- Who Actually Needs to Take TExES 164
- Eligibility Requirements and Testing Approval
- Registration Mechanics, Fees, and the HB 2 Waiver
- Exam Format: What You'll Face on Test Day
- The Four Domains You Must Prepare For
- Attempt Limits, Retakes, and Waivers
- The Retirement Timeline You Cannot Ignore
- Building a Domain-Aligned Prep Plan
- Frequently Asked Questions
- TExES 164 requires EPP approval or an out-of-state, charter, or certification-by-exam route before you can register.
- The exam fee is $116, but eligible first-time candidates get it waived under House Bill 2, plus the $78 application fee.
- You need 240 out of 300 across 80 selected-response questions in a single 100%-weighted Bilingual Education domain.
- TExES 164 is not stand-alone; Spanish-track candidates must also pass the BTLPT 190.
Who Actually Needs to Take TExES 164
TExES Bilingual Education Supplemental (164) is the state assessment Texas uses to confirm that a certified or certification-track teacher has the specialized knowledge to teach in a bilingual classroom. It is administered under the authority of the Texas Education Agency (TEA) and the State Board for Educator Certification, and it is delivered through Pearson Evaluation Systems at computer-administered testing centers across Texas and beyond. If you're wondering exactly what this credential covers before committing time and money, start with What Is TExES 164? for a plain-language overview, or TExES 164 Meaning if you're trying to decode the acronym for the first time.
This exam is deliberately narrow in scope. It does not certify you to teach in general; it supplements a base teaching certificate by verifying bilingual-specific competencies. That distinction matters for eligibility planning, registration timing, and how districts read your credential file when you apply for TExES 164 jobs in dual-language or transitional bilingual programs.
Eligibility Requirements and Testing Approval
Before you can even schedule an appointment, you need testing approval. TEA does not allow candidates to walk up and register for TExES 164 independently. You qualify through one of these routes:
- Educator Preparation Program (EPP) approval - the most common path, used by candidates enrolled in a Texas EPP working toward bilingual certification.
- Out-of-state candidates transferring credentials who need to demonstrate bilingual competency to align with Texas standards.
- Charter school routes for educators employed under charter-specific certification arrangements.
- Certification-by-exam for candidates who qualify to test without completing a traditional EPP sequence.
Each route has its own paperwork and timing, so confirm your approval status with your EPP advisor or TEA account well before you plan to sit for the exam. If you're still unclear on how this fits into the broader certification structure, TExES 164 Certification walks through the full credentialing sequence, and What Is TExES 164 Certification? breaks down how the supplemental designation attaches to your file.
Key Takeaway
Don't schedule your appointment until your EPP or eligibility route has formally approved you to test - Pearson will not let unapproved candidates register for TExES 164.
Registration Mechanics, Fees, and the HB 2 Waiver
Once approved, registration happens through the Pearson Evaluation Systems testing platform tied to your TEA educator account. The standard exam fee is $116. However, under House Bill 2, signed into law on June 4, 2025, eligible Bilingual Education certification candidates get the registration fee for their first attempt at exam 164 waived, along with the separate $78 certification application fee. This is a meaningful cost reduction for first-time test-takers, and it's worth confirming your eligibility for the waiver before you pay out of pocket.
For a full breakdown of every fee involved in the bilingual certification process - including what happens on a second or third attempt if you don't pass the first time - see TExES 164 Certification Cost 2026: Complete Pricing Breakdown.
| Item | Cost | Waiver Available |
|---|---|---|
| TExES 164 exam fee | $116 | Yes, first attempt only (HB 2) |
| Certification application fee | $78 | Yes, for eligible candidates (HB 2) |
| Retake attempts (2nd-5th) | Standard fee applies | No |
Exam Format: What You'll Face on Test Day
TExES 164 is a computer-administered, selected-response exam. You'll have 5 hours of appointment time to answer 80 selected-response questions. Some of those questions may be unscored field-test items that TEA uses to evaluate future exam content - you won't be told which ones, so treat every question as if it counts.
Unlike exams with multiple weighted domains, TExES 164 uses a single official domain - Bilingual Education - weighted at 100% of the exam. That domain is built on Bilingual Education Standards II through VI and is broken into four competencies that map to the content areas below. Your score report shows your total performance plus a breakdown by competency, which is useful diagnostic information if you need to retake the exam.
Because the entire exam funnels into one domain with four internal competencies, question style tends to blend scenario-based classroom situations with direct content knowledge checks - you'll see vignettes about students at different proficiency levels alongside questions on program models and assessment interpretation. For a deeper look at how difficult this makes the exam to prepare for, read How Hard Is the TExES 164 Exam? Complete Difficulty Guide 2026.
The Four Domains You Must Prepare For
While TEA's official framework lists one exam domain, that domain is subdivided into four competency areas that function as your real content map. Each deserves dedicated study time. For a full walkthrough of every competency and sample question type, see TExES 164 Exam Domains 2026: Complete Guide to All 4 Content Areas.
