South Dakota: Praxis Test Requirements

• How to Qualify for Teacher Certification
  Who Must Take the Tests
• Where to Get Additional Information
• Reporting of Scores
• Where to Take the Tests
• Tests Requirements
• Highly Qualified Status

How to Qualify for Teacher Certification

Each applicant for initial certification in South Dakota must have:

• Earned at least a baccalaureate degree, and
• Completed an approved program of teacher education, and
• Passed The Praxis Series™ tests for their certification area.

Because qualifying score requirements may be subject to change, each applicant for certification must meet the qualifying score for all applicable tests at the time their application for certification is received by the Office of Accreditation and Teacher Quality.

Who Must Take the Tests

Each individual who applies for an initial certificate after July 1, 2005, must take and meet or exceed the qualifying scores of both the appropriate content specific Praxis II test(s) and the Praxis Principles of Learning and Teaching test that most accurately matches their level of preparation. Applicants prepared by South Dakota institutions must pay careful attention to identifying and recording the correct code number of the preparing institution (the college or university that will recommend them for certification) on their registration form. The information must be written in the 'Attending Institution section.' (See the Attending Institution/Recipient Codes List).

After July 1, 2005, each individual who holds a valid South Dakota certificate and wishes to add another area to that certificate must take and pass the appropriate subject assessment test(s).

Each individual who holds a valid teaching certificate from out-of-state must submit proof of having met or exceeded the qualifying score range for the appropriate Praxis II content area test(s). If the appropriate score(s) are not met, the individual will have to take and pass the appropriate Praxis II content test(s) to attain certification.

It is the responsibility of the applicant to register for the proper subject assessment test. See Test Requirements for the list of certification areas and corresponding subject assessment tests.

NOTE: Not all certification areas have content specific tests; to obtain certification and/or endorsement in areas without content specific tests, the appropriate coursework must be completed.

Where to Get Additional Information

To obtain information about approved teacher education programs or for individuals who hold certification in another state, contact:

South Dakota Department of Education
Office of Accreditation and Teacher Quality
700 Governors Drive
Pierre, SD 57501
1-605-773-3553

Reporting of Scores

When applying for initial certification, an applicant must submit a copy of their passing test score, including any subtest scores provided by the testing company, on the state certification exams for:

• Each subject or area authorization, and
• The pedagogy exam for each age or grade span for which they have completed an approved education program, and
• Each subject or area authorization for endorsement programs for which applicant is applying;

When applying to add an additional endorsement or program level certification to a certificate — except for education endorsement programs that do not have content specific state tests — an applicant must submit a copy of their passing test score, including any subtest scores provided by the testing company on the state certification exam for each subject or area authorization within the endorsement program for which the applicant is applying.

Where to Take the Tests

Test center locations for the paper-based Praxis II Subject Assessments can be found in the Test Center List.

Test Requirements

The first digit of the "Session/Test Code" indicates the session during which the test is offered in the 2009-10 testing year.

NOTE: Cut scores will be changing for the November 2006 administration. Please visit http://doe.sd.gov/oatq/praxis/index.asp prior to this test administration to be advised of changes in cut scores.

¹ Only one PLT test is required even if preparation is at multiple levels.

² This test is not required for certification. It will be used as an option for non-certified administrators to use as an endorsement until they complete a full preparation program as either a principal or superintendent.

Highly Qualified Status

The Social Science Education: Composite 7-12 and General Science 7-12 tests listed below will meet the requirements for attaining highly qualified status for those Special Education teachers who provide direct instruction for students in middle and high school. The Elementary Education: Content Knowledge test may be taken if the Special Education teacher is providing services for students in an elementary attendance center. The Middle School: Content Knowledge test may be taken if the Special Education teacher is providing services for K-8 students. These tests will not add any additional endorsements on a certificate.

This page is a supplement to The Praxis Series 2009-10 Information Bulletin (PDF).