Frequently Asked Questions about the EC - 3 Exam

The EC - 3 exam is a rigorous exam that contains a written response and  covers content through 5th grade.

Minimum of 12 semester hours (with coursework minimum GPA of 2.5) in a combination of the following:

• English (minimum of 3 hours)

• Mathematics (minimum of 3 hours)

• Natural science (minimum 3 hours)

• Social studies (minimum 3 hours--includes history, economics, and government)

                      OR

Applicant has passed the Core Subjects EC-6 TExES Pre-Admission Content Test (PACT) prior to admission to the program.  For more information about  the PACT,  follow these links:

https://tea.texas.gov/texas-educators/certification/educator-testing/pre-admission-content-test

http://www.tx.nesinc.com/PageView.aspx?f=GEN_Tests.html

A currently certified educator may be admitted into the EC - 3 preparation program.   If the educator holds a certificate listed in Texas Administrative Code Chapter 227 (see list below), the Educator Preparation Program must provide a minimum of 150 clock hours of coursework and/or training that is aligned to Early Childhood Educator Standards.  Some face-to - face coursework is required with no option for online access to this coursework.  No internship is required for these educators; To receive the PK - 3 certification, candidates must pass the Science of Teaching Reading exam.

A currently certified educator who does not hold a certificate listed in Texas Administrative Code Chapter 227 (see list below) must complete 300 clock hours of coursework and serve an internship in an EC - 3 classroom.   Face-to-face coursework is required with no option for online access to coursework.

• Certifications eligible for 150 hours of training with no internship:

(1) Bilingual Generalist: Early Childhood-Grade 4;

(2) Bilingual Generalist: Early Childhood-Grade 6;

(3) Core Subjects: Early Childhood-Grade 6;

(4) Early Childhood Education;

(5) Elementary--General;

(6) Elementary--General (Grades 1-6);

(7) Elementary--General (Grades 1-8);

(8) Elementary Early Childhood Education (Prekindergarten-Grade 6);

(9) Elementary Self-Contained (Grades 1-8);

(10) English as a Second Language Generalist: Early Childhood-Grade 4;

(11) English as a Second Language Generalist: Early Childhood-Grade 6;

(12) Generalist: Early Childhood-Grade 4;

(13) Generalist: Early Childhood-Grade 6;

(14) Kindergarten;

(15) Prekindergarten-Grade 5--General;

(16) Prekindergarten-Grade 6--General; or

(17) Teacher of Young Children--General.

Minimum of 12 semester hours (with coursework minimum GPA of 2.5) in combination of the following:

• English (minimum of 3 hours)

• Mathematics (minimum of 3 hours)

• Natural science (minimum 3 hours)

• Social studies (minimum 3 hours--includes history, economics, and government)

                      OR

Applicant has passed the Core Subjects EC-6 TExES Pre-Admission Content Test (PACT) prior to admission to the program.   To find about more about  the PACT,  follow these links:

https://tea.texas.gov/texas-educators/certification/educator-testing/pre-admission-content-test

http://www.tx.nesinc.com/PageView.aspx?f=GEN_Tests.html

Minimum of 12 semester hours (with coursework minimum GPA of 2.5) in combination of the following:

• English (minimum of 3 hours)

• Mathematics (minimum of 3 hours)

• Natural science (minimum 3 hours)

• Social studies (minimum 3 hours--includes history, economics, and government)

• Remaining 9 hours comprised of any above listed subjects

                       OR

Applicant has passed the Core Subjects 4-8 TExES Pre-Admission Content Test (PACT)  prior to admission to the program.    To find about more about  the PACT,  follow these links:

https://tea.texas.gov/texas-educators/certification/educator-testing/pre-admission-content-test

http://www.tx.nesinc.com/PageView.aspx?f=GEN_Tests.html

Minimum of 15 semester hours (with coursework minimum GPA of 2.5) in mathematics

                        OR

Applicant has passed a Mathematics 7-12 TExES Pre-Admission Content Test (PACT)  prior to admission to the program.   To find about more about  the PACT,  follow these links:

https://tea.texas.gov/texas-educators/certification/educator-testing/pre-admission-content-test

http://www.tx.nesinc.com/PageView.aspx?f=GEN_Tests.html

15 semester hours (with coursework minimum GPA of 2.5) in a combination containing the following:

• Physics 

• Chemistry

• Biology

                       OR

Applicant has passed a Science 7-12 TExES Pre-Admission Content Test (PACT)  prior to admission to the program.   To find about more about  the PACT,  follow these links:

https://tea.texas.gov/texas-educators/certification/educator-testing/pre-admission-content-test

http://www.tx.nesinc.com/PageView.aspx?f=GEN_Tests.html