listed above

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

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 /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 /texes/exam-registration-guide.

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.

The TExES Special Education EC-12 (161) exam was retired on August 31, 2025. Candidates who passed the Special Education EC-12 (161) exam must complete all remaining course requirements by May 2026 and pass any remaining certification exams by August 1, 2026. You must submit your application for certification and be recommended by UNT no later than noon on August 31, 2026 to use the current Special Education EC-12 (161) exam for certification.

Any candidate who does not complete coursework, testing requirements, or submit their application for certification by the dates above will be required to complete the new Special Education Specialist EC-12 (186) exam as part of their certification requirements.

Former UNT students who have passed the Special Education EC-12 (161) exam can reach out to the TExES Success Office at COE-TSO@unt.edu to discuss their options for completing certification requirements.  

Former UNT students who did not pass the Special Education EC-12 (161) exam by August 31, 2025 will be required to complete pass a practice exam for the new Special Education Specialist EC-12 (186) exam before approval to the new exam will be granted. For questions, please contact COE-TSO@unt.edu. 

The TExES Bilingual Supplemental (164) and BTLPT (190) exams will be replaced by the Bilingual Education Spanish Supplemental (BESS) (165) exam on September 1, 2026. Candidates who have not passed the Bilingual Supplemental (164) and BTLPT (190) exams by August 31, 2026 will be required to complete the new BESS (165) exam.

Candidates who passed BOTH Bilingual Supplemental (164) and BTLPT (190) exams must complete all remaining course requirements by May 2028 and pass any remaining certification exams by August 1, 2028. You must submit your application for certification and be recommended by UNT no later than noon on August 31, 2028 to use the current Bilingual Supplemental (164) and BTLPT (190) exams for certification.

Any candidate who does not complete coursework, testing requirements, or submit their application for certification by the dates above will be required to complete the new BESS (165) exam as part of their certification requirements.

Former UNT students who do not pass the Bilingual Supplemental (164) and BTLPT (190) exams by August 31, 2026 will be required to complete pass a practice exam for the new BESS (165) exam before approval to the new exam will be granted. For questions, please contact COE-TSO@unt.edu.