Domain 1: Foundations of Bilingual Education, Bilingualism and the Learning Environment
Covers program models, legal and historical foundations, and how to build a classroom environment that supports bilingual learners.
- Types of bilingual program models used in Texas classrooms
- Creating an inclusive, language-affirming learning environment
- Historical and legal context behind bilingual education policy
Domain 2: First-Language and Second-Language Acquisition and Development
Tests your understanding of how students acquire and develop language skills in both L1 and L2, and how to apply that knowledge instructionally.
- Stages and theories of first- and second-language acquisition
- Factors that influence rate and quality of language development
- Instructional strategies that support acquisition at each stage
Domain 3: Development and Assessment of L1 Literacy and Biliteracy
Focuses on building literacy in a student's first language and transferring those skills toward biliteracy.
- Literacy development stages in L1 and transfer to L2
- Formal and informal assessment tools for biliteracy
- Interpreting assessment data to guide instructional decisions
Domain 4: Content-Area Instruction in L1 and L2
Covers how to deliver academic content - math, science, social studies - effectively in both languages.
- Strategies for content-area instruction across L1 and L2
- Scaffolding academic language while teaching content
- Aligning instruction with proficiency levels and program goals
Attempt Limits, Retakes, and Waivers
TEA limits candidates to five attempts on a certification exam, and you must wait 30 days between attempts. If you exhaust all five attempts without passing, you need a formal test-limit waiver from TEA before you can register again. This makes each attempt more valuable than a typical open-retake exam, so treat your first sitting seriously rather than planning on repeated attempts.
Understanding how often candidates pass on their first try - and where they tend to struggle - can help you calibrate your prep intensity. See TExES 164 Pass Rate 2026: What the Data Shows for that context.
Key Takeaway
Since the HB 2 fee waiver only applies to your first attempt, failing and retesting costs both money and a mandatory 30-day delay - plan your study timeline to maximize first-attempt readiness.
The Retirement Timeline You Cannot Ignore
TEA is phasing out this exam pathway, and the dates matter for anyone planning a bilingual certification timeline in 2026 or later:
- September 1, 2026 - the replacement exam, TExES 165 Bilingual Education Spanish Supplemental, launches.
- August 31, 2027 - last day candidates can take TExES 164 and BTLPT 190.
- September 1, 2028 - last day TEA will accept applications or recommendations based on 164 and 190 scores.
If you're currently eligible and planning to pursue bilingual certification through this exam, these deadlines create a real planning window rather than an open-ended timeline. Review exact testing windows and how to slot your appointment into this shrinking calendar in TExES 164 Exam Dates 2026: Testing Windows, Deadlines & Scheduling.
Building a Domain-Aligned Prep Plan
Because TExES 164 concentrates everything into one domain with four competencies, your prep plan should mirror that structure rather than following a generic multi-subject study calendar. Allocate blocks of time to each competency in sequence, then circle back for integrated practice that mixes all four - since real exam items often blend competencies within a single scenario question.
Foundations and Acquisition Theory
- Review program models and the legal/historical foundations in Domain 1
- Study L1/L2 acquisition stages and theories in Domain 2
Literacy, Biliteracy, and Content Instruction
- Work through L1 literacy development and biliteracy assessment tools in Domain 3
- Practice content-area scaffolding strategies from Domain 4
Full-Length Practice and Review
- Take timed, 80-question practice sets that mix all four competencies
- Review missed items by competency to target remaining gaps
For a structured, step-by-step version of this approach with specific resource recommendations, see TExES 164 Study Guide 2026: How to Pass on Your First Attempt. You can also run realistic, timed practice sessions modeled on the actual 80-question, 5-hour format at our TExES 164 practice test platform, which helps you get comfortable with pacing before test day.
If you want a fast-reference version of everything covered above - fees, attempt limits, passing score, and domain names - bookmark TExES 164 Cheat Sheet 2026: One-Page Review of Must-Know Facts for a quick refresher in the final days before your appointment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. TExES 164 is a supplemental exam, meaning it adds a bilingual endorsement to an existing or in-progress teaching certificate rather than certifying you to teach independently.
The standard fee is $116, but under House Bill 2, eligible first-time candidates can have that fee waived along with the $78 certification application fee. Waivers apply only to the first attempt.
TEA allows up to five attempts with a mandatory 30-day wait between each. If you don't pass within five attempts, you must request a test-limit waiver from TEA before testing again.
Yes, but only through August 31, 2027, which is the last day the exam and BTLPT 190 are offered. TEA will accept certification applications based on those scores until September 1, 2028.
No. The official framework defines a single domain, Bilingual Education, weighted at 100%, though it is organized into four competency areas that your score report breaks out individually.
Whether you're just starting to research What Is A TExES 164? or you're deep into your EPP's approval process, understanding these eligibility mechanics now will save you from registration delays later. For broader context on whether pursuing this credential fits your career goals given its retirement timeline, Is the TExES 164 Certification Worth It? Complete ROI Analysis 2026 is worth a read, and you can start building test-day familiarity anytime at our practice test hub.