AAFCS Exams for Texas Educator Candidates

The content of the exams is not changing.

Yes, the eligibility process will be different. After the transition, in accordance with TEA policy, eligibility for these exams will follow the same approval process as other certification exams. Candidates must first receive approval to test from their EPP. Once approved, candidates will be able to view their approved exams in their Educator Profile, which can be accessed through their TEAL account . Candidates will then register and schedule to test through their account on the Texas Educator Certification Examination Program website.

Testing will be available through Pearson starting on September 9, 2019. Registration and scheduling will be available on the program website beginning July 16, 2019.

Texas educator candidates will register for exams and schedule appointments through the Texas Educator Certification Examination Program website, which provides tools for locating testing centers and available appointments. This change will increase flexibility in scheduling your exam appointment because appointments will be available year-round. There will also be an increase in the number of testing centers that offer the AAFCS examinations. The process provides consistency among all certification and content areas in registration, administration, and score reporting.

The exam content and the time allocated for your test session will not change. All exams will be administered in a computer-administered testing (CAT) format.

New testing locations will be available in Texas and nationwide. The test center search tool can be used to research test location availability.

Yes, successful completion of an AAFCS exam qualifies candidates to apply for the national professional credential. The AAFCS credentialing requirements, application, and process remain the same.

You can choose to have your passing results sent to AAFCS during registration. Non-passing results will not be sent to AAFCS, regardless of your response to the question.

This website provides all of the information Texas educator candidates need to access preparation materials and to register and schedule an AAFCS exam, with a new format for accessing information. The Candidate Information Bulletin and Study Guide have been replaced with webpages covering specific topics such as policies, the testing experience, and exam scoring and reporting. Detailed information about each exam is accessible on a single webpage for that exam.

Yes, you will need to create a new Pearson testing account, which will require an email address as the username, setting up a security question, and a password.

No, your TEA ID and TEA ECOS/TEAL account will not change.

Pearson Customer Service will be available during the following hours of operation:
Mon–Fri: 7:00 a.m.–7:00 p.m. Central time, excluding holidays
Sat: 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. Central time, excluding holidays
If you are an educator preparation program (EPP) candidate and have questions about which exam(s) you need to take or about certification requirements, contact your advisor, the director, or certification officer at your EPP.

If you have Texas educator certification-related questions, such as applying for certification, requirements for out-of-state or out-of-country candidates, or additional certification-by-examination, go to the Texas Education Agency (TEA) Certification website .

For Information about the AAFCS national professional credential, visit the AAFCS website .

Candidates may request special testing accommodations during registration. Pearson considers requests on a case-by-case basis to meet the particular needs of the examinee. To find a list of pre-approved comfort aids and information on requesting specific accommodations, select an AAFCS exam from the Alternative Testing Arrangements page.

Beginning on July 16, 2019, you will be able to register for exam appointments available on or after September 9, 2019. Review step-by-step instructions describing how to create a Pearson testing account, register for an exam, and schedule an exam appointment .

• You will create a new Pearson testing account. The first and last name used for your Pearson testing account must match the first and last name used for your TEA ECOS account.
• You will be able to search for convenient test centers and exam appointments before you register to test.
• You will be able to register for an exam and complete the payment process and then schedule your exam appointment OR choose to schedule your exam appointment at a later time, within 170 days of your registration date.
• You will be able to cancel your exam appointment and change your exam appointment date, time, or location with no charge, up to 48 hours before your scheduled test date.
• If you withdraw your exam registration, you will receive a refund for your exam fee, less $25.
• An exam can be retaken after 30 days. Candidates are prevented from registering until the results from the last attempt have been posted to ECOS. Once the results have posted, you can then register, at which point the first available date for an exam appointment will be 30 days from the prior attempt's test date.
• You are limited to five attempts of the same certification exam. The five attempts include the first attempt to pass the exam and four retakes. Beginning September 1, 2018, all attempts of the same examination, no matter when they occurred, count toward the five-attempt testing limit regardless of when the examination was first attempted. If you choose to register again for the same exam after the completion of the fifth attempt or an approved waiver attempt, your scores will not be counted towards certification.

No, printed admission letters will not be used at test centers. You must bring to the exam administration two pieces of original (no photocopies or digital ID) and valid (unexpired) identification, printed in English in the name in which you registered. Your identification must contain your name, a recent recognizable photograph, and your signature.

Yes, the test fees will be $116, which is consistent with other Texas educator certification exams. The testing fees will be paid to Pearson.

Testing dates will be available year-round, by appointment.

You can access exam preparation materials through this website.

Yes, these will still be relevant, as the content of the exam questions is not changing. The materials include a list of resources/references for information supporting each group of identified standards. You are not expected to access/use all of the materials identified. The list is simply a compilation of resources that address the exam content. Newer editions of the resources are acceptable resources. Please note that AAFCS does not endorse or suggest the use of any materials that may be found through online search methods (flashcards, study prep book) as they are in no way tied to the exam or AAFCS.

Scores are reported within 7 days of testing. Score reports are posted in your Pearson testing account at 10:00 p.m. Central time on the score report date associated with your testing date. You will receive a receipt of completion at the testing center, but not your pass/fail status.

Your score report will be available within your Pearson testing account as a PDF document. During registration you will also have the option to request that your PDF score report be sent to you by email.

Score reports are only posted in your Pearson testing account for appointments on September 9, 2019, or later. If you tested prior to that date, scores can be found in your TEA Educator Profile accessed through TEAL .

Yes, the score report for AAFCS exams will be delivered in the same standard format as for all other exams under the Texas Educator Certification Examination Program. The report includes the overall exam score, the number of scorable items per domain, and the number of items answered correctly.

No. Score review is not available for these exams because of the quality-control measures in place to verify accurate scoring of selected-response items.