Texas Pre-Admission Content Tests (PACT)

Texas Pre-Admission Content Tests (PACT) are tests that can be used to obtain admission into a Texas Educator Preparation Program (EPP). Taking PACT does not ensure admittance into a program. EPPs may have additional admission requirements. PACT does not count toward certification.

With policy updates effective October 2016, individuals who hold a bachelor's degree or higher from an accredited college or university¹ or are scheduled to receive a bachelor's degree before being placed in a classroom, are allowed to take a content test for purposes of admission into the following types of EPPs:

• alternative certification programs
• university alternative certification programs
• university post-baccalaureate programs (without content courses)

An individual may not be placed in a classroom as a teacher of record under this section until receiving a bachelor's degree. Also, candidates may take the Texas PACT if they have never been admitted to a Texas approved EPP or are transferring to a different EPP. If a candidate is transferring to a different EPP, the candidate's current EPP must complete a Candidate Transfer Form. For all PACT inquiries, candidates should submit a Texas Education Agency (TEA) Help Desk ticket.

Note: Candidates are limited to a total of five attempts to take a certification test under Texas Education Code §21.048. The five attempts include the first attempt to pass the examination and four retakes, and include any of the test approval methods (PACT, EPP, out of state, charter, and CBE). Transferring to a different EPP does not change this policy requirement.

• Individuals who have already been formally admitted into an EPP
• Individuals seeking a certification other than classroom teacher (Educational Diagnostician, Principal, Reading Specialist, School Counselor, School Librarian, Superintendent, Master Teacher)
• Individuals seeking a certification with specific skill and experience requirements (Health, Marketing, Pedagogy and Professional Responsibilities for Trade and Industrial Education)
• Individuals who want to take the Pedagogy and Professional Responsibilities (PPR) examination
• Undergraduates seeking initial teacher certification
• Individuals holding teaching credentials in another state, U.S. territory or country

If the tests you wish to take are not offered through the TExES program, or you do not live in an area where TExES tests are offered, certain Praxis tests can be taken.

Select a test name to see the available test preparation materials for that title.

• Biology: Content Knowledge (5235)
• Chemistry: Content Knowledge (5245)
• English Language Arts: Content and Analysis (5039)
• General Science: Content Knowledge (5435)
• Mathematics: Content Knowledge (5161)
  (On-screen graphing calculator provided)
• Middle School English Language Arts (5047)
• Middle School Mathematics (5169)
  (On-screen graphing calculator provided)
• Middle School Social Studies (5089)
• Special Education: Core Knowledge and Applications (5354)

Registration for a Praxis test for the purpose of being admitted into an Educator Preparation Program in Texas must be done through the Praxis online registration system. Registration by mail is not available for PACT test takers.
 

When you are ready to register, go to the Praxis online registration system.

Passing scores are dependent upon the state where you test. Not all states set passing scores for all tests. If there is no indication of your passing status on your score report, check the state requirements page for your state. If your state requirements page does not list a passing score for your test, see the table below for score requirements.
 

Your score report will be sent to any designated score recipients.

• If you test in Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia or Wyoming a copy of your scores will automatically be sent to that state's teacher credentialing agency.
• You must add Code 8330 TX PRE-ADM CONTENT TSTS (PACT) as a score recipient so your scores will be reported to the state of Texas.

Scores are reported approximately 4 weeks after a test.

• Paper score reports are not mailed to test takers.
• You may access your PACT scores via your account on the Praxis online registration system.

^{1 See the U.S. Department of Education database of accredited postsecondary institutions and programs.}