- TExES PE 258 has 90 selected-response items plus one constructed-response question, scored to a 240 passing threshold.
- Three domains-Movement Knowledge and Skills, Health-Related Fitness, and The Physical Education Program-each carry about 22% of the exam weight.
- The exam fee is $136, and candidates need approval to test before registering unless a qualifying route applies.
- Exam 258 fully replaced Exam 158, which retired after its final administration on September 1, 2024.
What TExES PE 258 Actually Is
TExES PE 258 is the exam candidates must pass to earn Texas certification to teach physical education in early childhood through grade 12 classrooms. The "258" is simply the exam code assigned by the state, and it distinguishes this certificate from every other Texas educator exam. If you're just starting your research, it helps to first understand what TExES PE 258 is at the most basic level before digging into the mechanics of registration, scoring, and content coverage covered here.
This certification is not a general teaching credential with a PE add-on - it is a standalone content-specific exam built around a 13-competency framework spanning five domains. Passing it, combined with completing an approved educator preparation program, is what allows a teacher of record to be assigned physical education classes anywhere in the state.
Who Governs and Administers the Exam
The Texas Education Agency (TEA) and the State Board for Educator Certification (SBEC) set the rules, competencies, and passing standards for TExES PE 258. Pearson handles the actual administration, delivering the exam as a computer-administered test at testing centers located throughout Texas and at additional sites nationwide. This separation matters: policy questions about certification routes go to TEA/SBEC, while scheduling, seat availability, and test-day logistics go through Pearson.
Exam Format, Fee, and Timing
Understanding the mechanics of test day removes a lot of unnecessary anxiety. TExES PE 258 consists of 90 selected-response questions and one constructed-response question. The constructed response asks you to write an extended, scenario-based answer rather than pick from options, which changes how you should allocate your time and how you should study terminology and justification language, not just facts.
- Fee: $136 per attempt
- Testing time: 4 hours 45 minutes of actual test time
- Appointment length: 5 hours total, with 15 minutes reserved for the tutorial and compliance agreement
- Passing score: a scaled score of 240
Because the appointment window includes non-testing time, pacing yourself across nearly five hours of actual content is a real endurance factor, not just a knowledge test. For a full breakdown of what that $136 fee does and doesn't include, see the TExES PE 258 certification cost breakdown, and for a deeper look at how the 240 scaled score is calculated, read the TExES PE 258 passing score guide.
The Five Domains You'll Be Tested On
The official framework organizes 13 competencies into five domains. Three of them are weighted almost identically, which means candidates can't afford to treat any single one as an afterthought.
Domain 1: Movement Knowledge and Skills (22%)
Covers fundamental motor skills, movement patterns, biomechanics, and skill progression across developmental stages.
- Locomotor, non-locomotor, and manipulative skill sequencing
- Skill analysis and feedback for correction
Domain 2: Health-Related Fitness (22%)
Focuses on the components of fitness, exercise physiology basics, and how to design activities that build lifelong fitness habits.
- Cardiorespiratory endurance, muscular strength, flexibility, and body composition concepts
- Fitness assessment and goal-setting with students
Domain 3: The Physical Education Program (22%)
Addresses curriculum design, safety, class management, and how a PE program fits into a school's larger goals.
- Scope and sequence planning across grade bands
- Risk management, equipment safety, and inclusive activity design
Domain 4: Educating All Learners and Professional Practice (13%)
Covers differentiation, accommodations, legal/ethical responsibilities, and collaboration with other educators and families.
- Adapting instruction for students with disabilities or varying skill levels
- Professional communication and reflective practice
Domain 5: Constructed Response (20%)
A single extended-response question requiring candidates to apply knowledge from across the other domains to a realistic classroom scenario.
- Clear organization and specific, justified recommendations
- Integration of movement, fitness, and program-planning concepts in one answer
Because these weights are so close, many candidates benefit from studying the domains in the order they're published rather than picking favorites. The TExES PE 258 exam domains guide walks through each competency in more depth, and if you want a condensed reference for last-minute review, the TExES PE 258 cheat sheet summarizes the highest-yield facts from all five domains on a single page.
Key Takeaway
Don't over-invest in Domain 1 just because "movement skills" sounds like the obvious PE topic - Domains 2 and 3 carry equal weight, and the constructed response alone is worth as much as any single multiple-choice domain.
Who Needs This Certification
TExES PE 258 is required for candidates seeking to become certified physical education teachers in Texas public schools, typically as part of completing an educator preparation program (traditional university route or alternative certification program). Districts hiring PE teachers, athletic period instructors, and in many cases coaches who also teach PE classes will expect this certification on file before assigning a teacher of record to the subject.
