Certifications & Requirements

Texas law requires every person seeking educator certification to perform satisfactorily on comprehensive examinations. The purpose of these examinations is to ensure that each educator has the necessary content and professional knowledge to perform in Texas public schools. The Examination for the Certification of Educators in Texas (ExCET) program now replaced by the Texas Examination of Educator Standards (TExES) exam was developed for this purpose. Every individual seeking certification as an educator in Texas is required by law to pass the ExCET or TExES exam.

The tests are criterion-referenced multiple-choice tests designed to measure a candidate's knowledge in relation to an established standard of competence (criterion) rather than the performance of other candidates. Some tests may have additional assessment modes (e.g., a written response).

Test retakes are permitted until a passing score is obtained. Examinees who fail a test and wish to retake it may do so at any regularly scheduled test administration by submitting a NEW registration form and payment. You may not register to take the same test more than once on the same day.

You are eligible to take the ExCET or TExES if you meet one of the following guidelines:

• You have completed the program requirements of an approved certification program in a Texas college or university.
• You are enrolled in your last semester of an educator preparation program in a Texas college or university on the date of the administration for which you have registered.
• You are in the spring semester prior to summer completion of program requirements in a Texas college or university on the date of the administration for which you have registered.
• You are in the second semester of a one-year internship of an alternative certification educator preparation program.
• You are fully certified by a state other than Texas and will be seeking a Texas teacher and/or administrator certificate. You must have also applied for and received a review of your credentials by the State Board for Educator Certification (SBEC).
• You hold a current Texas one-year certificate issued by SBEC.

OR

• You hold a valid Texas classroom certificate and are seeking an additional certification or endorsement.

For information about Texas educator certification and exam preparation materials please access the Texas Education Agency website and choose the Educator Certification link .

The Alternative Certification Program (ACP) is a program designed for college graduates who meet certain minimum criteria to obtain teacher certification through plans approved by the state of Texas. This certification is considered an “alternative certification” route because it accomplishes certification outside of the traditional university program setting. One of the many ACP programs in the Houston area is provided through Region 4.

How to Apply

Please visit inspiretexas.net for detailed information, deadlines, application procedures and the necessary forms required for admission to this program.

Admission Criteria

• $95.00 application fee
• Submit Online application
• Bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited university.
• Official transcripts from all colleges attended.
• Transcripts from a foreign university must be equivalent to a U.S. bachelor’s degree and be evaluated by a recognized evaluation service. The evaluation must be a course by course evaluation and show equivalent credit hours and grades.
• See the Region 4 website for more information regarding acceptance into the Region 4 Certification Program.

For more information, please call Region 4 at (713) 744-6323. The fax number is (713) 744-8118.

All Klein Independent School District (KISD) Educational Assistants must be deemed Highly Qualified as to meet Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) mandated standards. Each person recommended for employment in an educational assistant position must have 48 hours of college credit or successfully pass KISD's ESSA Test in the areas of Math, Writing and Reading.

Highly Qualified Paraprofessionals
ESSA requires that paraprofessionals hired by an LEA after January 8, 2002, meet one of the following qualifications if the paraprofessional will perform instructional duties in a Title I, Part A program:

• Have completed at least two years of study at an institution of higher education - defined as completion of 48 semester hours (or equivalent trimester hours) of college coursework; or
• Have obtained an associate's (or higher) degree; or
• have met a rigorous standard of quality and can demonstrate, through a formal state or local academic assessment -
  • knowledge of, and the ability to assist in instructing, reading, writing and mathematics; or
  • knowledge of, and the ability to assist in instructing, reading readiness, writing readiness, and mathematics readiness, as appropriate.

For your convenience, a Reading, Writing and Mathematics study guide has been added to this website for you to download at your leisure.

PAKS Study Guide - Math

PAKS Study Guide - Reading

PAKS Study Guide - Writing