Testing Requirements

Who is Required to Take the Tests?

TASC
All persons seeking certification to teach students who are deaf or hard-of-hearing (i.e., seeking the Teacher of the Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing certificate) and who wish to teach in a sign communication classroom must pass the TASC. The TASC requirement is in addition to other certification requirements already in effect. Sign communication means communication through the language of ASL or any or several manual systems. The TASC assesses sign communication in ASL or any of the following signing systems:

  • Contact Sign (CS)
  • Signed English (SE)
  • Signing Exact English (SEE2)
  • Morphemic Sign System (MSS)

IMPORTANT NOTES: Individuals who seek the Teacher of the Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing certificate to teach in a classroom in which another communication method (such as oral/aural or cued speech) is predominantly used are not required to pass the TASC for certification, although assignment rules do require the educator to pass the TASC. Instead, their communication proficiency is assessed by their Educator Preparation Programs.

Successful completion of the TASC-ASL may be used toward meeting requirements for the Teacher of the Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing certificate. Therefore, individuals who must pass the TASC and who also anticipate seeking the ASL certificate in the future  - with the understanding that only ASL grammar, structure, and syntax are to be used when taking the TASC-ASL - choose to take that test instead of TASC.

TASC-ASL
All persons seeking certification to teach ASL as a foreign language in public schools must hold an ASL certificate. Anyone seeking ASL certification must pass the TASC-ASL. To pass the TASC-ASL, candidates must maintain ASL vocabulary, grammar, and syntax throughout the videotaped interview and may not incorporate other sign systems (such as Signed English or Contact Sign) in their responses. Depending on your circumstances, other requirements for certification may also apply.  Successful completion of the TASC may not be used toward meeting requirements for teaching ASL as a foreign language in the public schools, even if the TASC interview is in ASL.

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Approval to Test

Educators/candidates may take a TASC/TASC-ASL test if one of the following criteria is met:

Educator Preparation Programs
Educators fulfilling the requirements in an SBEC/TEA-approved Texas Educator Preparation Program must receive approval to take a certification examination. After acceptance iand approval to test from their Educator Preparation Program, these candidates will acquire a TEA ID number by completing an Educator Profile on the SBEC website.

  • University Initial - a program usually delivered as part of a baccalaureate program that includes student teaching
  • University Post Baccalaureate - a program that may be offered to an individual who already holds at least a bachelor's degree and is seeking certification
  • University Alternative Certification Program - an Alternative Certification Program offered by a university
  • Alternative Certification Program - a non-traditional Educator Preparation Program for teachers and administrators who hold a bachelor's degree or higher that may involve university coursework or other professional development experiences as well as intense mentoring and supervision during the candidate's first year in the role of educator

Out-of-State/Out of Country

If you are certified in another state, a United States Territory, or another country, approval to test must be granted from SBEC/TEA after an educator enters an Educator Profile on the SBEC website (this will generate a TEA ID number). After entering the SBEC Educator Profile information, the educator must complete an online application for review of credentials and submit appropriate documents by mail to TEA. After the credentials have been reviewed by TEA, the educator will be sent information regarding the tests that he or she is approved to take. Out-of-state/out-of-country candidates can view their approved examinations in their SBEC Educator Profile under "View Examinations" to confirm their eligibility to test.

In 2001, the 77th Texas Legislature passed legislation that states that individuals holding out-of-state or out of country certificates who perform satisfactorily on certain examinations "similar to and at least as rigorous as" the Texas certification exams may be issued a Texas educator certificate without additional testing. If you hold an acceptable teaching credential from another state or country and are seeking to be certified in the equivalent field(s), you must have your credentials reviewed by SBEC/TEA. Please visit the SBEC website for more information.

Certification by Exam
An educator who holds an appropriate Texas classroom teaching certificate may add classroom certification areas by successfully completing the appropriate examination for the area(s) sought. You will need to go to your SBEC Educator Profile on the SBEC website to receive your TEA ID number, which will be used to register for an exam.

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