Pre-Admission Content Test (PACT)

A Pre-Admission Content Test (PACT) can be used for admission to an alternative certification or post-baccalaureate educator preparation program (EPP). Taking a PACT does not ensure a candidate's admittance into a preparation program. EPPs may have additional admission requirements.

PACT exams may be used for other purposes as well. Candidates participating in the intensive pre-service route must pass a PACT exam and complete other mandatory requirements to be eligible for an intern certificate. Some charter schools may require their teachers to pass a PACT exam to demonstrate content mastery in their field of instruction.

The content of the PACT exams is different from the TExES exams. The PACT exams contain questions assessing subject-matter knowledge only, as opposed to the TExES certification exams that include questions assessing both subject-matter knowledge and pedagogical-content knowledge.

Texas Administrative Code, Chapter 227 , requires a candidate to take and pass a PACT for admission into an EPP in the following cases:

1. If the candidate has a GPA below a 2.5 or
2. If the candidate has not completed at least 12 semester credit hours in the subject area of the certificate the candidate is seeking (15 hours if seeking certification in math or science above 7th grade).

A PACT is not required for candidates who meet the 2.5 GPA and have completed a minimum of either 12 or 15 semester credit hours of coursework.

EPPs may have local policies that require a candidate to pass a PACT as a requirement for admission, but those policies are local decisions. When considering a preparation program, candidates should ask that program whether the program requires PACT.

The intensive pre-service route requires candidates to take and pass a PACT. These candidates must also successfully complete other pre-service training requirements to receive an intern certificate, which will allow them to move into a role as a teacher of record.

Candidates may take a PACT if they hold a bachelor's degree or are within the last semester of receiving a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university*.

For all PACT inquiries, candidates should submit a TEA Help Desk ticket .

NOTE: Candidates taking PACT for the intensive pre-service route are limited to five testing attempts. The five attempts include the first attempt to pass the examination and four retakes. Transferring to a different EPP does not change this policy requirement. The retake limit does not apply to candidates taking the PACT for the purpose of educator preparation program admission.

*See the U.S. Department of Education database of accredited postsecondary institutions and programs .

• Individuals seeking a certification other than classroom teacher (Educational Diagnostician, Principal as Instructional Leader, Reading Specialist, School Counselor, School Librarian, Superintendent)
• Individuals seeking a certification with specific skill and experience requirements (Health Science 6–12, Marketing 6–12, Pedagogy and Professional Responsibilities for Trade and Industrial Education 6–12)
• Individuals who want to take the Pedagogy and Professional Responsibilities EC–12 examination
• Individuals holding teaching credentials in another state, U.S. territory, or country

Information about which PACT exam is associated with each Texas Certificate is available on the Pre-Admission Content Test page  on the Texas Education Agency website.

Individuals in programs seeking certifications other than classroom teacher or certifications with specific skill and experience requirements still need test approval from their EPPs. PACT exams are not available for the following certification areas:

• Bilingual Education Supplemental
• Bilingual Target Language Proficiency Test (BTLPT) Spanish
• Braille
• Educational Diagnostician
• English as a Second Language Supplemental
• Gifted and Talented Supplemental
• Health Science 6–12
• Marketing 6–12
• Pedagogy and Professional Responsibilities EC–12
• Pedagogy and Professional Responsibilities for Trade and Industrial Education 6–12
• Principal as Instructional Leader
• Reading Specialist
• School Counselor
• School Librarian
• Special Education Supplemental
• Superintendent
• Visually Impaired

If you are a first-time testing candidate, you must go to the TEA website at www.tea.texas.gov (click "ECOS for Educators" on the top toolbar) and create a TEA Login (TEAL) account. When you create your account, you will complete an Educator Profile and obtain a TEA ID number.

Once you have obtained a TEA ID number, go to the online registration system on this website and create a testing account. You will register to test through your testing account on this website.

Review information about creating a testing account, registering for an exam, and scheduling a testing appointment .

PACT test takers can view their score reports through their testing accounts on the Texas Educator Certification Examination Program website. Score reporting dates for the PACT exams are available in the Scores section of the website.

Candidates who have been admitted or are seeking admission into an EPP should contact their program for more information.