ExCET - Examination for the Certification of Educators in Texas

TExES CAT Registration Information

• TExES CAT Tests Offered
• Registration Steps
  • EPP Candidates
  • Out-of-State/Out-of-Country Candidates
  • Certification by Examination Candidates
  • Charter School Candidates
  • Temporary Teacher Candidates
• Information About Your Name
• Creating Your TEA Account
• Creating Your ETS Testing Account
• How to Register for CAT Tests
• Selecting a Test Session
• Test Dates and Registration Deadlines for CAT Tests
• Admission Tickets
• Change Requests
• Canceling a Test Registration
• Test Retake Policy
• Correcting or Updating Your TEA Educator Profile

TExES CAT Tests Offered

See the TExES CAT tests offered. More information about the tests, including the test frameworks, test question formats and study resources is available in the preparation manual for each test. All test sessions are five hours long.

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Registration Steps

EPP Candidates
If you are an EPP candidate, you must have approval to test from your EPP. After you have approval, if you are a first-time testing candidate, you must go to the TEA website and create an account. When you create your account you will complete an Educator Profile and obtain a TEA ID number. (See Creating Your TEA Account.) You will be able to view your approved examinations in your Educator Profile under "View Examinations."

Once you have done that, go to the ETS online registration system and create an ETS testing account. (See Creating Your ETS Testing Account.) You will register to test through your ETS testing account.

If you have already taken a Texas Educator Certification Program test and you want to register for a test that you have not previously been approved to take, you must get approval from your EPP to take that test. Once you have approval to test, you can go to your ETS testing account and register to test.

Out-of-State/Out-of-Country Candidates
If you are an out-of-state or out-of-country candidate, you must have your credentials reviewed before you can register to test. To have your credentials reviewed, go to the TEA website, create an Educator Profile (see Creating Your TEA Account), complete an online application for review of credentials and submit the appropriate documents by mail to TEA. After your credentials have been reviewed, you will be emailed information regarding the tests that you are approved to take. You will be able to view your approved examinations in your Educator Profile under "View Examinations" to confirm your eligibility to test.

Once you have approval to test, go to the ETS online registration system and create an ETS testing account. (See Creating Your ETS Testing Account.) You will register to test through your ETS testing account.

Certification-by-Exam Candidates
If you are a Certification-by-Exam candidate, you already have a certificate to teach in Texas and may already have an Educator Profile on the TEA website and a TEA ID number. Use your TEA ID number to create an ETS testing account and register for an exam on the ETS TExES website. (See Creating Your ETS Testing Account.) A list of exams that you are eligible to take will be displayed for you in your ETS testing account. This is where you will register to test.

If you don't know your TEA ID number, go to your Educator Profile on the TEA website to retrieve it. If you can't remember your TEA user name and password, go to the TEA Educator Certification Online System login screen and select "Forgot User Name and Password?" After you supply the information requested, your user name and password will be displayed.

If your teaching certificate was issued before 2002, you will have to create an Educator Profile on the TEA website to obtain your TEA ID number. (See Creating Your TEA Account.)

Charter School Candidates
If you are a Charter School candidate, you do not need to create an Educator Profile on the TEA website. You will receive your TEA ID number when you create your ETS testing account and register to test. (See Creating Your ETS Testing Account.) A list of exams that you are eligible to take will be displayed for you in your ETS testing account. This is where you will register to test.

Temporary Teacher Candidates
If you are a Temporary Teacher Certificate candidate, you must confirm TEA approval for the employing entity or school. Once you have confirmed, you must go to the TEA website and create an account. When you create your account you will complete an Educator Profile and obtain a TEA ID number. (See Creating Your TEA Account.)

After entering your Educator Profile information, you must apply for a Review of Transcripts and submit an application. After your credentials have been reviewed, you will be notified by TEA of the appropriate 8-12 TExES content exam for which you need to register in addition to the Pedagogy and Professional Responsibilities EC-12 (160) test. You will be able to view your approved examinations in your TEA Educator Profile under "View Examinations" to confirm your eligibility to test.

Once you have approval to test, go to the ETS online registration system and create an ETS testing account. (See Creating Your ETS Testing Account.) You will register to test through your ETS testing account.

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Information About Your Name

• The name you create on your TEA account and your ETS testing account must exactly match the name on the ID documents you will present on the day of the test. For example, if the name on your ID documents includes a middle name or initial, you must include that when you register. If your ID documents do not match the name you use when you register, you may be prohibited from taking the test or your test scores may be canceled after you take the test.
• When you create your accounts and register, you must supply your entire last (family) name. If you have a two-part last name, be sure to supply your complete last name (e.g., Pena-Delgado or Suarez Thomas) as it appears on the ID documents you will present on the day of the test.
• Be sure to provide your entire first (given) name. Do not register under a nickname and do not register with only an initial as your first name.
• If you register by phone, please be sure you are registered under your entire first and last names as they appear on your ID.
• If your TEA and ETS accounts have already been created, please confirm that the name on your ID documents still matches the name that appears in your accounts. If they do not, you must update your information.
• It is your responsibility to ensure that your ID documents match your admission ticket on the day of the test.

