On the Day of the Test

What to Bring to the Test Center

Your admission ticket. You should return to your personal account and view your admission ticket 24 hours before your test to confirm that there have been no changes to your reporting schedule. If there is a test center change, (e.g., a different building than originally scheduled), it will be updated in your personal account. If there have been changes, you must print a new admission ticket.
Acceptable and valid identification document(s) with a signature and photograph. Your ID will be checked before you are admitted. The name you give when you register must match the name on the identification document(s) you present at the test center. See Identification (ID) Requirements.

Admission to the Test

The TOPT tests are administered at various times in the morning and in the afternoon. It is your responsibility to allow plenty of time to arrive at the test center 30 minutes prior to the start time listed on your admission ticket, regardless of whether there is traffic, congestion, road construction, bad weather, car accidents, poor directions, or any other incident that might delay arrival. If you do not arrive early enough prior to the test start time to allow for check in and pretesting procedures, you will not be permitted to test and your test fees will be forfeited. There will be no exception to this policy. The doors of the testing room will be closed at the start time.

Review the ID requirements and make sure you have the required documents with you. Without the required ID documents, you will not be permitted to test.

Identification (ID) Requirements

The identification information and requirements contained in this section must be read by all test takers.

Your ID requirements depend upon the country in which you plan to test. Please read the specific information below for acceptable primary and supplemental identification documents.

Information for ALL Test Takers

You must have acceptable and valid ID with your name, signature and photograph to be admitted to a test center. ID requirements are strictly enforced. It is your responsibility to read and understand the instructions and requirements.
All documents must be originals; copies of documents are not acceptable.
If you arrive at the test center without the required ID, the test center staff will not admit you to the test and you will forfeit your registration and test fees.
When scheduling your test, you must use exactly the same name as shown on the primary identification document that you will present at the test center. If the name shown on your primary identification does not match the name on your registration record, you will not be permitted to test. There is one exception to this requirement. If you have been married or divorced between registering for and taking the exam and the registration has your maiden name and the ID has your married name (or vice versa), this is acceptable if you bring along a RECENT marriage certificate or divorce decree that was issued between the registration date and the actual test date. "Recent" can be interpreted to mean issued within the last six months.
If your ID document contains two last names, enter the names exactly as presented on your ID document. If you register via the telephone, please ensure that the representative makes your registration in the complete name that appears on your ID.
The ID must be current (not expired). There is one exception to this requirement. If your Texas driver's license has expired but you have your Texas Department of Public Safety renewal certificate, these two together are acceptable as long as the name on the driver's license and the name on the renewal certificate are the same.
If the test center staff questions the ID you present, you will be required to present a second proof of identity. If positive confirmation cannot be made, you may be refused admission to the test center and you will forfeit your registration and test fees.
Test center personnel will check your ID before assigning you a seat at the test center. The test center supervisor will check to verify that you are the person in your photo identification. The supervisor will repeat this procedure before and after all breaks.
Admittance to the test center does not imply that your form of identification is valid or that your scores will be reported. All reported cases of questionable identification are subject to review and approval by the ETS Office of Testing Integrity either during or after the test administration. ETS reserves the right to withhold and/or cancel scores in the event that the ID requirements set forth herein are not met.

Acceptable Primary Identification Documents

TESTING WITHIN YOUR COUNTRY OF CITIZENSHIP
Only one form of primary ID is needed if your primary ID document contains your name, photograph and a signature. Acceptable primary ID documents are:

Passport with name, photograph and signature
Current driver's license with name, photograph and signature (see exception above)
State ID issued by the motor vehicle agency with name, photograph and signature
Government-issued ID with name, photograph and signature
Military ID with name, photograph and signature

If the test center supervisor has any concerns about the primary ID document, you will be required to present an acceptable supplemental ID. If your primary ID does not contain your signature, either sign the document or present an acceptable supplemental ID document.

TESTING OUTSIDE YOUR COUNTRY OF CITIZENSHIP

You must present your passport as your primary ID document. If you do not meet this requirement, you may not be admitted to test.
U.S. military personnel may present their U.S. military ID cards for admission to test centers. If a military ID card does not contain a signature, a supplemental ID is required.

If your passport is not written in English, you must also present a supplemental ID document that contains a clear, recent photo and is in English.

If your passport does not contain your signature, either sign your passport or present a supplemental ID document.

The following documents are also acceptable for admission. You do not need advance approval from the ETS Office of Testing Integrity to use these specific documents. To be acceptable, however, these documents must be accompanied by a supplemental ID that contains your photograph.

Permanent Resident Card/Resident Alien Card (Form I-551 or I-151)
Temporary Resident Card (Form I-688)
Employment Authorization Card (Form I-688A, I-688B, or I-766)
Mexican Border Crosser Card (This form of ID may be accepted only at test centers that are within 25 miles of the Mexican border.)

