Finding a Test Center and Test Date
The website of Educational Testing Service (ETS), the administrator of the TOEFL, offers a database of test centers and test dates that is searchable by country and city. Test availability, which is throughout the year, may be searched without creating an ETS online account. Selecting a country from the dropdown menu will produce a list of test dates and fees in each city where testing is offered. Availability is on a first-come, first-served basis.
Registering for the TOEFL Online
The easiest way to sign up for the TOEFL is to register online. Online registration, which does require an ETS account, may be completed 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The advantages of online registration include automatic completion of processes that are manual with other methods (such as filling in test center codes), faster payment of registration fees, and easier assignment of score report recipients. Test-takers should note that online registration requires the entering of at least one form of acceptable identification (such as a passport).
Registering for the TOEFL by Phone
To register for the TOEFL by phone, test-takers should start by locating the phone number for the appropriate regional office from the list on the ETS website. Registration is then completed by calling this number on business days between 8 am and 7:45 pm EST (students are advised to avoid the hours between 11 am and 2 pm EST, as these are the busiest times). Phone registrants must also download and complete the registration form and mail it to the assigned ETS regional office.
Registering for the TOEFL by Mail
Registration for the TOEFL by mail involves completing the registration form and sending it to the indicated address with an accepted method of payment. The ETS address for students testing in North America is listed on the form. For other testing locations, students should mail their registration materials to the regional ETS office. The form must be completed in its entirety, including the codes for the test center, the student's native language, and country of origin (with online registration, this information is automatically populated).
Registration Policies and Fees
ETS encourages students to register at least four months ahead of their preferred test date, but their official policies are flexible in this regard. Standard registration for the TOEFL closes seven days before the date of the test, but students may complete late registration four days in advance. The registration fee is $195 in the United States and $245 in Canada and most European countries. In other locations, the fee is variable and can range from $195 to $300. Late registration costs an extra $40. Students who wish to reschedule their exam date can do so up to four days before the test for a fee of $60, which is substantially less than paying a new registration fee. ETS accepts payment by credit card, PayPal, and e-check from a U.S. bank account.
Registration for Disabled Students
Disabled students who plan on requesting accommodations must undergo a special registration procedure. ETS requires approximately six weeks to review and approve documentation of disabilities and appropriate accommodations, and disabled test-takers should therefore plan ahead by contacting ETS Disability Services well in advance of their preferred test date. Registration for this category of student can only be completed by mail or email. Typical accommodations include specialized keyboards, extra testing time or extra breaks, oral interpreters, and screen magnifiers.