TExES Special Education EC-12 Exam

TExES 186 Special Education Specialist Exam 186

The TExES Special Education Specialist EC–12 (186) exam is designed to assess whether an examinee has the requisite knowledge and skills that an entry-level educator in this field in Texas public schools must possess. The 90 selected-response questions and the 1 constructed-response question are based on the Special Education Specialist EC–12 exam framework. Questions on this exam range from grades EC–12. Your final scaled score will be based only on scored questions.

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Domain I

Understanding Individuals with Disabilities and Evaluating Their Needs

Domain II

Assessment and Program Planning

Domain III

Curricular Knowledge and Instructional Practices

Domain IV

Professional Collaboration, Learning, and Responsibilities

Types of Exams

What distinguishes the various special education certification exams in Texas?

TExES Special Education EC-12 Exam (161)

This has been the standard, fully accredited, stand-alone certification for teachers of special education in Texas, covering Early Childhood through 12th grade. It indicates a broad understanding of special education principles and practices across all age levels. First offered in 2003, it will be discontinued after August 31, 2025. Candidates who pass this exam before this date have until August 31, 2026, to apply for certification.

TExES Special Education Supplemental Exam (163)

This exam is not a stand-alone certification. It is designed to be taken in addition to a core content area certification. Passing this exam adds a special education endorsement to an existing teaching certificate, allowing a teacher certified in a general education area to also teach special education within their grade level. Also available since 2003, it will also be discontinued after August 31, 2025. Similar to the EC-12 exam, candidates must apply for this supplemental certification by August 31, 2026, if they pass before the deadline.

TExES Special Education Specialist: EC-12 Exam (186)

This is the new, updated stand-alone special education certification exam that will replace both the EC-12 (161) and the Supplemental (163) exams. It aims to provide a comprehensive assessment for educators specializing in special education across the entire EC-12 grade span. Testing for this new exam will begin on September 1, 2025. After this date, the previous two exams will no longer be administered.

Federal and State Guidance

In the Memorandum to State Directors of Special Education 81 IDELF 287 (OSEP 2022), additional guidance was provided regarding requirements related to personnel qualifications and alternate certifications under part B of IDEA.

Specifically, the letter states that each person employed as a public-school special education teacher in elementary, middle, or high school:

(1) has obtained full State certification as a special education teacher (including certification obtained through an alternate route to certification as a special educator); or

(2) passed the State special education teacher licensing examination and holds a license in the State as a special education teacher (excluding charter schools).

Alternative certifications must:

receive high-quality professional development that is sustained, intensive, and classroom-focused in order to have a positive and lasting impact on classroom instruction, before and while teaching;
participate in a program of intensive supervision that consists of structured guidance and regular ongoing support for teachers or a teacher mentoring program;
assume the functions as a teacher only for a specified period of time not to exceed three years; and
demonstrate satisfactory progress toward full certification as prescribed by the State.

It further clarifies that public school special education teachers may not have special education certification or licensure requirements waived on an emergency, temporary, or provisional basis; and must hold at least a bachelor’s degree.

Exam Registration and Eligibility

Before you can register for the test, you will first need to meet the eligibility criteria to take the exam. You must meet one of the following criteria:

You have completed or will soon complete an educator preparation program that is approved by the State Board of Educator Certification. This includes university initial, university post baccalaureate, university alternative certification, and alternative certification programs. In this case, you must get approval to test through your program.
You have a previous certification in special education at the EC-12 level in another state or country and are seeking to become certified in Texas. In this case, you must seek approval to test from the Texas Education Agency.

You have a bachelor’s degree and are certified to teach in Texas public schools but wish to become certified in special education. In this case, you do not need an approval to test. You simply need to register for the exam through the Texas Education Agency website.

State Passing Standards

Retaking the Exam

An individual will have five attempts to take a certification examination. The five attempts include the first attempt to pass the examination and four retakes. If an individual fails an examination, the individual must wait 30 days before retaking the same examination.
If the individual is unable to successfully pass the examination after five attempts, the individual will not be allowed to take the examination again unless the SBEC waives the limitation for good cause.

Evaluate your exam results to determine competencies to focus on, review the example below.

In the example above, 6 ELAR Competencies have been identified for focused review. Utilize the Texas Educator Certification Examination Program website and view the preparation resources to zoom in on specific topics within a competency for further review.