- What "TExES 164" Actually Means
- Who Governs and Administers the Exam
- Exam Format: What the 80 Questions Cover
- The Four Domains, Explained
- Fees, Registration, and the HB 2 Waiver
- Why "Supplemental" Matters: Pairing with BTLPT 190
- The Sunset Timeline: TExES 165 Is Coming
- Who Actually Hires Candidates With This Credential
- Turning the Meaning Into a Study Plan
- Frequently Asked Questions
- TExES 164 stands for the TExES Bilingual Education Supplemental exam, governed by TEA and administered by Pearson.
- It has one domain, Bilingual Education, split into four competencies, with 80 questions over a 5-hour appointment.
- Passing requires a scaled score of 240 out of 100-300, and the exam fee is $116.
- HB 2 waives the first-attempt fee and $78 certification application fee for eligible candidates.
What "TExES 164" Actually Means
"TExES 164" refers to a single, specific credential: the TExES Bilingual Education Supplemental (164) exam. The number 164 is simply the assigned test code used by the Texas Education Agency (TEA) and Pearson to identify this exact certification test within the larger TExES testing system. It is not a general label for bilingual teaching ability, and it is not interchangeable with other exams that happen to share similar naming conventions in other states or systems. If you are researching this exam for a Texas certification pathway, every fact you gather should trace back to TEA's official framework for exam 164 specifically.
In plain terms, TExES 164 measures whether a candidate has the knowledge base to support bilingual instruction in a Texas classroom - covering how students acquire two languages, how literacy develops across both, and how content instruction should be delivered in each language. For a deeper walkthrough of what the credential covers and why it exists, see What Is TExES 164? and TExES 164 Certification.
Who Governs and Administers the Exam
TExES 164 is governed by the Texas Education Agency (TEA) and the State Board for Educator Certification (SBEC). Pearson Evaluation Systems administers the actual test sessions at computer-based testing centers located throughout Texas and at approved sites nationwide. This matters for meaning purposes because it clarifies the chain of authority: TEA sets the standards and passing requirements, SBEC approves certification policy, and Pearson delivers the exam itself. No other organization issues or validates this particular credential.
Because TEA controls eligibility, candidates must be approved to test through an educator preparation program, or qualify through an out-of-state, charter, or certification-by-exam route. TEA also limits candidates to five attempts on a certification exam, with a mandatory 30-day wait between attempts, and requires a formal test-limit waiver from TEA for anyone needing to test beyond five attempts. For the full eligibility picture, see TExES 164 Requirements 2026: Eligibility, Prerequisites & How to Qualify.
Exam Format: What the 80 Questions Cover
Understanding the meaning of TExES 164 also means understanding its shape. The exam consists of 80 selected-response questions delivered within a 5-hour appointment window. That window may include unscored field-test items TEA uses to evaluate future questions, so not every question you see counts toward your score - but you won't know which ones don't, so every item deserves your full attention.
All 80 questions map back to the single Bilingual Education domain, which is subdivided into four competencies. Your score report will show your total performance as well as a competency-level breakdown, which is useful diagnostic information if you need to retake the exam and want to know exactly where to focus. A passing scaled score is 240 on a 100-300 range. For the mechanics of how that scale works and what it implies about how many questions you can miss, read TExES 164 Passing Score 2026: Exactly What You Need to Pass.
Key Takeaway
Because there is only one domain, "domain weight" isn't the strategic question on exam 164 - competency balance is. Treat all four competencies as equally essential rather than assuming any one is a minor topic.
The Four Domains, Explained
TEA's competency structure for exam 164 is organized around four content areas. Knowing what each one actually asks of you is central to understanding what this credential certifies.
Domain 1: Foundations of Bilingual Education, Bilingualism and the Learning Environment
This area establishes the theoretical and legal groundwork: models of bilingual education, the sociocultural context of bilingual learners, and how to build a classroom environment that supports two languages without disadvantaging either one.
- Program models (e.g., transitional, dual language, maintenance) and their goals
Domain 2: First-Language and Second-Language Acquisition and Development
This competency focuses on how students acquire L1 and L2, including stages of second-language development, cross-linguistic transfer, and factors that accelerate or hinder acquisition in bilingual learners.
- Distinguishing simultaneous versus sequential bilingual development
Domain 3: Development and Assessment of L1 Literacy and Biliteracy
Here the exam tests how literacy skills form in a student's first language and how those skills transfer to a second language, along with how to assess biliteracy accurately and fairly.
- Interpreting formal and informal biliteracy assessment data
Domain 4: Content-Area Instruction in L1 and L2
This competency addresses how to deliver core content - math, science, social studies - through both languages while maintaining academic rigor and supporting continued language development.
- Selecting instructional strategies appropriate to each language of instruction
For a much deeper breakdown of subtopics and sample question styles inside each of these four areas, see TExES 164 Exam Domains 2026: Complete Guide to All 4 Content Areas.
Fees, Registration, and the HB 2 Waiver
Part of understanding what TExES 164 "means" in practice is understanding what it costs and how registration works. The standard exam fee 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, along with the separate $78 certification application fee. This is a meaningful financial detail specific to this exam and should factor into how candidates budget for certification.
