- TExES 164 stands for the Bilingual Education Supplemental exam, governed by TEA and administered by Pearson.
- It covers one domain, Bilingual Education, split into four competencies, weighted 100%.
- Passing requires a scaled score of 240 out of a 100-300 range on 80 selected-response questions.
- For Spanish certification, 164 must be paired with the BTLPT 190 - it is never stand-alone.
What "TExES 164" Actually Means
"TExES 164" refers specifically to the Bilingual Education Supplemental certification exam within the Texas Examinations of Educator Standards system. It's governed by the Texas Education Agency (TEA) and the State Board for Educator Certification, and it's administered through Pearson Evaluation Systems at computer-based testing sites across Texas and other locations nationwide. The number "164" isn't arbitrary - it's the exam code TEA assigns to this specific credential, distinguishing it from every other TExES test in the state's certification catalog.
The word "supplemental" is the key to understanding this exam's identity. Unlike a foundational certification exam that stands on its own, TExES 164 is designed to be added on top of an existing or simultaneous certification. It confirms that a teacher candidate has the specialized pedagogical knowledge needed to instruct students in a bilingual education setting - separate from, but connected to, their base teaching certificate.
If you want a broader orientation before diving into domain-level detail, the companion piece What Is TExES 164? walks through the certification's purpose in plain language, while TExES 164 Meaning unpacks the terminology candidates encounter most often.
Why It's Called "Supplemental" - and Why That Matters
TExES 164 does not grant certification by itself. It is a supplemental credential, meaning a candidate must already be seeking or holding a separate teaching certificate before this exam has certifying value. For Spanish-language bilingual education specifically, passing 164 must be paired with a passing score on the BTLPT 190 (the Bilingual Target Language Proficiency Test). Without both scores, the bilingual education endorsement cannot be issued.
This pairing requirement is often the single most misunderstood aspect of the exam's meaning. Candidates sometimes assume that passing 164 alone qualifies them to teach bilingual classes - it doesn't. The two exams measure different things: 164 measures pedagogical and content knowledge about bilingual education, while BTLPT 190 measures actual language proficiency in the target language. For a complete picture of who is eligible to sit for the exam in the first place, review TExES 164 Requirements 2026: Eligibility, Prerequisites & How to Qualify.
Key Takeaway
Treat 164 and BTLPT 190 as a matched set. Plan your testing calendar around both, not just the one you feel more prepared for.
What the Exam Actually Tests
The official TEA framework for TExES 164 defines a single domain - Bilingual Education - carrying full 100% weight. That domain is built on Bilingual Education Standards II through VI and is subdivided into four competencies that appear consistently on score reports, showing both total performance and performance broken out by competency area:
Domain 1: Foundations of Bilingual Education, Bilingualism and the Learning Environment
Candidates must understand the historical, legal, and theoretical foundations of bilingual education in Texas, along with program models and the characteristics of an effective bilingual learning environment.
- Program models (dual language, transitional bilingual, etc.) and their instructional goals
- Legal and policy foundations shaping bilingual education in Texas schools
- Creating a classroom environment that supports bilingualism and biculturalism
Domain 2: First-Language and Second-Language Acquisition and Development
This competency focuses on how students acquire and develop language - both their first language (L1) and second language (L2) - and how teachers apply acquisition theory to instruction.
- Stages and theories of first- and second-language acquisition
- Factors affecting language development, including transfer between L1 and L2
- Instructional strategies aligned to acquisition stages
Domain 3: Development and Assessment of L1 Literacy and Biliteracy
Candidates need to know how literacy develops in a student's first language and how that literacy transfers into a second language, plus how to assess biliteracy accurately.
- Emergent literacy and biliteracy development processes
- Formal and informal assessment tools for L1 and biliteracy
- Using assessment data to guide literacy instruction
Domain 4: Content-Area Instruction in L1 and L2
This competency covers delivering core content - math, science, social studies - in both the student's first and second language, without sacrificing rigor in either.
- Strategies for teaching content while building academic language
- Scaffolding techniques for cross-linguistic transfer of content knowledge
- Maintaining grade-level content rigor during language development
For a deeper, competency-by-competency breakdown with sample question angles, see TExES 164 Exam Domains 2026: Complete Guide to All 4 Content Areas.
Format, Fees, and Registration Mechanics
Understanding what "TExES 164" means also requires understanding how the test is actually delivered. The exam consists of 80 selected-response questions, and candidates are given a five-hour appointment window to complete it. Some administrations may include unscored field-test questions mixed in - these are used by TEA to evaluate future items and won't affect your score, but you won't know which questions they are.
