– For most TExES exams, including the Core Subjects EC-6 and Core Subjects 4-8, the fee to take the exam is $131.

– If you choose to take subtests, the fee is $58 per subtest.

Being a teacher is an exciting and rewarding career. Teachers devote their lives to education and have the desire to make an impact in a child’s life. They may also want to make a difference and give back to their community. Whatever the reason to become a teacher, it’s very rewarding.

There are a couple of pathways when it comes to teaching. You can become an elementary school teacher who teaches their classes in all core subjects which include math, reading, and writing or become a high school teacher who teaches a specific subject rather than all subjects.

To become a teacher in the state of Texas, there are several requirements that you must meet.

1.Earn a Bachelor’s Degree
Universities in Texas don’t offer degrees that are specifically for education. Instead, those who wish to become teachers can select any major that they are interested in. They also must complete a specialized training program in addition to their field of study.

2. Complete a Training Program
In Texas, aspiring teachers must complete a teacher training program. This program must be completed in combination with a bachelor’s degree or after. If you have already completed your bachelor’s degree, you may enroll in a stand-alone teacher preparation program.

3. Pass the Certification Exams
The certification exam that you will be required to pass is the Texas Teacher Certification exam. The TExES exam is the Texas Examinations of Educator Standards. This exam varies depending on what subject and grade level you want to teach.

TExES Core Subjects EC-6

4. Apply for Certification
Once you have passed the TExES exam, you can then submit your application to the state to receive your official certification. In addition to submitting your application, you are also required to be fingerprinted and pass a national criminal background check.

The purpose of the TExES exams is to ensure that those who want to become teachers in the state of Texas have the professional knowledge that is needed for an entry-level teaching position in Texas.

There are roughly 50 classroom level tests that cover a variety of grade levels and specialization areas. There are also exams for other positions such as counselor, principal, librarian and other areas.

Passing the TExES exam is very important to begin your career as a public school educator in Texas. Before you begin studying for the TExES, here are a few tips to help you along the way!

1.Understand the Format of the TExES Exam (whichever one you’re taking)
Whichever TExES test you plan to take, you’ll need to understand the format of that specific exam. Learning understanding the format will allow you to prepare your study plan and resources according to that exam. You’ll also understand how many questions are on the exam as well as the format of questions, whether they are multiple-choice or fill in the blank, as well as how many sections are on the exam.

For example, if you plan to take the TExES Core Subjects EC-6 Exam:

• There are 267 multiple-choice questions.
• You are given a total of 5 hours to complete the exam. Each subtest is given a different amount of time to complete that section.

2. TExES Study Guide
There are study guides available for every TExES exam. Having a study guide will help you understand more about the details of the specific exam that you’re taking as well as allow you to brush up on key concepts. When you’re looking for a study guide for the TExES exam, you should make sure that it is organized in major sections that follow the outline of the official TExES website. You should also make sure that the study guide contains information regarding the core content that will be found on the exam.

3. Start Preparing Early
It’s always a good idea to start preparing for the exam early and study up until the day before the exam. Some exam takers like to start studying 6 to 8 weeks before their test date. However, this assumes that you will be studying 2 hours a day, 5 days a week. If you cannot do this, simply adjust your schedule to start studying earlier than 6 to 8 weeks before the exam. If you have extra time during the weekdays or weekends, try to squeeze in an hour or so here and there. You’ll be able to study more and you’ll retain more information without overwhelming your brain.

4. Create a Study Plan
This is where you’ll need to sit down and figure out a schedule that works for you. Maybe 2 hours a day, 4 days a week, or whatever works best for your life. Not only should you have a set amount of hours to study, but also a list of material that you should study each day. It’s best to start out with studying material that you’re not comfortable with or that you need more work with.

5. TExES Flashcards
Using flashcards to study for an exam can help you retain information for a longer period of time. They allow you to focus on one concept at a time rather than being overwhelmed by having a list of concepts on one full sheet.

6. Answer All Questions
When taking the TExES exam, you’ll want to make sure that you answer each and every question and not to leave any blank. Questions that are left blank are marked as incorrect and can count towards your final score. If you’re not sure what the correct answer is for a question, disregard the answers that are obviously wrong and choose one that seems to be the correct answer.

7. Read Carefully
Read each question and each answer on the exam before picking an answer. Some questions will instruct you to choose all the correct answers. You’ll want to slow down and pace yourself so that you do not read over important details that can lead you to the correct answer.

8. TExES Practice Test
Taking a practice test can show you two things. One is that you’ll get more of a better understanding of how the actual exam will be such as what type of questions will be expected as well as the topics that will be asked. You’ll also learn which areas you will need improvement on and which areas you excel in. Use this information to add to your study plan the areas that you need more work in.

Texas Teacher Certification FAQ