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
All students must take practice tests for all their required TExES exams prior to being released to take their official certification exams.
Practice Tests: Click Here to Reserve Your Spot
- Friday, August 23, 2024, 8:00am-Noon, HH 2.502
- Friday, September 13, 2024, 8:00am-Noon, HH 2.502
- Saturday, September 21, 2024, 8:00am-Noon, HH 2.502
- Friday, October 11, 2024, 8:00am-Noon, HH 2.502
- Friday, October 18, 2024, 8:00am-Noon, HH 2.502
- Saturday, November 2, 2024, 8:00am-Noon, ML2 1.216
- Friday, November 15, 2024, 8:00am-Noon, HH 2.502
Workshops: Click Here to Reserve Your Spot
- Core Subject EC-6 & 4-8: Saturday, September 7, 2024, 9:00am-1:00pm with Alyssa Ross
- STR: Saturday, October 5, 2024, 9:00am-1:00pm with Dr. Leek and Dr. McNeel
- PPR: Saturday, October 19th, 9:00am-1:00pm with Alyssa Ross
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
- Science of Teaching Reading (STR)
Test Prep Study Guide
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Step 2: Register for the TExES Exams
Suggested Testing Timeline
- The Pedagogy & Professional Responsibility (PPR) exam should be taken during or immediately after completing the Classroom Management course.
- The content specialization exam should be taken after completing content (subject area) courses.
- The Science of Teaching Reading (STR) exam should be taken after Diagnostic Reading (prerequisites Reading I & Reading II)
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.
- Two semester residency program completed. (Hours vary per semester.)
- Grade of A or B in all Restricted Courses.
- Fingerprint Fee $40.25
- $78 certification fee (Note: Application will be deleted from TEAL account if the fee is not paid within 48 hours.)