- What the TExES 238 Certification Actually Is
- Who Governs and Administers It
- Exam Format, Fee, and Registration Mechanics
- The Six Domains You Must Master
- Passing Score and What the Data Shows
- Eligibility and the Path to a Classroom Certificate
- Preparing Domain by Domain
- After You Pass: Certification, Renewal, and Jobs
- Frequently Asked Questions
- TExES 238 has 100 selected-response questions across 5 hours of appointment time, including tutorial.
- Three domains - Cell Structure and Processes, Heredity and Evolution of Life, and Diversity of Life - each carry 20% weight, about 60 of 100 items.
- Passing requires a scaled score of 240 out of 100-300; the 2024-2025 first-attempt pass rate was 47%.
- The exam fee is $116, and candidates get five attempts with a mandatory 30-day wait between tries.
What the TExES 238 Certification Actually Is
The TExES 238 certification refers specifically to the TExES Life Science 7-12 (238) exam - the content certification test Texas requires for anyone seeking to teach life science to students in grades 7 through 12. This is not a generic science credential; it is one narrow, subject-specific test built on the 2019 Life Science 7-12 exam framework, which organizes 20 discrete competencies into six domains aligned with the Life Science 7-12 Standards I-XI and the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS).
If you're just getting oriented, our companion piece What Is TExES 238? walks through the basics, and TExES 238 Meaning unpacks exactly what the acronym and number represent in the Texas educator certification system.
Who Governs and Administers It
The Texas Education Agency (TEA) and the State Board for Educator Certification (SBEC) govern the standards and passing requirements for TExES 238. Pearson, through its Evaluation Systems group, develops and administers the actual test as a computer-administered test (CAT) at Pearson VUE centers throughout Texas and nationwide, by appointment, year round. There is no fixed testing "window" the way paper-based exams once had - you schedule an appointment whenever you're ready and approved to test.
Exam Format, Fee, and Registration Mechanics
TExES 238 is built around 100 selected-response questions. Not every question counts toward your score - some are unscored field-test items used to evaluate future exam content, though you won't know which ones during your appointment, so every question deserves full attention.
Your total appointment runs 5 hours: 15 minutes are reserved for the CAT tutorial and the compliance agreement, leaving 4 hours and 45 minutes of actual testing time. There is no calculator and no reference sheet provided, so any calculations related to genetics ratios, population biology, or lab data interpretation must be done using reasoning and scratch work rather than tools.
- Registration validity: 170 days from the date you register.
- Withdrawal refund: Exam fee minus a $25 processing charge.
- Score release: Posts at 10:00 p.m. Central on the published score report date.
- Retake policy: Five attempts allowed, with a required 30-day wait between attempts; a TEA test-limit waiver is needed to exceed five.
For a full cost breakdown - including how the $25 withdrawal deduction and retake timing affect your budget - see TExES 238 Certification Cost 2026: Complete Pricing Breakdown. If you want the exact scheduling logistics, TExES 238 Exam Dates 2026: Testing Windows, Deadlines & Scheduling covers appointment availability in detail.
The Six Domains You Must Master
The 20 competencies behind TExES 238 collapse into six domains, and understanding their relative weight is the single most important planning decision you'll make before test day.
Domain 1: Scientific Inquiry and Processes (15%)
Covers the nature of science, experimental design, lab safety, and data analysis as applied to life science contexts.
- Designing controlled experiments with valid variables
- Interpreting graphs, tables, and lab data sets
- Applying safety protocols specific to biology labs
Domain 2: Cell Structure and Processes (20%)
One of three domains tied for the exam's heaviest weight. Expect deep coverage of cellular machinery and energy flow.
- Biomolecules and their structural roles
- Prokaryotic vs. eukaryotic cell structures
- Membrane transport and homeostasis mechanisms
- Photosynthesis, respiration, cell cycle, and differentiation
Domain 3: Heredity and Evolution of Life (20%)
Also weighted at 20%, this domain blends molecular-level genetics with macro-level evolutionary theory.
- DNA and RNA structure and replication
- Mendelian genetics and molecular genetics
- Mutation, natural selection, and speciation
- Fossil and molecular evidence for evolution
Domain 4: Diversity of Life (20%)
The third domain in the 20% tier, focused on classification and comparative biology across kingdoms.
- Taxonomy and classification systems
- Plant and animal organ systems
- Homeostasis across organism types
- Biology of animal behavior
Domain 5: Interdependence of Life and Environmental Systems (15%)
Ecology-focused content covering energy flow, cycles, and human impact on ecosystems.
- Food webs, energy pyramids, and biogeochemical cycles
- Population and community ecology
- Human interactions with environmental systems
Domain 6: Science Learning, Instruction and Assessment (10%)
The smallest domain, but it tests your ability to apply pedagogy specifically to life science classrooms.
- Instructional strategies for science concepts
- Formative and summative assessment design
- Differentiation for diverse learners in the science classroom
For a competency-by-competency breakdown of all six domains, read TExES 238 Exam Domains 2026: Complete Guide to All 6 Content Areas.
Passing Score and What the Data Shows
TExES 238 uses a scaled score range of 100-300, and you need a 240 to pass. Because the raw-to-scaled conversion isn't published in simple terms, don't try to reverse-engineer "how many questions you can miss" - focus on domain mastery instead. Our dedicated post, TExES 238 Passing Score 2026: Exactly What You Need to Pass, explains the scale in more depth.
