Testing Requirements

Who is Required to Take the Test?

You must pass the TOPT if you are seeking certification as any one of the following teachers:

a Spanish teacher at the secondary level
a French teacher at the secondary level
a bilingual teacher (teaching students whose first language is Spanish or French)

NOTE: In addition to taking the TOPT Spanish (081) and/or French (080) tests, you may need to pass additional content and/or pedagogy tests to meet the testing requirements for certain certificates. See Testing Requirements Under the TExES and ExCET Testing Programs for more information.

Approval to Test

Educators/candidates may take a TOPT 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 and 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 nontraditional Educator Preparation Program for teachers and administrators who hold bachelor's degrees 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 eligibility to test.

In 2001, the 77th Texas Legislature passed legislation stating 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.

NOTE: The TEA Division of Educator Standards does not approve out-of-state examinees. Out-of-state examinees calling the TEA toll-free number (1-888-863-5880) should select 2 to talk to a credentialing specialist.

Certification by Exam

An educator who holds the appropriate Texas classroom teaching certificate may add classroom certification areas by sucessfully completing the appropriate examination for the area(s) sought. You must 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 on the ETS online registration system.