Testing Specialist (Temp Non-Exempt Staff)

Houston Dose; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of Houston System seeks a Testing Specialist to oversee the certification examination pathway for candidates enrolled in the Alternative Intensive Certification Program (AICP). You will monitor progress toward Texas Educator Certification and provide individualized mentorship and scaffolded support to remove barriers to on-time completion.

You will maintain exam registrations, track attempts and outcomes, and work with program faculty to ensure alignment with milestones and

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required.
• Valid Texas teaching certificate and/or direct experience with the Texas educator certification process (TExES exams).
• Experience working with adult learners, career-changers, or alternative certification candidates.
• Strong organizational skills and experience managing multiple candidate timelines simultaneously.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with a demonstrated ability to mentor adult learners.

Responsibilities

• Certification Pathway Oversight: guide candidates through required certification examinations for EC-6 Bilingual and EC-12 Special Education tracks.
• Candidate Progress Monitoring: track testing status and outcomes, maintain records for reporting.
• Mentorship & Scaffolded Support: provide one-on-one and small-group test prep and study planning.
• Collaboration & Reporting: partner with faculty and staff and contribute to grant progress reports.

Skills

Mentoring

Organizational skills

Communication

Adult learners

Education

Bachelor's degree

Job description

Department: Urban Education

Salary: Commensurate with Experience/Education

Description

Position Summary

The Testing Specialist oversees the certification examination pathway for candidates enrolled in the Alternative Intensive Certification Program (AICP). This role monitors each candidate's progress toward Texas Educator Certification, ensuring the timely completion of all required examinations while delivering holistic, individualized mentorship and scaffolded academic support. The Testing Specialist serves as a primary point of contact for candidates navigating the certification testing process and works closely with program faculty and staff to remove barriers to on-time completion.

Key Responsibilities

Certification Pathway Oversight

• Guide candidates through the full sequence of required certification examinations (e.g., content pedagogy, PPR, and certification-area content exams) for both the Bilingual Education (EC-6) and Special Education (EC-12) tracks
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of TEA testing requirements, registration windows, score reporting timelines, and certification rules, and communicate changes promptly to candidates and staff
• Develop and maintain individualized testing plans and timelines for each candidate, aligned to program milestones and certification deadlines

Candidate Progress Monitoring

• Track candidate testing status, attempts, and outcomes using program data systems; flag candidates at risk of delay or non-completion
• Maintain accurate, current records of exam registration, completion, and pass rates for internal reporting and funder deliverables
• Provide regular progress updates to the Principal Investigator and instructional team to support cohort-level planning

Mentorship & Scaffolded Support

• Provide one-on-one and small-group mentorship addressing test anxiety, study planning, and content-area gaps
• Coordinate and/or deliver targeted test-preparation resources, practice assessments, and study sessions tailored to individual candidate needs
• Connect candidates with additional academic, financial, or personal supports as needed, referring to program leadership or campus resources when appropriate
• Foster a supportive, culturally responsive environment that reflects the program's commitment to serving candidates from diverse linguistic and educational backgrounds

Collaboration & Reporting

• Partner with AICP faculty, field supervisors, and recruitment staff to ensure alignment between coursework, field experiences, and testing readiness
• Contribute testing-outcome data and narrative updates to grant progress reports for the Houston Endowment
• Participate in program meetings, professional development, and continuous improvement efforts

Qualifications Required

• Bachelor's degree required
• Valid Texas teaching certificate and/or direct experience with the Texas educator certification process (TExES exams)
• Experience working with adult learners, career-changers, or alternative certification candidates
• Strong organizational skills and experience managing multiple candidate timelines simultaneously
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with a demonstrated ability to mentor and motivate adult learners

Preferred

• Experience with Bilingual Education (EC-6) and/or Special Education (EC-12) certification content
• Familiarity with TEA certification systems (e.g., ECOS) and testing vendor platforms (e.g., Pearson/NES)
• Experience with grant-funded or federally funded education programs

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Working knowledge of Texas educator certification requirements and testing structures
• Ability to interpret exam score reports and translate them into actionable study plans
• Data management skills sufficient to track candidate progress and support program reportingCultural competence and demonstrated commitment to equity in teacher preparation
• Experience with the needs of non-traditional students learning styles

This position description reflects the general nature and scope of work performed and is subject to revision as program needs evolve.

All positions at the University of Houston-System are security sensitive and will require a criminal history check.

The University of Houston System and its universities are Equal Opportunity Institutions. Everyone is encouraged to apply.