Texas law requires every person seeking educator certification to perform satisfactorily on comprehensive examinations. The purpose of these examinations is to ensure that each educator has the necessary content and professional knowledge necessary to perform in Texas public schools. The TExES exams were developed for this purpose.

Features of the TExES include the following:

• The tests are criterion-referenced multiple-choice tests designed to measure a candidate's knowledge in relation to an established standard of competence (criterion) rather than the performance of other candidates.
• Some tests may have additional assessment modes (e.g., a written response).
• The TExES may be taken at the point in your academic career when you become eligible to take the test (See the Texas State Univ. TExES Policies for eligibility criteria).
• Test retakes are permitted until a passing score is obtained. Examinees who fail a test and wish to retake it may do so at any regularly scheduled test administration.