ExCET - Examination for the Certification of Educators in Texas

• About the TExES and ExCET Tests
• What's New in 2008-09?
• Registration Bulletin
• Fees for Tests and Related Services

Both the TExES and ExCET tests are criterion-referenced examinations designed to measure your knowledge in relation to an established criterion rather than to the performance of other candidates. All of the tests in the TExES and ExCET programs contain multiple-choice questions. Some tests also have additional assessment modes (e.g., open-ended written responses). For more information about individual tests and test composition, see the preparation manual for each test.

In an effort to provide greater access to testing, some TExES tests are also available via computer at specially equipped test centers. The computer-administered (CAT) tests are administered separately from the other TExES tests. See more information about the TExES CAT tests.

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New TExES Tests
When a new test is introduced, there is a grace period of one year during which both the new test and the test it will replace are offered. After that initial year, the new test will be required for certification in that field.

Bilingual Target Language Proficiency Test (BTLPT) - Spanish
The Bilingual Target Language Proficiency Test (BTLPT) - Spanish will be offered for the first time in early 2009. It will be offered only via computer during one week administration windows at various times throughout the year. BTLPT - Spanish will replace the Texas Oral Proficiency Test (TOPT) - Spanish (081) after August 2010. During the time that both tests are offered, if you are testing under the Certification by Examination option, you can choose which test you want to take. Educator Preparation Programs will determine which test should be taken by their candidates via the test approval process. Beginning in September 2010, educators seeking the Bilingual Education certification in Spanish will be required to take the BTLPT - Spanish. The test is designed to measure four domains:

• Listening
• Speaking
• Reading
• Writing

Domain I: Listening Comprehension contains 36 multiple-choice questions. This domain measures the teacher's ability to apply literal, inferential, and interpretive listening skills to authentic materials heard in Spanish that are relevant to the bilingual classroom and the school environment.

Domain II: Oral Expression consists of four constructed-response tasks. This domain measures the teacher's ability to construct effective and appropriate oral discourse in Spanish for various audiences, purposes, and occasions relevant to the bilingual classroom and the school environment.

Domain III: Reading Comprehension consists of 48 multiple-choice questions. This domain measures the teacher's ability to apply literal, inferential, interpretive, and critical reading skills to authentic materials written in Spanish that are relevant to the bilingual classroom and the school environment.

Domain IV: Written Expression consists of three constructed-response tasks. This domain measures the teacher's ability to write effectively in Spanish for various audiences, purposes, and occasions relevant to the bilingual classroom and the school environment.

In Domain IV, you will be required to enter written responses on the computer. An alternate character toolbar for inputting Spanish accents and characters is built into the test. A tutorial for using this toolbar will allow you to practice using the toolbar prior to taking the test. You are strongly urged to take the tutorial. The test preparation manual for BTLPT - Spanish will be available for download in late 2008.

Pedagogy and Professional Responsibilities EC-6, Generalist EC-6, and Bilingual Education Supplemental
The Pedagogy and Professional Responsibilities EC-6 (194) and Generalist EC-6 (191) tests will be offered beginning in June 2009 with registration beginning in March 2009. These tests are designed for educators seeking EC-6 certification and will replace the Pedagogy and Professional Responsibilities EC-4 (100) test and the Generalist EC-4 (101) test, both of which will no longer be offered after August 2010.

A new Bilingual Education Supplemental test will be offered beginning in June 2009. Registration for this test will begin in March 2009. This new test will most likely replace the Bilingual Education Supplemental EC-4 (102) and the Bilingual Education Supplemental 4-8 (112) tests. If this occurs, those tests will no longer be offered after August 2010. A code has not yet been determined for this test. Watch this website for further information.

Online Admission Tickets and Score Reports
Beginning with the 2008-09 testing year, paper admission tickets and score reports will no longer be mailed. Test takers will print admission tickets from their testing accounts on this website.

Score reports will only be available online. Score reports for paper-based tests will be posted by 5:00 p.m. Central time on the score reporting date. Score reports for computer-administered tests (except for BTLPT - Spanish) will be posted weekly.

The unofficial end-of-test score report issued at computer-administered test centers is no longer offered. This report indicated the number of questions answered correctly and served as proof that an examinee had taken a TExES computer-administered test. It did not indicate the examinee's scaled score or passing status and was not intended to be an official report of final scores.

Score Report Reprints Discontinued
Beginning with the 2008-09 testing year, the score report reprint service that has been offered in the past will no longer be available. You will be able to print your score report from your ETS testing account for a 90-day period from the time scores are posted. You are strongly urged to print a copy for your records. After the 90-day period, you will be able to view your final score from your account on the SBEC website, but you will not be able to print a score report from that site nor will you be able to order a score report from TEA.

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The Registration Bulletin is a free publication that contains program information, test dates, contact information, and registration procedures.

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Test Fees
$120 Test fee (per test)
$240 Superintendent test fee*
$35 Late registration fee (paper-based tests)**
$75 Emergency registration fee (paper-based tests)**
$50 International site fee

*The Superintendent test (064) is a two-session test; both sessions are required.
**Late and emergency registration fees are nonrefundable.

Additional Services
$15 Test, test center, test date, or test session change during regular or late registration period
$75 Test, test center, test date, or test session change during emergency registration period
$25 Multiple-choice score verification (not available for computer-administered TExES tests)
$35 Written response score verification (including Braille written component)
$60 Multiple choice and Written response score verification
$70 BTLPT - Spanish written/oral response score verification
$20 Fee for returned check
$30 Additional processing fee for DANTES requests

Payment

• Online and phone payments can be made by credit/debit card (American Express®, Discover®, MasterCard®, and VISA®). Any debit/check card branded with one of the above four accepted credit card logos can be processed.
• Information about payments sent by mail is on the form for the service you are requesting

Payment Policies

• All fees are stated in U.S. dollars.
• All outstanding balances with ETS must be paid in full prior to registering for any ETS-administered tests.
• All payments must be for the full amount.
• If you do not have sufficient credit or funds in your account, your scores will be withheld, you will be unable to register for additional tests, and an additional service fee of $20 will be added to your account. You will receive your scores as soon as the total outstanding balance has been cleared, unless your scores are being withheld for any other reason.
• Services may be withheld for nonpayment of fees.
• Refunds of test fees will be made in U.S. dollar denominations.
• There are no refunds for service fees.
• Additional policies for payments made by mail are on the form for the service you are requesting.

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