Acceptable Supplemental Identification Documents
If your primary ID is missing your photo or a signature, you must present one of the following supplemental IDs in addition to your primary ID. The supplemental ID must contain a clear, recent photo and your signature; it cannot be expired. Acceptable supplemental ID documents are:

Government-issued identification document (including but not limited to passport, driver's license, state ID cards, national identification, or military identification). There are some exceptions: see Unacceptable Identification Documents.
Student ID
Confirmation of identity letter from your educational institution. The letter must contain your date of birth; a recent, recognizable photo; your signature; and the date issued. It must be typed on the original letterhead of the educational institution you attend(ed), and the signature of the school official and the school seal must overlap your photo. A letter of identity is valid for only one year from the date of issue.

Unacceptable Identification Documents

Any expired ID (except for expired Texas driver's license presented together with Texas Department of Public Safety renewal certificate, subject to conditions previously set forth)
International driver's license
Draft classification card
International student ID
Credit/debit card of any kind
Notary-prepared letter or document
Social Security card
Employee ID card
Learner's permit or any temporary identification document
Birth certificate

If you cannot meet the specified ID requirements or if you have questions about ID, you must contact the ETS Office of Testing Integrity (1-609-406-5430, fax: 1-609-406-9709, or e-mail: TSReturns@ets.org) before you register to test. If you do not contact the ETS Office of Testing Integrity before registering and you are not admitted to the test, you will forfeit your registration and test fees.

Test Center Procedures and Regulations

By submitting your registration for a TOPT test, you are agreeing to abide by all procedures and policies contained in the Registration Bulletin and/or communicated to you at the test administration for which you have registered.

The Registration Bulletin and all other applicable rules of the State Board for Educator Certification (Texas Administrative Code, Title 19, Part 7) govern your participation in the TOPT program.

General Guidelines

Dress so that you can adapt to any room temperature.
Test centers do not have large waiting areas. Friends or relatives who accompany you to the test center will not be permitted to wait in the test center or be in contact with you while you are taking the test. Except for ETS-authorized observers, visitors are not permitted in the testing room while testing is in progress.
ID verification at the test center may include thumbprinting, photographing, videotaping, or some other form of electronic ID confirmation. If you refuse to participate, you will not be permitted to test and you will forfeit your registration and test fees. This is in addition to the requirement that you must present acceptable and valid identification.
Cell phones are not allowed in the test center. Using or having a cell phone in your possession in the test center may be grounds for dismissal.
Personal items other than ID are not allowed in the testing room. This includes, without limitation, PDAs, BlackBerry devices, any other electronic or photographic devices, handbags, and study materials. You will be required to follow the procedures set by the test center for storage of your personal belongings. You may also be asked to empty your pockets. Storage space is limited, so plan accordingly. You will not have access to your personal items during the test.
Test centers assume no responsibility for candidates' personal belongings. Personal items such as hats, scarves, jackets, and outerwear that are taken into the test room are subject to inspection by the test center staff before you are admitted to the test room. Failure to comply may result in dismissal from the test and/or cancellation of scores.
Neither ETS nor the test centers assume any responsibility whatsoever for personal items or devices that you choose to bring into the test center.
The test center supervisor will assign you a seat.
On occasion, weather conditions or other circumstances beyond the test center or ETS's control may require a delayed start or the rescheduling of your test.
Other than ID, personal items are not allowed in the testing room. Before the test, you will be assigned a locker or receive instructions from test center staff regarding where you must deposit items such as cell phones, pagers, handbags, and study materials. (Cell phones are not permitted on the writing surface.) You may also be asked to empty your pockets. Storage space is limited, so plan accordingly. You may not have access to your personal items during the test or break.
Test centers assume no responsibility for candidates' personal belongings.
The test administrator/supervisor will assign you a seat.
On occasion, weather conditions or other circumstances beyond the test administrator's or ETS's control may require a delayed start or the rescheduling of your test appointment.

TOPT Tests
The following procedures and regulations apply during the entire test session, which begins when you are admitted to the test center, ends when you leave the test center, and includes breaks.

Supervisors will not honor requests for schedule changes.
Take your admission ticket and photo ID to the test center.
No test taker will be admitted after test materials have been distributed.
Paper of any kind is not permitted in the testing room.
You must have the supervisor's permission to leave the room during the test. Any time lost cannot be made up.
You may wish to pace yourself with your own watch, but the supervisor is the official timekeeper. You will not be permitted to continue the test or any part of it beyond the established time limit. Watch alarms and clocks on cell phones are not permitted.
At the conclusion of the test you will be required to return your test book to the test supervisor. Test books are the property of ETS.

