Certification Prep

Students seeking teacher certification in Texas must pass the following Texas Examinations of Educator Standards (TExES) exams:

• Pedagogy and Professional Responsibilities (PPR) test for grades EC-12
• Content specialization at the grade level for the certification sought (e.g., 4-8 or EC-6 Core Subjects, 7-12 Mathematics, etc.)
• Effective January 2021, all EC-6 Core Subjects, 4-8 Core Subjects and 4-8 ELAR must pass an additional exam, The Science of Teaching Reading (STR).

Students must be officially admitted to the Teacher Development Program to be eligible to take a TExES exam.

Step 1: Prepare for the TExES Exams

Contact the TDC to schedule a practice TExES and content PPR EC-12 exam, or for more information about review workshops.

The TDC has one of the highest passing rates of the TExES certification exams in the state. Click here to view the details.

“First Friday” & “Mid-Month” Practice TExES Exams

All students are required to take the practice tests for each TExES exam they must take. Students will not be released to take the official state TExES exams without first taking the practice tests. The “First Friday” of each month during fall and spring semesters the TDC offers all students the opportunity to take their practice TExES Exams in a group setting. We also offer a “Mid-Month” practice testing on Saturdays. During the summer students can take their practice tests in the TDC office. Students seeking any certification may register to take their practice test by calling our office 972-883-2730. Students must register 5 days prior to the practice test.

Practice TExES Exams (8:00am-Noon)

• Friday, January 19, 2024, ML2 1.214
• Friday, February 16, 2024, ML2 1.214
• Saturday, February 24, 2024, HH 2.502
• Friday, March 8, 2024, ML2 1.214
• Saturday, March 23, 2024, HH 2.502
• Friday, April 12, 2024, ML2 1.214
• Saturday, April 20, 2024, HH 2.502

Workshops

Students must call the TDC to reserve a seat in the Workshops. There is a limited number and it is on a first come, first serve basis.

• PPR Review: Saturday, March 30, 2024, 9:00am-1:00pm, ML2 1.214
• STR Review: Saturday, April 6, 2024, 9:00am-11:00pm, ML2 1.214
• Core Subjects (EC-6 & 4-8): Saturday, April 27, 2024, 9:00am-1:00pm, ML2 1.214

TDC’s Education Professors’ TExES Review Videos

• English, Language Arts and Reading
• ESL Part 1 and ESL Part 2
• Fine Arts
• Math Part 1 and Math Part 2
• Science
• Social Studies Version A
• Social Studies Version B
• Science of Teaching Reading (STR)

Suggested Study Sources

Step 2: Register for the TExES Exams

Suggested Testing Timeline

• The content specialization exam should be taken after completing content (subject area) courses.
• The Pedagogy & Professional Responsibility (PPR) exam should be taken by the end of October in the fall semester or the end of May in the spring semester during the Classroom Management course.
• The Science of Teaching Reading (STR) exam should be taken after Diagnostic Reading (prerequisites Reading I & Reading II). However, if you are taking Diagnostic Reading during the semester you need to pass your exams, then you need to take the exam by the end of October in the fall semester and the end of May in the spring semester.
• Note: If you need to retake a test, you must wait 30 days to register, so make sure you leave plenty of time to retest if necessary.

Registration

• You must be admitted to the TDC and obtain permission from the TDC to take a TExES exam.
• Go to the Texas Educator Examination Program to register for your TExES exams.
• Most TExES exams are $118.87 per test ($116 + $2.87 government fee). The STR exam is $139.

Step 3: Apply for Certification

After the University field supervisors have completed the final clinical teacher observations, students who have successfully fulfilled all requirements for Texas teacher certification (GPA, course work,  and TExES examinations and student/clinical teaching) should apply for certification on the TEA website.  Click on “Educator Certification,” select “Certification Information,” then click on “Apply for Certification.” (See below for fees.)

When the graduation date is posted on a student’s UT Dallas transcript, the certification officer will access the student’s online application, and upon verification of all certification requirements, will recommend the student for Texas certification. The student will receive an automated email message from the certifying agency when he or she has been recommended. When the TEA posts the certificate online, it can be viewed and printed.

Note: Students will need to retain their TEA ID numbers to retrieve copies of their certificates. Certificates may be printed on paper suitable for framing; however, the online certificate is the official teaching credential.

Additional Requirements for Teacher Certification

• Completion of all professional education coursework taken at UT Dallas
• Educational Technology course, ED 4372
• Appropriate documentation of effective public speaking or 3 SCH Public Speaking/Speech Course.
• Completion of all hours of student teaching (Clinical/Residency). Hours vary per semester.
• Fingerprint Fee $40.25
• $78 certification fee (Note: Application will be deleted from TEAL account if the fee is not paid within 48 hours.)