BESS — Bilingual Education: Spanish Supplemental

The 165 is a complete restructure

For two decades, Texas used two separate exams to certify bilingual educators teaching in Spanish: the 164 Bilingual Education Supplemental (content and pedagogy) and the 190 BTLPT (Spanish language proficiency). Candidates took them separately, studied for them separately, and could pass one but fail the other.

Starting September 1, 2026, both are phased out and replaced by a single integrated exam: the 165 Bilingual Education: Spanish Supplemental.

One exam. Three subtests. Six competencies. Academic Spanish proficiency and instructional methodology assessed together, in a way that’s closer to how bilingual educators actually use both in the classroom.

The new structure

Subtest 1 — Listening and Speaking

• Competency 001: Apply literal, inferential, and interpretive listening skills to understand oral communications in Spanish relevant to bilingual education.
• Competency 002: Apply speaking conventions to communicate in Spanish across bilingual classroom and program situations.

Subtest 2 — Reading and Writing

• Competency 001: Apply literal, inferential, and interpretive reading skills to a variety of authentic Spanish texts in bilingual education contexts.
• Competency 002: Apply writing conventions to communicate in Spanish in formal and informal bilingual classroom registers.

Subtest 3 — Foundations and Instructional Practice

Foundations of bilingual education, TEKS (SLAR and ELAR), ELPS, LPAC procedures, bilingual program models, linguistically responsive research-based instruction, assessment of emergent bilingual students, and family and community engagement.

What changed from the BTLPT 190

• Speaking tasks — Both exams have 4 constructed-response speaking tasks.
• Speaking response time — 190: varies by task. 165: 2 minutes per response.
• Writing tasks — 190: 3 constructed-response. 165: 1 constructed-response.
• Writing time — 190: split across 3 shorter tasks. 165: 40 minutes for one longer response.
• Context of prompts — 190: proficiency + pedagogy mixed. 165: proficiency-focused; pedagogy lives in Subtest 3.

The biggest shift: on the 190, speaking and writing tasks had to double as pedagogy tasks. On the 165 those subtests can test language skill directly, because Subtest 3 carries the pedagogy load.

Candidates who prepared for the 190’s three shorter writing tasks need a different playbook for the 165’s single 40-minute response. Sustained, organized academic Spanish writing with built-in time management is the new priority.

Transition timeline

• Spring 2026 — Official 165 prep manual published by TEA
• Summer 2026 — Practice exams released; standard-setting concludes
• Sept 1, 2026 — 165 launches. 164/190 combo still accepted for new certification.
• Aug 31, 2027 — Last day to take the 164 or 190 for Spanish bilingual certification
• Sept 1, 2027 — 165 is the only path. Both legacy exams retire.
• Sept 1, 2028 — Last day to apply for certification using old 164/190 scores

The retake policy is better than the old one

Attempts are counted per subtest, not per exam. You get five attempts on each of the three subtests. If you pass two and need to retry the third, only the third counts against its own limit.

Prior attempts on the 164 or 190 do not count against your 165 attempts. It’s a fresh counter.

Three mistakes to avoid

1. Assuming native Spanish speakers don’t need to study Subtests 1 & 2. Fluency isn’t the same as academic proficiency in bilingual classroom registers. Heritage speakers and second-language learners alike need structured practice with formal bilingual classroom language.
2. Assuming one integrated exam means everything is mushed together. The 165 splits proficiency and pedagogy into distinct subtests. Treat each like its own mini-exam with its own prep plan.
3. Using retiring 164/190 materials to prep for the 165. The structure and content have changed enough that 165-specific preparation is significantly more effective.

Stay in the loop

Sign up below for 165 transition updates — timeline confirmations, new prep cohort dates, and Texas-specific guidance as TEA publishes more materials.