About The Test

About TOPT

The Texas Oral Proficiency Test™ (TOPT™) program is an extension of and an addition to the TExES and ExCET programs for certification to teach either Spanish or French, or to teach in a Spanish or French bilingual setting.

  • The TOPT is required if you plan to teach either Spanish or French or plan to teach in a bilingual setting.
  • The TOPT assesses your ability to speak Spanish or French.
  • The TOPT requires you to provide a recorded response to specific speaking tasks in order to demonstrate your proficiency in Spanish or French.
  • During the testing session, you will respond on audiotape to questions that allow you to demonstrate your speaking ability in Spanish or French. The test session lasts approximately one hour and 15 minutes. Part of this time is for orientation and completing forms.
  • Your proficiency in speaking the language will be measured against an established standard of competence.
  • To pass the TOPT, you must receive a score of 6 or higher based on the combination of scores received from a minimum of two independent scorings of your response.
  • Preparation strategies and additional information can be found under "Preparing for the TOPT" in the Registration Bulletin.

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Registration Bulletin

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

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Fees for Tests and Related Services

Test Fees
$82 Test fee (per test)
$30 Late registration fee
$70 Emergency registration fee
$53 Individual Administration with Examiner fee

Special Services
$15 Test, test center, test date, or test session change during regular or late registration period
$70 Test, test center, test date, or test sesssion change during emergency registration period
$15 Score report reprint (per report)
$70 TOPT score verification
$135 Expanded Diagnostic Feedback Service
$20 Fee for returned check

Preferred Forms of Payment

  • Credit or debit card (American Express®, Discover®, MasterCard®, and VISA®). Note: Any debit/check card branded with one of the above four accepted credit card logos can be processed.
  • Money order
  • Bank check
  • U.S. Postal Service money order

Other 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.
  • Payments made by check or money order should be made payable to ETS-Texas Educator.
  • If paying by personal check, please comply with the following:
    • Bank name and its address should be preprinted on the face of the check.
    • Check must have a preprinted check number.
    • Check must include examinee/payee name and address.
    • Check date CANNOT be over 90 days old.
    • Checks missing the preprinted name and address and checks with typewritten names are not acceptable.
  • Checks and money orders must be received within 90 days of the date on the payment and have the correct numeric and dollar amount written or printed on them.
  • A check in U.S. dollars must be drawn on a bank in the U.S. or Canada. Checks payable in other currencies must be drawn on banks in the same countries as the currencies. By sending your check, be aware that you are authorizing ETS, at its discretion, to use the information on your check to make a one-time electronic debit from your account for the amount of your check; no additional amount will be added.
  • If you do not have sufficient 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.
  • If you do not include the correct fee, your registration or request for service may be returned.
  • Services may be withheld for nonpayment of fees.
  • There are no refunds for service fees. See information about test fee refunds.
  • Refunds of test fees will be made in U.S. dollar denominations.
  • Cash payments cannot be accepted.

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