ExCET - Examination for the Certification of Educators in Texas

TExES Registration Information

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

TExES Tests Offered

• TExES Classroom Certification Tests
• TExES Tests for Certifications Other than Classroom Teacher
• TExES Tests for Certifications with Specific Skill and Experience Requirements
• TExES Combined and Component Tests

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Registration Steps

Educator Preparation Program (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 TExES online registration system and create an ETS personal 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 and Pre-Admission Content Tests (PACT) 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 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 or mail, your ETS testing account will be created for you using the information you supply over the phone or on your paper registration form. 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

PBT Tests

Register Online

• Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, during the regular, late and emergency registration periods.
• Online registrations for PBT tests must be completed and submitted no later than 11:59 p.m. CT on the registration deadline dates to be eligible for that registration period. See Test Dates and Registration Deadlines. Also see Creating Your ETS Testing Account.
• Registration for a PBT test during the late registration period incurs an additional $35 late registration fee. Registration during the emergency registration period incurs an additional $75 emergency registration fee. See Test Dates and Registration Deadlines.
• If you have questions or need help registering online, call Customer Service at 1-800-205-2626.

• Available for PBT tests only during the emergency registration period.
• Call 1-800-205-2626, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. CST, Monday-Friday, excluding holidays.
• You must make the call yourself. No one else will be allowed to register for you.

Register by U.S. Mail

• Available only for test takers who are registering for Monday testing. 
• A registration form is available in the Download Library. Complete and submit the form to the address listed on the form.
• Forms received during the late registration period must include the $35 late registration fee. See Test Dates and Registration Deadlines.
• Registration by U.S. mail is not available for emergency registration.
• If you have questions about registering by mail, call Customer Service at 1-800-205-2626.

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.

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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 request a morning or an afternoon test session (if available at the chosen test center). If you register online, you will be asked to make your request after the approved tests are listed. 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 test 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 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

PBT TESTS
The TExES PBT tests will be administered 2 times during the 2012-13 testing year. Registration deadlines are strictly enforced; exceptions are not made.

Regular Registration Period

• Registration must be completed and submitted no later than 11:59 p.m. CT time on the deadline date.

Mail-In Registration

• Registration forms must be received no later than the regular registration deadline.

Late Registration Period

• Registration must be completed and submitted no later than 11:59 p.m. CT on the deadline date.

Mail-In Registration

• Registration forms must be received no later than the late registration deadline.

A $35 nonrefundable late fee in addition to the standard test fee is required for registrations submitted after the regular registration deadline up to the late registration deadline. Mailed-in registration forms received without the late fee or after the late registration deadline will be returned unprocessed. Registration by mail is not available after the late registration deadline.

Emergency Registration Period

• Registration must be completed and submitted no later than 11:59 p.m. CT on the deadline date.

Phone Registration

• Registration must be completed no later than 5 p.m. CT on the deadline date.

A $75 nonrefundable emergency registration fee in addition to the standard test fee is required for registrations submitted after the late registration deadline up to the emergency registration deadline. The emergency registration deadline is the last possible date to register to test or reschedule.

CAT TESTS

See the list of CAT tests offered to see whether the test you want to take is offered on a continuous basis or as a limited-administration test.

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 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.

If you are taking a PBT test, the last page of the admission test lists your test taker information (your name, registration number, test center and test date/time). This page is part of your admission ticket and must be brought with you to the test center.

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 online registration system. If you have not already established an account in the online registration system, you will need to do so in order to print your admission ticket. See Creating Your ETS Testing Account.

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 PBT test to a CAT 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.

PBT

• Online
• By calling Customer Service at 1-800-205-2626. You must make the call yourself. No one else will be allowed to request changes for you.
• You may also request changes by completing and submitting a Change Request form (PDF). Completion and submission instructions and payment policies are on the form.
• If you are registered for Monday testing, you cannot reschedule online; you may only reschedule using the Change Request form (PDF).
• The deadline for making changes for PBT tests is the emergency registration deadline.
• A $15 processing fee is charged for all registration changes during the regular and late registration period. This is in addition to the $120 test fee. Registration changes made during the emergency registration period incur a $75 processing fee in addition to the $120 test fee. If you submit your request by mail, you must include payment for the change fee along with your request. See Fees for Tests and Related Services for payment policies.

CAT

• 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. If you are registered for a PBT test, you may also cancel by completing and submitting the Test Cancellation form (PDF). Mail or fax the completed form to the address or fax number listed on the form. If you are registered for Monday testing (for military or religious reasons) or military testing, or you are requesting testing accommodations, you cannot cancel online. You may only cancel using the Test Cancellation form. See cancellation deadlines and refund information below.

Refunds of test fees will be issued based on the original payment method (credit/debit card). Check with your credit/debit 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.

See cancellation deadlines and refund information below.

PBT

• If the cancellation is processed online or received via mail by the regular registration deadline, the full test fee will be refunded, minus a refund fee of $20.
• If the cancellation is processed online or received via mail after the regular registration deadline but before the late registration deadline, the full test fee will be refunded, minus a refund fee of $30.
• Cancellations processed online or received via mail after the late registration deadline will not be eligible for a refund.

CAT

• If you register to test less than 3 days prior to the test date 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 refund fee of $30.
• Cancellations processed online or by phone less than 3 days prior to the test date will not be eligible for a refund.

DANTES Testing
Fees for DANTES requests are not refundable.

My CAA Testing
You must cancel My CAA registrations through the ETS representative who processed your registration. The cancellation policies for PBT and CAT tests apply to My CAA registrations. ETS will contact My CAA to credit your financial assistance voucher minus the refund fees.

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Test Retake Policy

If you do not pass a PBT TExES test, you can retake it at any future PBT administration. You are not permitted to take a test in the morning session and then retake the same test in the afternoon session on the same date.

A test that was taken via CAT cannot be retaken via CAT for 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 from the PBT test before registering for the CAT test. If you register for the CAT test before receiving your PBT test 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.

ETS and TEA reserve the right to cancel scores if the test retake policy is violated for any reason.

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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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