Although tests are administered under strict supervision and security measures, testing irregularities may sometimes occur. Please contact ETS as soon as possible to report any observed behavior that may lead to an invalid score - for example, getting answers from another test taker, taking a test for someone else, having access to test questions before the exam, or using notes or unauthorized aids.

All information will be held in strictest confidence.

Phone: 1-800-353-8570 (United States only)
Fax: 1-609-406-9709
E-mail: TSReturns@ets.org

Dismissal From a Test Center

A test center supervisor is authorized to dismiss you from a test session and/or your scores may be withheld and ultimately canceled for any actions which violate the policies and procedures set forth herein and/or communicated at the test center, such as, but not limited to, the following:

attempting to take the test for someone else or having someone else take the test for you
failing to provide acceptable identification
obtaining improper access to the test, a part of the test, or information about the test
using or having a telephone or cell phone or any other prohibited device in your possession in the test center (Cell phones and/or electronic and photographic devices are not permitted in the test center. If you take these devices into the test center, they may be collected by the test center staff and/or reported by test center personnel. You will be required to follow the procedures set by the test center for storage of your cell phone or any electronic/photographic device you bring to the test center. If you fail to follow the directions of the test center, you may be prohibited from taking the test and/or the test center personnel may report your violation to ETS. Any violation of this procedure during the test session may result in withholding/cancellation of your scores, dismissal from the test center, and/or banning you from future testing. Neither ETS nor the test centers assume any responsibility whatsoever for personal devices that you choose to bring to the test center.)
using any aids in connection with the test, including without limitation: mechanical pencils, pens, pagers, beepers, calculators (except on tests where a calculator is permitted), watch calculators, books, pamphlets, notes, rulers, highlighter pens, stereos or radios with headphones, telephones, cell phones, watch alarms (including those with flashing lights or alarm sounds), stop watches, dictionaries, translators, compasses, protractors, rulers, and any handheld electronic or photographic devices
creating a disturbance (Disruptive behavior in any form will not be tolerated. The test center supervisor has sole discretion in determining what constitutes disruptive behavior.)
attempting to give or receive assistance (Discussion or sharing of test content during the test administration, during breaks, or after the test is prohibited. Communication in any form is not permitted during the test administration.)
removing or attempting to remove test content from the test center (Under no circumstances may test content or any part of the test content be removed, reproduced, and/or disclosed by any means, e.g., hard copy, verbally, electronically, to any person or entity.)
bringing a weapon or firearm into the test center
bringing food, drink, or tobacco into the testing room
leaving the test center during the test session or during breaks
leaving the testing room without permission
leaving the testing room before the test session is dismissed
referring to, looking through, or working on any test, or test section, when not authorized to do so, or working after time has been called
failing to follow any of the test administration regulations contained in the Registration Bulletin, given by the test center supervisor, or specified in any test materials

ETS and the TEA reserve the right to take any and all actions - including, but not limited to, barring you from future testing and/or withholding or canceling your scores - for failure to comply with test administration regulations or the test center supervisor's directions. If your scores are canceled, they will not be reported, and your registration and test fees will not be refunded.

Cancellation of a Test Session

In the event that it becomes necessary for ETS or the TEA to cancel a test administration for reasons beyond its control, such as severe weather conditions or a natural disaster (e.g., flood, fire), the cancellation announcement will be posted on this website. In addition, the cancellation announcement will be available as a recorded telephone message at 1-800-205-2626. You will be advised by e-mail or U.S. mail as soon as the test administration has been rescheduled. It is imperative that you keep the contact information, especially your telephone number and e-mail address, in your SBEC Educator Profile up-to-date so you can be contacted quickly if the need arises.

Unless the TEA cancels a test administration at a given test center, the test administration will be conducted as scheduled. If you miss a test administration that has not been officially canceled, you will be considered absent and will not receive a refund or credit of any kind.

Submitting Comments

The TEA and ETS employ stringent quality-control procedures in preparing test materials. However, if you wish to comment about a test question for any reason, notify the test center supervisor at your test center.

If you have comments about the test center or the conditions under which you took a test, please submit your comments in a letter or e-mail. Complaints submitted by mail must be postmarked no later than 7 days after your test date. Complaints submitted via e-mail or fax must be received no later than 7 days after your test date. All test center complaints must be sent directly to ETS. Complaints sent to your Educator Preparation Program or to the TEA will not be acted upon.

ETS-Texas Educator Certification Program
Test Administration Services
Mail Stop 34-Q
Princeton, NJ 08541-6051

Fax: 1-609-771-7710

E-mail: TexasTas@ets.org

ExCET - Examination for the Certification of Educators in Texas