- TExES 164 has 80 selected-response questions, one domain (100% weight), and a 5-hour appointment.
- Passing score is 240 on a 100-300 scale; score reports break out performance by competency.
- First-attempt registration ($116) and the $78 certification application fee are waived under HB2 for eligible candidates.
- TEA caps candidates at five attempts with a 30-day wait between tries; a waiver is needed beyond that.
Quick-Reference Facts
If you only have five minutes before your testing appointment, this is the section to reread. TExES 164 is governed by the Texas Education Agency (TEA) and the State Board for Educator Certification, and it's administered by Pearson Evaluation Systems at computer-based testing centers in Texas and around the country. It is a supplemental certification exam - meaning it doesn't stand alone, but pairs with the BTLPT 190 for candidates pursuing Spanish bilingual certification.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Governing body | Texas Education Agency (TEA) / State Board for Educator Certification |
| Test administrator | Pearson Evaluation Systems |
| Question format | 80 selected-response questions (may include unscored field-test items) |
| Appointment time | 5 hours |
| Domains | 1 domain, weighted 100%, covering Bilingual Education Standards II-VI |
| Passing score | 240 on a 100-300 scale |
| Standard fee | $116 (first-attempt fee waived for eligible candidates under HB2) |
| Attempt limit | 5 attempts, 30-day wait between attempts |
For a deeper walkthrough of every one of these numbers and how they connect, the TExES 164 Study Guide 2026 expands each item into an actionable prep plan.
The Four Domains at a Glance
Although the official framework reports a single domain - Bilingual Education, weighted at 100% - that domain is subdivided into four competencies that function like distinct content areas on your score report. Your score report shows total performance plus performance by competency, so you need targeted mastery of all four, not just a general sense of "bilingual ed" theory.
Domain 1: Foundations of Bilingual Education, Bilingualism and the Learning Environment
Covers the historical, legal, and theoretical foundations of bilingual education in Texas, models of bilingual programming, and how to structure a classroom environment that supports bilingualism.
- Program models (dual language, transitional, developmental)
- Legal mandates and TEA policy context
- Creating a language-rich, culturally responsive classroom
Domain 2: First-Language and Second-Language Acquisition and Development
Tests your understanding of how L1 and L2 develop, including stages of second-language acquisition, cross-linguistic transfer, and factors that affect the pace of acquisition.
- Stages of L2 acquisition and observable behaviors at each stage
- Sociocultural and cognitive theories of language acquisition
- Distinguishing language difference from language disorder
Domain 3: Development and Assessment of L1 Literacy and Biliteracy
Focuses on how literacy develops in a student's first language and how that foundation transfers to a second language, plus how to assess biliteracy accurately.
- Phonological awareness and print concepts across languages
- Formative and summative biliteracy assessment tools
- Cross-linguistic transfer of literacy skills
Domain 4: Content-Area Instruction in L1 and L2
Covers how to deliver math, science, social studies, and other content in both languages, including scaffolding strategies that keep grade-level content accessible while language is still developing.
- Scaffolding academic content without diluting rigor
- Vocabulary and academic language development across content areas
- Using L1 as a bridge for L2 content mastery
Registration, Fees, and the HB2 Waiver
The standard registration fee for TExES 164 is $116. However, under House Bill 2, signed June 4, 2025, the registration fee for a candidate's first attempt at exam 164 is waived for eligible Bilingual Education certification candidates. That same legislation also waives the $78 certification application fee. This is a meaningful change for candidates entering an educator preparation program (EPP) now, since it removes two of the largest out-of-pocket costs tied to earning this credential.
To register, you must be approved to test by an EPP, or you must qualify through an out-of-state, charter, or certification-by-exam route. Approval doesn't happen automatically - your program has to clear you first, so confirm your testing window with your EPP advisor well before you plan to schedule. For a full cost breakdown, including what happens if you need a retake after using your waived attempt, see the TExES 164 Certification Cost breakdown.
Key Takeaway
Only your first attempt qualifies for the HB2 fee waiver. Treat that attempt as the one that counts - go in fully prepared rather than using it as a "practice run."
Scoring Breakdown and Passing Score
TExES 164 uses a scaled score range of 100-300, and you need a 240 to pass. Your score report doesn't just give you a pass/fail - it shows your total performance alongside performance by competency, which corresponds to the four domains above. This breakdown is genuinely useful even if you pass, because it tells you which competency you were weakest in relative to the others, which matters if you're also prepping for the BTLPT 190 or planning further coursework.