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Creating Your TEA Account

• Go to the TEA website and click on the TEASE & TEAL Secure Applications icon on the top right-hand side of the page; then click on TEAL Login. If you already have an account, review and confirm your information and complete all required fields. If you do not already have a TEA Login (TEAL) account, click on the Request New User Account link. Be sure to enter your full name exactly as it appears on your ID.
• Complete or update your TEA Educator Profile, especially your mailing address and phone number. Use the TEA Login profile page to update or complete your email address. All updates and corrections to your TEA Educator Profile must be done on the TEA websites. You should check the TEA websites on a regular basis to make sure all of your information is current. See Correcting or Updating Your TEA Educator Profile.
• Your TEA Educator Profile will contain your assigned TEA ID number. A TEA ID number is used for identification throughout the certification and test registration process.
• Print your TEA Educator Profile so that it will be handy when you register to test.

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Creating Your ETS Testing Account

If you register online

• When you access the ETS online registration system for the first time, you will be required to create an ETS testing account.
• Select Your Account and follow the guidelines for creating an account in the ETS online registration system. You must create an account in the ETS online registration system. This is where you will register to test. You cannot register to test through your account on the TEA site.
• You will need to provide your TEA ID number, your first and last name and your date of birth. Charter school candidates will be given a TEA ID number during the process of creating their testing account.
• You may use a different user name and password for your ETS testing account than you did on your TEA account; however, all other information must be identical to the information you entered in your TEA account. Be sure to enter your full name exactly as it appears on your ID.

If you register by phone or by mail
If you register by phone, your ETS testing account will be created for you using the information you supply over the phone. This information must match the information in your TEA account. If it does not, your registration cannot be processed.

Once your ETS testing account has been created, you will be sent an email that will include a user name for your ETS testing account. To get a password, go to Your Account. Because you already have a user name, you will access your account as an existing user. Go to login and enter your user name; then select "Forgot Password?" A temporary password will be emailed to you. You can then log in to your account with your user name and temporary password. You will be prompted to change your temporary password when you log in.

After you create your account
You will be able to:

• register for any test you are approved to take
• view your registration and make changes if needed
• reschedule or cancel your registration
• print (or reprint) your admission ticket(s)
• place orders for services, such as score verification
• check the status of previously placed orders
• view your score report
• change your password
• change options for receiving text/email test prep messages
• return to your account at any time

You cannot update your TEA Educator Profile through your testing account in the ETS online registration system. You must go to the TEA website to update your TEA Educator Profile. (See Correcting or Updating Your TEA Educator Profile.)

Be sure to record your user name and password and keep them in a secure place for future use. Remember that the information entered in your ETS testing account must match the information in your TEA Educator Profile. See the Quick Start Guide for New User Account Creation (PDF) and Test Registration Quick Start Guide (PDF) for step-by-step registration directions.

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How to Register for CAT Tests

Register Online

• Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
• Test schedules for continuously offered CAT tests are available in the online registration system. Online registrations for these tests must be completed and submitted by 11:59 p.m. CT at least 2 days before the test date. 
• See the 2012-13 Limited-Administration CAT Testing Schedule (PDF) for deadlines for limited-administration CAT tests.
• There is no extra charge for registering online.
• If you have questions or need help registering online, call Customer Service at 1-800-205-2626.

Register by Phone

• Call 1-800-205-2626, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. CT, Monday-Friday, excluding holidays.
• When you call to register, test dates will be provided to you.

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Selecting a Test Session

Test sessions are five hours long. On any given testing day, you may take up to two different tests, one in the morning and one in the afternoon. When you register for a test, you may select a morning or afternoon test session. Please note the following restrictions:

• You cannot take the same test twice on the same day.
• A session request can only be selected when you register.
• Some tests centers do not offer sessions in both the morning and afternoon.
• Some tests are not offered at both the morning and afternoon sessions.
• If you register and select a test session request and then make subsequent changes to your test and/or test center selection(s), you will be required to pick from the sessions that are available at the center at the time of the change.
• The session you select at registration cannot be modified on the day of the test.
• Although every effort will be made to accommodate your request, session requests are not guaranteed.

