An overview is presented of the current status of competency testing for teacher certification. The question of the effect of certification tests on the quality of hired teachers is briefly discussed. Statistics are presented on types of tests used by various states, with particular attention to differences in the cut-off scores for passage of a teacher certification test, whether on a test developed by one state or a nationally-normed test set by individual states. Correlations between the scores on admission tests and subsequent teacher certification test scores in several southern states are analyzed. The structure and validity of some state-developed tests and nationally-normed tests are considered. Also examined are the relatively low test scores of minority groups and the effects of this phenomenon on schools with predominantly minority students. A brief discussion is presented on issues raised by testing for recertification which has been mandated in Arkansas and Texas. (JD)