If you don't pass, use the competency breakdown as a diagnostic tool rather than a discouragement. A candidate who barely misses 240 with a weak Domain 3 score should spend retake prep almost entirely on literacy and biliteracy assessment rather than re-reading everything cover to cover. For the exact scoring mechanics, scaled-score math, and what a "borderline" report looks like, the TExES 164 Passing Score guide goes deeper than we can here.
Attempt Limits and Retake Rules
TEA limits candidates to five attempts on a certification exam, with a mandatory 30-day wait between attempts. If you exhaust all five attempts without passing, you cannot simply keep registering - you need a test-limit waiver from TEA to attempt it again. This rule exists across TEA certification exams generally, but it applies fully to 164, so plan your prep timeline with the 30-day gap in mind rather than assuming you can retest the next week.
The 164 Retirement Timeline
This is the fact most candidates researching TExES 164 in 2026 are searching for, and it's easy to get wrong if you're reading outdated forum posts. TEA is retiring this pathway. The replacement, TExES 165 Bilingual Education Spanish Supplemental, launches September 1, 2026. That does not mean 164 disappears immediately - there's a defined wind-down window.
| Date | What Happens |
|---|---|
| September 1, 2026 | TExES 165 (replacement exam) becomes available |
| August 31, 2027 | Last day to take TExES 164 and BTLPT 190 |
| September 1, 2028 | Last day to apply for or be recommended for certification using 164/190 scores |
If you're currently in an EPP and planning to test in Spanish bilingual education, this timeline should directly shape your scheduling decisions. Candidates who wait too long risk having to switch to the 165 framework mid-program. Full scheduling guidance, including how to sequence 164 with BTLPT 190 before the window closes, is covered in the TExES 164 Exam Dates guide.
Key Takeaway
If you can test before August 31, 2027, do not delay simply because 165 is newer - 164 remains a fully valid, TEA-recognized pathway until the wind-down dates pass.
Who Hires TExES 164-Certified Teachers
TExES 164, combined with BTLPT 190, is what allows a certified teacher to add a Bilingual Education Spanish supplemental credential to a base certification (such as EC-6 or 4-8 Generalist). Districts across Texas with dual-language and transitional bilingual programs recruit specifically for candidates holding this combination, since state-mandated bilingual education programs require appropriately certified staff. Because bilingual-certified teachers are consistently in demand relative to supply, this credential tends to open doors at charter networks, dual-language magnet campuses, and districts running developmental bilingual models - not just traditional ESL support roles.
If you're weighing whether the time and testing investment is worth it relative to career outcomes, the ROI analysis on TExES 164 and the TExES 164 Salary Guide both dig into that question without relying on inflated or borrowed numbers. And if you're specifically hunting for open roles once you're certified, TExES 164 Jobs covers where bilingual-certified teachers typically get recruited.
Final-Week Review Strategy by Domain
Because all four competencies feed into one composite score, your final review week should be structured around closing your weakest gaps rather than re-reading material you already know cold. Use your practice test competency breakdown - not a generic study calendar - to decide where your hours go.
Diagnose with a full practice exam
- Take a full-length practice run on the main practice test platform to get a real competency breakdown
- Rank your four domains from weakest to strongest
Attack the two weakest domains
- Focus review sessions on whichever of Domains 1-4 scored lowest
- Rewrite key distinctions in your own words (e.g., language difference vs. disorder in Domain 2)
Timed practice under exam conditions
- Run timed question sets that mirror the 80-question, 5-hour format
- Practice pacing so no single competency eats disproportionate time
Light review and logistics
- Skim competency summaries rather than cramming new material
- Confirm testing appointment, ID requirements, and EPP approval status
This structure works because it treats the exam's real architecture - one domain, four measured competencies - as the organizing principle, rather than applying a generic study calendar. For a full multi-week version of this plan built around all four domains from day one, see the TExES 164 Study Guide, and if you want to gauge how difficult your weakest domain will feel relative to the rest of the exam, the TExES 164 difficulty guide sets realistic expectations.
Frequently Asked Questions
No. It's a supplemental exam. For Spanish bilingual certification, it's paired with the BTLPT 190, and both are required alongside a base teaching certification.
The exam has 80 selected-response questions with a 5-hour appointment window, and it may include unscored field-test questions that don't count toward your score.
You need a scaled score of 240 out of a 100-300 range. Your report also shows performance broken down by competency within the single Bilingual Education domain.
The standard fee is $116, but under House Bill 2 (signed June 4, 2025), eligible Bilingual Education certification candidates get their first attempt fee waived, along with the $78 certification application fee.
August 31, 2027 is the last day to take TExES 164 and BTLPT 190. September 1, 2028 is the last day to apply for or be recommended for certification using those scores, as TEA transitions to TExES 165.