How to Actually Sign Up for a Texas CBE — The School Counselor Process Most Parents Get Wrong

The #1 Mistake Parents Make

You hear that your child can earn high school credit by passing a single exam. Excited, you Google "Texas Credit by Exam" and land on the UTHS website. You start filling out forms — and then you get stuck. The forms ask for things you don't have. You try to pay $70 and wonder if that's right. You email UTHS and they tell you to "talk to your school district."

This is the most common mistake parents make. The official process is not direct registration with UTHS. It runs through your school counselor.

The Verified CBE Process (4 Steps)

Source: Texas Education Agency rule 19 TAC §74.24 and the official UTHS CBE page (highschool.utexas.edu/credit_by_exam).

Verified Cost Structure (UTHS Official)

The exam cost depends on who orders it:

Source: UTHS official fee schedule (highschool.utexas.edu/credit_by_exam).

The Four Annual Testing Windows

Texas law requires every school district to offer CBE testing during four windows each year:

Important rules:

• You may take a specific exam only once per window.
• You may attempt a specific high school course CBE a maximum of 2 times total (19 TAC §74.24(c)(6)).
• Test dates within each window are set by your school district — your counselor knows them.

The Two Different Passing Standards (Verified)

Why this matters: According to UTHS official data, the average score for high school CBE takers is 64-69% — below both passing thresholds. Most students fail because they don't prepare with the right materials.

What to Ask Your School Counselor (7 Questions)

Print this list and bring it to your counselor meeting:

1. Where does our school administer CBE tests? (On-site, district office, or approved testing center?)
2. When is the next testing window? Specifically, what's the exact date my child can sit for the exam?
3. What's the application deadline? Districts often need 2-4 weeks notice to order tests from UTHS.
4. Does our district recognize CBE credit for high school courses taken in middle school? (Critical for math acceleration — some districts have specific rules.)
5. Is the exam free? By law it should be — but ask for confirmation in writing.
6. If my child passes the CBE, are they exempt from the EOC for that subject? (Yes, per 19 TAC §74.24(d)(3) for credit-granting CBEs.)
7. How and when do we receive the results? Districts typically take 2-4 weeks after the test.

Counselor Email Template (Copy-Paste Ready)

Tip: CC the school principal if you don't get a response within 5 business days.

What If Your School Counselor Doesn't Know About CBE?

This is more common than you think. Many counselors handle hundreds of students and don't have CBE on their daily radar. Here's what to do:

1. Be specific. Don't say "I want my child to take a test." Say "I'm requesting a Credit by Exam for [subject] under 19 TAC §74.24."
2. Bring documentation. Print this article. Bring a copy of UTHS's CBE page (highschool.utexas.edu/credit_by_exam).
3. Escalate if needed. If your counselor says "we don't do that," ask to speak with the district's Curriculum Director or Assistant Superintendent for Academics. CBE is a state-mandated program — districts cannot refuse.
4. Contact UTHS directly. Email UTHSrequestCBE@austin.utexas.edu if you need help navigating the process. They cannot enroll your child themselves, but they can guide you and confirm what your district must provide.

For Homeschool and Private School Students

If your child is homeschooled or in a private school, the process is slightly different:

• You can register directly with UTHS at the individual rate ($70 per semester exam).
• You can also use your local public school district — Texas law gives homeschool students equal access to CBE testing through their resident district.
• Online proctoring is available for grades 3-12 via Proctorio (the student takes the exam from home with a webcam-monitored lockdown browser).

Source: UTHS official policies for individual student orders.

The Real Bottleneck Is Preparation, Not Registration

Once you understand the process, registration is the easy part. The hard part is passing the 80% threshold. Per UTHS official data:

• Average high school CBE score: 64-69% (below passing)
• Average K-8 CBE score: 58-68% by subject (also below passing)

The students who pass are the ones who prepare with TEKS-aligned practice questions — exactly what the test will cover.

Sources Cited in This Article

All claims in this article are sourced from official documents:

• UTHS Official CBE Page: highschool.utexas.edu/credit_by_exam (fee schedule, online proctoring policy, individual orders, K-2 in-person requirement)
• 19 TAC §74.24: Texas Administrative Code rule on Credit by Examination (testing windows, two-attempt limit, no-cost requirement)
• TEC §28.023: Texas Education Code on credit-granting CBEs and EOC exemption
• UTHS Statewide CBE Program Data (Beth Cooper Ed.D., Kristina Huff): Average scores, subject popularity, 30,000 annual exams across 250 partner districts

Texas CBE™ is not affiliated with UTHS, the University of Texas at Austin, or the Texas Education Agency. All practice questions on Texas CBE™ are original content mapped to public TEKS standards.