Scoring is reported on a 100-300 scale, and the passing score is 240. For the exact mechanics of how that scaled score is calculated and what it means for your raw performance, see TExES 164 Passing Score 2026: Exactly What You Need to Pass.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Question count | 80 selected-response items |
| Appointment time | 5 hours |
| Domains | 1 (Bilingual Education), 100% weighted, 4 competencies |
| Passing score | 240 on a 100-300 scale |
| Standard exam fee | $116 |
| Certification application fee | $78 |
On the cost side, House Bill 2, signed June 4, 2025, waives the registration fee for a candidate's first attempt at exam 164 for eligible Bilingual Education certification candidates, along with waiving the $78 certification application fee. That's a meaningful change to the financial picture for first-time test-takers. A full cost breakdown, including what happens on a retake, is covered in TExES 164 Certification Cost 2026: Complete Pricing Breakdown.
Attempt limits also matter to the exam's meaning: TEA limits candidates to five attempts on a certification exam, with a mandatory 30-day wait between attempts. Beyond five attempts, a test-limit waiver from TEA is required to try again. Candidates must be approved to test by an educator preparation program, or qualify through an out-of-state, charter, or certification-by-exam route.
Who Takes This Exam and Why
TExES 164 is pursued by teacher candidates who want to add a bilingual education endorsement to their certificate - typically elementary or early childhood educators, though bilingual programs extend into secondary content areas as well. School districts across Texas actively seek teachers holding this supplemental credential because bilingual program staffing needs remain high in many regions, particularly in areas with large emerging bilingual student populations.
Holding the bilingual supplemental certification often opens doors to specific classroom assignments, stipends, or leadership roles within dual-language and bilingual programs that aren't available to teachers without it. If you're weighing whether pursuing this credential is worth the time and testing fees, Is the TExES 164 Certification Worth It? Complete ROI Analysis 2026 lays out the considerations, and TExES 164 Jobs looks at the kinds of positions this certification supports.
The Retirement Timeline You Cannot Ignore
Part of understanding what TExES 164 means today includes understanding that it's on its way out. TEA is retiring the 164/BTLPT 190 pathway in favor of a new exam. Here's the timeline every current candidate should have memorized:
- September 1, 2026 - TExES 165 Bilingual Education Spanish Supplemental launches as the replacement exam.
- August 31, 2027 - Last day to take either TExES 164 or BTLPT 190.
- September 1, 2028 - Last day for TEA to accept applications or certification recommendations based on 164/190 scores.
If you're already in an educator preparation program and eligible now, this timeline is a strong argument for testing sooner rather than later. Waiting risks running into the exam's retirement before you've secured your scores. For exact testing windows and how to plan your calendar around these deadlines, check TExES 164 Exam Dates 2026: Testing Windows, Deadlines & Scheduling.
Key Takeaway
If you're eligible to test now, don't wait for a "better" testing window - the exam itself has an expiration date, and TExES 165 will not accept 164 scores after the transition.
Preparing With the Meaning in Mind
Once you understand that TExES 164 is a single-domain, four-competency exam weighted entirely toward one integrated area of knowledge, your preparation strategy should follow that structure rather than a generic study plan. Because performance is reported by competency, you can identify weak areas early and target them directly instead of studying broadly.
Foundations and Acquisition
- Review program models and legal foundations (Domain 1)
- Study L1/L2 acquisition theory and transfer concepts (Domain 2)
Literacy and Assessment
- Focus on biliteracy development stages and assessment tools (Domain 3)
- Practice interpreting sample assessment scenarios
Content-Area Application
- Work through content-area scaffolding strategies (Domain 4)
- Take full-length practice sets under timed conditions
For a structured, week-by-week plan built specifically around this exam's competencies, see TExES 164 Study Guide 2026: How to Pass on Your First Attempt. If you're still calibrating how much difficulty to expect, How Hard Is the TExES 164 Exam? Complete Difficulty Guide 2026 and TExES 164 Pass Rate 2026: What the Data Shows offer useful context. And when you're ready to test your readiness under realistic conditions, our practice test platform mirrors the selected-response format and competency breakdown you'll see on test day.
Many candidates also keep a condensed reference nearby during final review - the TExES 164 Cheat Sheet 2026: One-Page Review of Must-Know Facts is built for exactly that kind of last-pass review, and TExES 164 Training covers structured coursework options beyond self-study.
Frequently Asked Questions
No. TExES 164 is a supplemental exam. For Spanish bilingual certification, it must be paired with a passing score on the BTLPT 190, and you must already hold or be pursuing an underlying teaching certificate.
The exam has 80 selected-response questions, and candidates are given a five-hour appointment window. Some administrations may include unscored field-test questions.
You need a scaled score of 240 out of a 100-300 range. Your score report also breaks down performance by each of the four competencies within the single Bilingual Education domain.
Yes. TEA is retiring the 164/BTLPT 190 pathway. TExES 165 launches September 1, 2026, the last day to take 164 or BTLPT 190 is August 31, 2027, and the last day for TEA to accept applications using 164/190 scores is September 1, 2028.
The standard exam fee is $116, plus a separate $78 certification application fee. Under House Bill 2, eligible Bilingual Education certification candidates get both fees waived for their first attempt at exam 164.