Registration itself is handled through Pearson's testing system once TEA or your educator preparation program confirms your eligibility to test. A full cost breakdown, including how the waiver interacts with retake fees, is covered in TExES 164 Certification Cost 2026: Complete Pricing Breakdown.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Standard exam fee | $116 |
| First-attempt fee (eligible candidates, HB 2) | Waived |
| Certification application fee (eligible candidates) | $78, waived under HB 2 |
| Number of questions | 80 selected-response |
| Appointment length | 5 hours |
| Passing score | 240 (scale of 100-300) |
| Attempt limit | 5, with 30-day wait between attempts |
Why "Supplemental" Matters: Pairing with BTLPT 190
The word "Supplemental" in the exam's full name is not decorative - it defines the credential's legal function. TExES 164 is a supplemental certification exam, meaning it cannot stand alone. It supplements a base teaching certificate rather than replacing it. For candidates pursuing bilingual certification in Spanish, TExES 164 is paired with the BTLPT 190 (Bilingual Target Language Proficiency Test); both must be passed to add the bilingual endorsement to a teaching certificate.
This pairing is a key part of the exam's meaning: passing 164 alone does not confer bilingual certification. Candidates need to plan for both assessments, understand how they interact in the application process, and budget time and testing fees accordingly.
The Sunset Timeline: TExES 165 Is Coming
An important part of understanding TExES 164 right now is understanding that TEA is actively retiring this pathway. The replacement exam, TExES 165 Bilingual Education Spanish Supplemental, launches on September 1, 2026. After that:
- August 31, 2027 is the last day candidates can take TExES 164 and BTLPT 190.
- September 1, 2028 is the last day educator preparation programs or districts can apply for or recommend candidates using 164 and 190 scores.
This transition window matters for anyone deciding when to test. Candidates already close to eligibility may want to complete 164 and 190 well before the 2027 cutoff, while those earlier in their preparation programs should check whether their timeline lines up with 164 or the incoming 165. A full explanation of testing windows and how this deadline interacts with scheduling is in TExES 164 Exam Dates 2026: Testing Windows, Deadlines & Scheduling.
Who Actually Hires Candidates With This Credential
The practical meaning of TExES 164 ultimately shows up in hiring. Texas public school districts use this bilingual supplemental certification to staff dual-language and bilingual education classrooms where state and federal program requirements mandate a certified bilingual educator. Because the credential is tied to specific instructional competencies - acquisition, biliteracy, and content-area delivery in two languages - hiring administrators look for it specifically when filling roles in bilingual/ESL programs, particularly in districts with large Spanish-speaking student populations.
For a closer look at the roles this credential opens up and how districts weigh it during hiring, read TExES 164 Jobs. If you're weighing whether the time and cost investment pays off relative to your career goals, Is the TExES 164 Certification Worth It? Complete ROI Analysis 2026 walks through that decision in more depth, and TExES 164 Salary Guide 2026: Complete Earnings Analysis looks at how the credential factors into compensation conversations.
Turning the Meaning Into a Study Plan
Once you understand what TExES 164 actually tests, preparation becomes far more targeted than generic exam studying. Because the exam is organized around four competencies within one domain, the smartest approach is to build a short study cycle around each competency in turn, then finish with a full-length review.
Foundations and Acquisition
- Review program models and acquisition-stage terminology from Domains 1 and 2
Biliteracy and Content Instruction
- Work through assessment scenarios and content-delivery strategies from Domains 3 and 4
Practice and Diagnosis
- Take full-length practice sessions and use competency-level results to target weak areas
Rather than relying on generic study tricks disconnected from this exam's structure, focus your final review week on whichever competency your practice attempts reveal as weakest - the score report's competency breakdown exists precisely so you can do this. For a step-by-step walkthrough of this kind of targeted preparation, see TExES 164 Study Guide 2026: How to Pass on Your First Attempt, and for an honest assessment of where most candidates struggle, read How Hard Is the TExES 164 Exam? Complete Difficulty Guide 2026. You can also build familiarity with the question format using realistic practice sessions at our TExES 164 practice test platform before your official test date.
Key Takeaway
Don't study "bilingual education" broadly - study the four specific competencies TEA lists for exam 164. Practice questions modeled on the real format, available through our practice test site, help you learn the exam's actual phrasing and question logic rather than general theory.
If you want a condensed, printable reference of every core fact covered here - fees, format, passing score, and domain names - the TExES 164 Cheat Sheet 2026: One-Page Review of Must-Know Facts consolidates it into one page. And if you're still exploring how this credential compares to what people casually call "TExES 164" elsewhere, What Does TExES 164 Mean? and What Does TExES 164 Stand For? tackle that naming confusion directly, while What Is A TExES 164? and What Is TExES 164 Certification? cover related framing questions. For structured coursework aligned to the four competencies, see TExES 164 Training, and for a data-driven look at outcomes, TExES 164 Pass Rate 2026: What the Data Shows is worth reviewing before you finalize your testing date. You can start reviewing sample question formats anytime at the main practice test hub.
Frequently Asked Questions
It's the official test code TEA and Pearson use to identify the TExES Bilingual Education Supplemental exam specifically, distinguishing it from every other TExES exam in the system.
No. It is a supplemental exam. For Spanish bilingual certification, it must be paired with a passing score on BTLPT 190, plus an underlying teaching certificate.
One domain - Bilingual Education, weighted 100% - divided into four competencies: foundations and learning environment, first- and second-language acquisition, L1 literacy and biliteracy, and content-area instruction in L1 and L2.
Yes. TExES 165 launches September 1, 2026, as its replacement. August 31, 2027 is the last day to take 164 and BTLPT 190, and September 1, 2028 is the last day scores can be used for application or recommendation.
You need a scaled score of 240 out of a 100-300 range. TEA allows up to five attempts, with a required 30-day wait between attempts, and a TEA waiver is needed to test beyond five.