Texas needs more bilingual teachers to keep pace with classroom demand. The online Master of Science (M.S.) in Curriculum and Instruction with a specialization in Bilingual Education program at Texas A&M International University (TAMIU) prepares current educators to earn this credential and lead bilingual classrooms across the state.
Texas faces a critical shortage of bilingual and ESL teachers, according to the Texas Education Agency‘s 2025-26 shortage area list. Nationally, the Learning Policy Institute reports that every state faces shortages in more than one teaching area, with special education, science and math cited most often nationwide, layering on top of the bilingual and ESL gaps Texas already faces. Bilingual certification is one of the most direct paths a certified Texas teacher can take to help close that gap.
What Is Bilingual Certification in Texas?
Bilingual certification in Texas means adding a bilingual education supplement to a standard Texas teaching license. Teachers must already hold a content or grade-level Texas teaching certificate. The bilingual supplement adds proof of bilingual competency on top of that base license.
TEA requires teachers in bilingual programs to hold both certificates, per its bilingual and ESL certification pathways guidance. This applies to all teachers working in state-approved bilingual education programs.
TExES Bilingual Education Supplemental (164)
The main exam for bilingual certification is the TExES Bilingual Education Supplemental (164). The exam has 80 questions. The passing score is 240. It is offered year-round at testing sites in Texas and across the country.
The exam tests knowledge of bilingual education theory, language acquisition, bilingual curriculum design and student assessment. It covers how to support students who are developing skills in two languages at once.
BTLPT Spanish (190) and the New TExES 165
Some teachers also take the Bilingual Target Language Proficiency Test (BTLPT) Spanish (190). This exam has 84 questions plus speaking and writing tasks. It tests Spanish language skill. TEA offers it through August 2027.
TEA is replacing the BTLPT with a new combined exam called TExES 165. That exam launches September 1, 2026, per TEA’s official transition timeline. Until then, the BTLPT remains the required Spanish proficiency test for bilingual certification.
HB 2: Fee Waivers for Bilingual and ESL Certification
Texas passed HB 2 in June 2025. Per TEA’s House Bill 2 (HB 2) implementation guidance, the law waives the first-attempt exam fee for teachers seeking bilingual certification. It also waives the certification application fee for that certification.
State-level incentives like these matter because bilingual programs are difficult to staff nationwide. The National Association of State Boards of Education has pointed to Texas specifically for running one of the largest bilingual educator development programs in the country and encouraging districts to build new pathways into the field. Removing cost barriers is one part of that broader effort to keep bilingual classrooms fully staffed. Earning a supplemental certification through a graduate program, such as TAMIU’s online M.S. in Curriculum and Instruction – Bilingual Education, is one of those new pathways for teachers ready to move into bilingual classrooms.
ESL Certification in Texas
Teachers who work in ESL programs need the TExES English as a Second Language Supplemental (154) instead. That exam has 80 questions and a passing score of 240. It is offered year-round. Unlike the bilingual supplemental exams, the ESL Supplemental (154) is not currently covered by HB 2’s fee waiver, per TEA’s eligible certification areas list, so ESL-only candidates pay the standard testing fees.
Demand for ESL-credentialed teachers continues to grow alongside demand for bilingual educators. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects about 103,800 kindergarten and elementary teacher openings nationwide each year through 2034, driven mainly by educators leaving the profession, a churn rate that keeps specialty credentials like the ESL and bilingual supplements valuable to districts filling those seats. Earning both the ESL and bilingual supplements broadens a teacher’s options within a district.
How Graduate Training Prepares Teachers for Certification
Bilingual certification requires deep knowledge of language acquisition, bilingual curriculum and Texas-specific policy. Graduate training builds that knowledge in a structured way.
The online M.S. in Curriculum and Instruction – Bilingual Education degree at TAMIU covers language acquisition theory, bilingual curriculum design and culturally responsive practice. TAMIU designed it for working educators and offers it fully online, from a campus on the U.S.-Mexico border in Laredo. For teachers ready to move beyond a single supplemental exam, a graduate program like this one turns certification into a lasting foundation for leading bilingual classrooms.
Take the next step toward bilingual certification with the online M.S. in Curriculum and Instruction – Bilingual Education at TAMIU, designed for working Texas educators.
Frequently Asked Questions
Bilingual and ESL certification involve several moving parts, from choosing the right supplemental exam to understanding how new state testing requirements affect current educators. The answers below address some of the most common questions Texas teachers ask as they plan their certification path.
What’s the difference between bilingual and ESL certification in Texas?
Bilingual certification qualifies a teacher to instruct students in both English and a second language within a bilingual education program, while ESL certification qualifies a teacher to support English learners in an English-only classroom setting.
Do I need to take the BTLPT if I only want ESL certification?
No. The BTLPT-Spanish (190) exam applies only to bilingual education supplemental certification, while teachers pursuing ESL-only certification take the TExES English as a Second Language Supplemental (154) instead.
What happens to my BTLPT score once the TExES 165 launches?
Current 164 and 190 exam scores remain valid for bilingual certification through September 1, 2028, and candidates can still test using those exams through August 31, 2027, even after the new 165 exam becomes available.
Is the TAMIU bilingual education program eligible for the TEACH Grant?
Yes. TAMIU’s online M.S. in Curriculum and Instruction – Bilingual Education degree is TEACH Grant-eligible, which can help offset tuition costs for teachers who commit to a qualifying service obligation in a high-need field.
Why has the bilingual teacher shortage in Texas lasted so long?
The gap has proven difficult to close for years; as of late 2025, Texas had more than 20,000 bilingual classrooms without a certified bilingual teacher, even as the share of emergent bilingual students statewide climbed from 21% to 24% in just a few years, per the San Antonio Report.
About Texas A&M International University
Texas A&M International University (TAMIU) is located in Laredo, Texas and is a member of The Texas A&M University System. The university has prepared teachers since its founding in 1970 as a center focused on meeting South Texas’s demand for teacher education, and its College of Education is accredited by the Texas State Board for Educator Certification.
TAMIU offers online graduate programs for working educators, including a concentration in bilingual education built for teachers pursuing state certification. Housed in a border community with deep bilingual and bicultural roots, the university brings firsthand insight into the needs of multilingual classrooms to its teacher preparation programs.
