1. (a) An individual seeking admission to an approved educator preparation program (EPP) for initial certification must be assessed for basic skills in reading, written communication, and mathematics, unless the individual holds a bachelor's degree or higher from an accredited institution of higher education.
2. (b) A candidate seeking certification as an educator must pass the examination(s) required by the Texas Education Code (TEC), §21.048, and the State Board for Educator Certification (SBEC) in §233.1(e) of this title (relating to General Authority).
3. (c) A candidate seeking a standard certificate as an educator based on completion of an approved EPP may take the appropriate certification examination(s) required by subsection (b) of this section only at such time as the EPP determines the candidate's readiness to take the examinations, or upon successful completion of the EPP, whichever comes first.
4. (d) The holder of a lifetime Texas certificate effective before February 1, 1986, must pass examinations prescribed by the SBEC to be eligible for continued certification, unless the individual has passed the Texas Examination of Current Administrators and Teachers (TECAT).
5. (e) For an examination or other assessment required by law or under the provisions of this title, the SBEC approves the satisfactory level of performance required, a schedule of examination fees, and a plan for administering the examination.
6. (f) Scores from examinations required under this title must be made available to the examinee, the Texas Education Agency (TEA) staff, and, if appropriate, the EPP from which the examinee will seek a recommendation for certification.

7. (g) The following provisions concern test security and confidential integrity.

   1. (1) An educator who participates in the development, design, construction, review, field testing, or validation of an examination shall not reveal or cause to be revealed the contents of the examination to any other person.

   2. (2) An educator who administers an examination shall not:

      1. (A) allow or cause an unauthorized person to view any part of the examination;
      2. (B) copy, reproduce, or cause to be copied or reproduced any part of the examination;
      3. (C) reveal or cause to be revealed the contents of the examination;
      4. (D) correct, alter, or cause to be corrected or altered any response to a test item contained in the examination;
      5. (E) provide assistance with any response to a test item contained in the examination or cause assistance to be provided; or
      6. (F) deviate from the rules governing administration of the examination.
   3. (3) An educator who violates subsection (b) or (c) of this section is subject to sanction in accordance with the provisions of the TEC, §21.041(b)(7), and Chapter 249 of this title (relating to Disciplinary Proceedings, Sanctions, and Contested Cases).

   4. (4) An educator who is an examinee shall not:

      1. (A) copy, reproduce, or cause to be copied or reproduced any test item contained in the examination;
      2. (B) provide assistance with any response to a test item contained in the examination, or cause assistance to be provided;
      3. (C) solicit or accept assistance with any response to a test item contained in the examination;
      4. (D) deviate from the rules governing administration of the examination; or
      5. (E) otherwise engage in conduct that amounts to cheating, deception, or fraud.

   5. (5) An educator who violates this subsection is subject to:

      1. (A) sanction in accordance with the provisions of the TEC, §21.041(b)(7), and Chapter 249 of this title;
      2. (B) voiding of a score from an examination in which a violation specified in this subsection occurred; and
      3. (C) disallowance and exclusion from future examinations either in perpetuity or for a period of time that serves the best interests of the education profession.

Source Note:The provisions of this §230.21 adopted to be effective August 12, 2012, 37 TexReg 5753.