Exams and Certification

Comprehensive Exams

During the last semester of coursework all students, except those doing a thesis, must take the comprehensive exam. This exam consists of three essay questions which are graded pass/fail. Students must pass the comprehensive exam in order to graduate. It is the student's responsibility to let the program coordinator know at the beginning of their last semester of coursework that they intend to take the exam during that semester. Comprehensive exams are scheduled once each semester (fall and spring only).

Certification

Once students have passed the comprehensive exam or turned in their thesis they should register for the TExES exam for reading specialists. Students should plan to take it as soon as possible after they’ve received their eligibility form. You must pass the TExES to become certified as an All Level Reading Specialist in the state of Texas.

There is a preparation manual for the Reading Specialist TExES at http://www.texes.ets.org/assets/pdf/testprep_manuals
/151_readspec_55067_web.pdf.

Please note that once students have graduated from the program and passed the TExES for reading specialists they are responsible for pursuing certification through the Office of Teacher Certification and Admission Services

Students who graduate from the program and become certified Reading Specialists are also eligible to be certified as Master Reading Teachers (MRT) without taking any additional exams.