TExES Exams

NOTICE

Core Subjects Registration Information

The Core Subjects EC-6 (291) and 4-8 (211) tests are offered on a continuous basis. Educators must register for and take the overall 291 or 211 test on their first attempt. After the first attempt, educators may register for the overall 291 or 211 test or the individual subject area tests. Each testing session counts as another attempt in the 5-time testing limit allowed by law; therefore, educators are cautioned against signing up for an individual subject area test when multiple subject area tests are left to pass. Both options require candidates to wait 45 days to retest. 

Educator Certification Examination Retake Limit Change

Candidates are limited to a total of 5 attempts to pass a certification examination under Texas Education Code §21.048. A subsection of the law, which currently counts all attempts of the same examination taken before September 1, 2015 as only one attempt, is set to expire. Beginning September 1, 2018, all attempts of the same examination, no matter when they occurred, will count toward the 5-attempt testing limit regardless of when the examination was first attempted.  

Candidates, educators, and others who took certification examinations before September 1, 2015 and have not yet passed those examinations will find more information in the candidate guidance document. Testers impacted by the change must take their examination(s) by August 31, 2018 if the new test attempt counting method will make them ineligible on September 1, 2018. Candidates who reach the 5-time testing limit must apply for a test-limit waiver to retest.

Note: Individuals who did not test before September 1, 2015 are not affected by the change since all examination attempts have always been included in the attempt count for these testers.

Test-Limit Waiver Information

Test takers are limited to 5 attempts on any certification examination under Texas Education Code §21.048(a-1). The State Board for Educator Certification has defined the waiver application process in Chapter 230, Subchapter C of the Texas Administrative Code and authorized TEA staff to administer the waiver process. Application information is provided on the Test-Limit Waiver Information webpage.