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Test Dates and Registration Deadlines for CAT Tests

Continuous CAT Testing
Test-date availablility for CAT tests offered on a continuous basis can be determined in the ETS online registration system. If you register by phone, available dates will be provided to you. Registration for continuously offered CAT testing must be completed at least 2 days before the test date.

All seating for CAT tests is on a space-available basis, so it is important to register early to be able to test on your desired date.

Limited-Administration Tests (Multiple-Choice Only)

 

Limited-Administration CAT Tests (with Constructed Response)

English Language Arts and Reading 8-12

BTLPT Spanish and LOTE EC-12 (French, German, Latin and Spanish) Tests

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Admission Tickets

You will need to print an admission ticket for each test for which you are registered. Your admission ticket will contain information about your reporting time and reporting address. If any of the information on your admission ticket is not accurate or if you have any questions about your test center assignment, call Customer Service immediately at 1-800-205-2626.

You must take your complete admission ticket with you to the test center on the day of the test. If you do not bring your admission ticket, you may not be permitted to test. Be sure to keep a copy for your records.

Printing Admission Tickets
You can print your admission ticket by accessing your testing account in the ETS TExES online registration system.

You should return to your testing account and view your admission ticket 24 hours before your test to confirm that there have been no changes to your reporting schedule. If there is a test center change (e.g., a different building than originally scheduled), it will be updated in your testing account. If there have been changes, you must print a new admission ticket.

If you have questions or need help printing an admission ticket, call Customer Service at 1-800-205-2626.

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Change Requests

If you are affiliated with an EPP, you must be preapproved by your program for the new test you are planning to take. Changes in registration will only be processed if seats are available at the requested center, on the requested date at the requested time.

• You can only change to a test date within the current testing year.
• You cannot change from a CAT test to a PBT test or vice versa. To make such a change, you must cancel the test for which you are registered and then register for the new test.
• If you are requesting testing accommodations, you cannot reschedule online; you may only reschedule using the Change Request form (PDF). Completion and submission instructions and payment policies are on the form. These requests must be received by the late registration deadline.
• Changes for continuously offered CAT tests can be made up to 2 days before the test date.
• Changes for all limited-administration tests can be made up to the end of the registration period.
• If you are registered for a CAT test, you cannot use the Change Request form. You must make your request online or by phone.
• For CAT tests, a $15 processing fee is charged up to the deadline for making changes.

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Canceling a Test Registration

You may cancel a test registration through your ETS testing account. Registrations may be canceled up to 3 days before the test date. Refunds of test fees will be issued based on the original payment method. If your original payment was made by credit/debit card, a refund will be processed immediately to your credit/debit card. Check with your debit/credit card company regarding its processing time for crediting your account. If you are absent or arrive too late to take the test at the administration for which you are registered, you will not be entitled to any refund. Service fees are nonrefundable.

• If you register to test less than 3 days prior to the test and then cancel, you will not be eligible for a refund.
• If the cancellation is processed online or by phone no later than 3 days prior to the test date, the full test fee (including the International Site fee) will be refunded, minus a $30 refund fee.
• Cancellations processed online or by phone less than 3 days prior to the test date will not be eligible for a refund.

My CAA registrations must be canceled through the ETS representative who processed your registration. ETS will contact My CAA to credit your financial assistance voucher minus the refund fees.

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Test Retake Policy

A test that was taken via CAT cannot be retaken via CAT within 60 days. If you try to register to retake a CAT test, be aware that the registration system will only display CAT test dates that are at least 60 days after the previous test date.

If you choose to retake a PBT test via computer, you should wait for your score before registering for the CAT test. If you register for the CAT test before receiving your score, you assume responsibility for the CAT test fee regardless of your score on the PBT test.

If you are affiliated with an EPP, check with your program to see if you need approval to retest. Contact them for further information.

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Correcting or Updating Your TEA Educator Profile

You can update your mailing address, phone number and email address at any time by logging in to your Educator Profile on the TEA website. Changes or corrections to your name, gender or date of birth must be done by mail or fax. To submit such a change or correction, go to the TEA website and select Educator Certification from the Quick Links in the left-hand navigation. Then select Contact Educator Certification and click on the link for emailing or contacting TEA Educator Certification and Standards. You will see instructions for documenting and submitting these requests. All changes must be made in conjunction with your primary ID documents. The information in your Educator Profile must match the identification document(s) you will present at the test center.

After updating your Educator Profile, please confirm the changes by logging in to your testing account in the ETS online registration system and clicking on "Edit Your Profile" to confirm that the information retrieved from TEA is correct. Testing account updates are made periodically throughout the day so if your change doesn't appear immediately, check back in a couple of hours.

If there are any discrepancies in the data, call Customer Service at 1-800-205-2626.

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