If you're weighing whether this is the right credential for your career plans, it's worth reading about TExES PE 258 jobs to see how the certification connects to actual teaching positions, and reviewing whether TExES PE 258 certification is worth it for a broader view of the tradeoffs involved in pursuing it.
| Exam Detail | TExES PE 258 |
|---|---|
| Governing bodies | Texas Education Agency (TEA) and SBEC |
| Administrator | Pearson (computer-administered, Texas and nationwide centers) |
| Fee | $136 |
| Question format | 90 selected-response + 1 constructed-response |
| Total testing time | 4 hours 45 minutes (5-hour appointment) |
| Passing scaled score | 240 |
| Number of domains / competencies | 5 domains / 13 competencies |
How 258 Replaced Exam 158
If you've seen older forum posts or study materials referencing "Exam 158," that credential has been retired. Its final administration date was September 1, 2024, and TExES PE 258 is its direct successor. Any prep resources dated before that transition may reference an outdated competency framework, so it's worth double-checking that whatever materials you use - including TExES PE 258 training resources - are built around the current 258 framework and not the retired 158 version.
Preparing Around the Domain Weights
Because Movement Knowledge and Skills, Health-Related Fitness, and The Physical Education Program are each weighted at about 22%, and the constructed response makes up roughly 20%, a reasonable preparation approach spends comparable time on each of the three major content domains and reserves dedicated time for practicing the extended-response format separately from multiple-choice review.
Movement Knowledge and Skills
- Review motor skill progressions and biomechanical principles
- Practice selected-response questions focused on skill cues and analysis
Health-Related Fitness
- Study fitness components and assessment methods
- Connect fitness concepts to age-appropriate program design
The Physical Education Program
- Work through curriculum sequencing and safety scenarios
- Review Domain 4 topics on differentiation and professional practice alongside program planning
Constructed Response and Full Review
- Draft and time practice constructed-response answers
- Take full-length practice sets to rehearse the 4 hour 45 minute pace
This kind of structured sequencing is really just standard study planning applied specifically to the 258 blueprint - it isn't a substitute for knowing the content itself, but it does prevent the common mistake of running out of time before ever touching the constructed-response section. For a fuller walkthrough of how to sequence study sessions, question drills, and review cycles, see the TExES PE 258 study guide.
Once you have a study plan, it's worth honestly assessing how challenging the exam will be for your background. The TExES PE 258 difficulty guide discusses what tends to trip candidates up, and reviewing available TExES PE 258 pass rate data can help you calibrate how much preparation time to budget. You can also build familiarity with the question style directly by working through practice questions on our TExES PE 258 practice test platform before test day.
After You Pass: Certification and Renewal
Passing TExES PE 258 with a scaled score of 240 or higher is one requirement toward earning a standard Texas classroom teaching certificate in physical education. Once issued, a standard certificate is valid for five years, and renewal requires completing 150 continuing professional education (CPE) hours within that period. This ongoing requirement is separate from the exam itself, but it's worth planning for from day one so certification maintenance doesn't catch you off guard down the road.
Before you get to renewal, though, you need to confirm you meet the eligibility requirements to sit for the exam in the first place - including any prerequisite coursework or program admission steps. The TExES PE 258 requirements guide lays out those prerequisites, and the TExES PE 258 exam dates guide covers how to time your registration and testing window around program deadlines.
If you're still trying to pin down basic terminology - what the acronym stands for, how people commonly refer to it, or how it's phrased in different contexts - related explainers like TExES PE 258 Meaning, What Does TExES PE 258 Stand For?, and What Does TExES PE 258 Mean? cover those basics, while What Is A TExES PE 258? and TExES PE 258 Certification tie those definitions back to the certification process itself. If salary expectations are part of your decision-making, the TExES PE 258 salary guide is a useful next read after you understand the certification's structure.
Frequently Asked Questions
You need a scaled score of 240. This is calculated from your performance on the 90 selected-response questions and the constructed-response question, not a raw percentage of items answered correctly.
There are five domains built from 13 total competencies: Movement Knowledge and Skills, Health-Related Fitness, The Physical Education Program, Educating All Learners and Professional Practice, and the Constructed Response domain.
Most candidates need approval to test from their educator preparation program before registering with Pearson, though qualifying routes exist where this step works differently. Confirm your specific situation with your program before assuming you can self-register.
No. Exam 258 replaced Exam 158, which had its final administration on September 1, 2024. Make sure any study materials you use reference the current 258 framework.
The full appointment is five hours, but only 4 hours 45 minutes of that is testing time. The remaining 15 minutes covers the tutorial and compliance agreement before the clock starts on questions.