The TEA's statewide data for the 2024-2025 program year showed a 47% first-attempt pass rate and a 56% best-attempt pass rate, based on 554 test-takers. That places TExES 238 as the lowest pass rate among the major secondary science content exams - a signal that candidates who treat this test casually are at real risk of a retake. TExES 238 Pass Rate 2026: What the Data Shows breaks this down further, and How Hard Is the TExES 238 Exam? Complete Difficulty Guide 2026 explains why the content breadth across six domains contributes to that difficulty.
Key Takeaway
With a below-average first-attempt pass rate and a 30-day wait between retakes, front-loading preparation on the three 20%-weighted domains is the highest-leverage move you can make before scheduling your appointment.
Eligibility and the Path to a Classroom Certificate
You cannot simply register for TExES 238 on your own initiative. Candidates must be approved to test either through an educator preparation program (EPP) or directly by TEA. This approval step exists to confirm you've met the coursework or program prerequisites tied to life science certification.
Passing TExES 238 alone does not put you in a Texas classroom. A first standard certificate also requires passing the PPR EC-12 (160) pedagogy exam, which covers general teaching practice rather than science content. Think of TExES 238 as your content credential and PPR EC-12 as your pedagogy credential - both are required pieces of the same certificate.
Full eligibility mechanics, including EPP approval routes and waiver processes for exceeding the five-attempt limit, are covered in TExES 238 Requirements 2026: Eligibility, Prerequisites & How to Qualify.
Preparing Domain by Domain
Because three domains dominate the scoring weight, a study plan built around equal time per domain wastes preparation hours. Instead, allocate time proportionally to domain weight, and sequence your review so the heaviest domains get the most repetition cycles before test day.
Cell Structure and Processes (20%)
- Review biomolecules, organelle function, and membrane transport
- Drill photosynthesis and respiration pathways with diagrams
- Practice cell cycle and differentiation scenario questions
Heredity and Evolution of Life (20%)
- Work Mendelian genetics problems and Punnett square variations
- Study DNA/RNA replication and molecular genetics mechanisms
- Connect mutation, natural selection, and speciation to fossil evidence
Diversity of Life (20%)
- Build a taxonomy reference from domain to species
- Compare plant and animal organ systems side by side
- Review behavior biology and homeostasis across taxa
Scientific Inquiry and Interdependence of Life (15% + 15%)
- Practice experimental design and data-analysis questions
- Review ecological cycles, energy flow, and population dynamics
Instruction, Assessment, and Full Review
- Study pedagogy-specific items under Science Learning, Instruction and Assessment
- Take full-length timed practice sets covering all six domains
For a more detailed week-by-week methodology, including how to structure practice-question review sessions, see TExES 238 Study Guide 2026: How to Pass on Your First Attempt. A quick-reference version of core facts across all domains is also available in the TExES 238 Cheat Sheet 2026: One-Page Review of Must-Know Facts. Running realistic, timed sets on our practice test platform before your Pearson VUE appointment helps you gauge readiness across each weighted domain rather than guessing.
After You Pass: Certification, Renewal, and Jobs
Once you clear the 240 passing score and complete your PPR EC-12 requirement, your standard Texas certificate is valid for five years. Renewal happens through ECOS, and classroom teachers must complete 150 continuing professional education (CPE) clock hours within that period to maintain active certification.
Districts hiring for secondary life science, biology, and general science positions typically look for exactly this credential when filling 7-12 classroom roles. If you're weighing whether the investment of time and the $116 fee is worthwhile against your career goals, Is the TExES 238 Certification Worth It? Complete ROI Analysis 2026 and TExES 238 Salary Guide 2026: Complete Earnings Analysis offer a deeper look. For current openings and how certified candidates are matched to roles, see TExES 238 Jobs, and for structured coursework support, TExES 238 Training outlines available preparation programs.
Not sure where TExES 238 fits among other Texas educator exams, or what the numbering even signifies? What Does TExES 238 Stand For?, What Is A TExES 238?, and What Does TExES 238 Mean? each answer a slightly different version of that question, and What Is TExES 238 Certification? ties it all back to the certification process described here.
| Exam Detail | Specification |
|---|---|
| Administering body | Pearson (Evaluation Systems), under TEA/SBEC governance |
| Question count | 100 selected-response (includes unscored field-test items) |
| Appointment length | 5 hours total (15 min tutorial + 4 hrs 45 min testing) |
| Exam fee | $116 |
| Passing score | 240 on a 100-300 scale |
| Attempt limit | 5 attempts, 30-day wait between attempts |
| Registration validity | 170 days |
Frequently Asked Questions
No. There is no calculator provided and no reference sheet available during the exam, so all reasoning, including genetics ratio problems, must be done manually.
Yes. A first Texas classroom certificate also requires passing the PPR EC-12 (160) pedagogy exam in addition to the TExES 238 content exam.
You get five attempts, with a required 30-day wait between each attempt. Beyond five attempts, you need a TEA test-limit waiver.
Cell Structure and Processes, Heredity and Evolution of Life, and Diversity of Life are each weighted at 20%, together accounting for roughly 60 of the 100 questions.
Scores post at 10:00 p.m. Central on the officially published score report date tied to your test appointment.