The first step in the SBEC certification process requires that every teaching candidate pass the Texas Examinations of Educator Standards, or TExES. This is a criterion-based exam that assesses a teacher's knowledge against an established standard rather than in relation to the scores of other test-takers. The TExES is a multiple-choice exam in a number of subject areas, including business education, computer science, English language arts, health, history, math and social studies. TExES score scales are from 100 to 300, with 240 as the minimum passing score. This means that a candidate who scores 240 has the minimum level of knowledge required for a beginning teacher in Texas public schools.
The Texas Examinations for Master Teachers, or TExMaT, is a certification for people who want to teach reading, math, technology and science. Unlike the TExES subject exams, the TExMaT exams are divided into three grade levels of instruction: early childhood to grade four, grades four to eight, and grades eight to 12. The TExMaT combines multiple-choice questions and constructed-response case studies designed to evaluate a prospective teacher's instruction methods.
The SBEC approves certification from certain university-based programs that offer certification training in an accredited undergraduate degree program. The SBEC also approves of continuing education certification training offered by institutions of higher learning for teaching candidates who possess a bachelor's degree. Alternative or accelerated certification training that is provided by specialty centers, school districts and training institutes are also acceptable. Candidates who seek certification from these institutions must first go to the Texas Education Agency website to make sure the programs are SBEC approved.
A prospective Texas teacher who holds a certificate from another state or country is permitted to apply for a certificate without having to undergo further certification through an exam. However, the certificate has to be equivalent to the one conferred by the SBEC, and it must be valid. After the SBEC reviews the candidate's certification and finds it acceptable, it will issue a one-year certificate. Before the year expires, the teacher must renew his certification through examination or produce an exam taken in another jurisdiction that is similar to the Texas standard.