Washington: Praxis Test Requirements
Important News
- The Washington State Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) asks for a social security number (SSN) as part of the certification process in order to accurately identify applicants and ensure that your test score is properly included in your applicant file. ETS does not require your SSN for its own purposes, but will submit it to OSPI with your test results. Providing this information is voluntary. Failure to provide your SSN could delay processing of your certification application.
- The Washington Professional Educator Standards Board (PESB) has initiated redevelopment of the tests that are needed for P–12 educator endorsements. The new tests will be known as the WEST-E (Washington Educator Skills Tests–Endorsements). Use of the Praxis II tests will be phased out after 9/1/09; however, the Praxis II tests for French (#0173), German (#0181) and Spanish (#0191) will continue to be administered until 2/1/2010 in Washington on the dates and sites listed on this website. For information about the new assessment requirements for endorsements, go to http://www.pesb.wa.gov/Assessment/documents/ WA_Testing_Information6_5_09.pdf.
To be certain that you are taking the content knowledge test that will meet the requirements specific to your situation, go to http://www.pesb.wa.gov/Assessment/WEST-E/WEST-E.asp or speak to the admissions staff at the institution of interest. - After 2/1/2010, only Praxis II tests for the ESA certificates [School Counselor (#20420), School Psychologist (#10401), School Social Worker (#20211), and School Speech Language Pathologist/Audiologist (#20330)] will be used by WA.
Directory
An important message to Washington teacher candidates taking Praxis II endorsement exams: You may encounter questions on the Praxis II exams that deal with instructional methodology. The Praxis II exams used in the state of Washington were validated by panels of Washington Educators to test job relevant subject area content knowledge. The passing scores were set for these assessments based on the recommendations of these panels and taking the presence of instructional methodology questions into account. Therefore, answers to the questions regarding instructional methodology will not disadvantage candidates' performance relative to the passing score. If you have questions or concerns, please contact the Professional Educator Standards Board at pesbassessment@k12.wa.us or 1-360-725-6275.
Q&A
Where to Get Additional Information
Test Requirements
Attending Institution/Recipient Codes (List C)
Your Scores and Score Report
Background
Legislation enacted in 2001 required the Washington Professional Educator Standards Board (PESB) to adopt examinations for assessing skills in reading, writing, and mathematics for teachers licensed under Board authority and to adopt rules for the implementation and ongoing administration of the examinations. In addition, Washington's RCW 28A.410.220 also required the Board to adopt subject knowledge assessments for teacher certification in 33 endorsement areas. The ruling stipulated that the selected assessments must be aligned with the knowledge and skills required of K-12 students as defined by Washington's Essential Academic Learning Requirements (EALRs). For more information about the means of assessment, go to http://www.pesb.wa.gov/Assessment/assessment.asp.
Q & A
Q: Why do we need subject knowledge assessments? Don't our teacher preparation programs assess that competency now?
A: Although all higher education teacher preparation programs are approved by the state, their programs vary. The Governor, Legislature, State Board of Education, and Superintendent of Public Instruction proposed establishing a single uniform means of assessing content knowledge competency for all teacher candidates.
Q: Who has to take the tests?
A: All candidates seeking an endorsement to a new or existing Washington teaching certificate must pass a content knowledge test adopted by the PESB for that endorsement. (*See http://www.pesb.wa.gov/Assessment/west-e/west-e_exemptions.asp about an exemption for candidates holding National Board for Professional Teaching Standards certification.)
Note: School administrators, school counselors, school social workers, school nurses, school psychologists, and educational speech-language pathologists are not teachers, and therefore are not subject to teacher examination licensure requirements.
Q: Where will the tests be offered in Washington?
A: The Praxis Series offers 9 testing locations for the 2009-10 testing year. Refer to Test Centers for test center availability.
- Auburn, Green River Community College
- Bellingham, Western Washington University
- Camas, Union High School
- Ellensburg, Central Washington University
- Seattle, Seattle Pacific University
- Seattle, University of Washington
- Spokane, Gonzaga University
- Spokane, Whitworth College
- Walla Walla, Whitman College
Q: When will Praxis II paper-and-pencil tests be administered?
A: There are seven administrations each year. In 2009-10, Praxis administrations will be held on:
- September 12, 2009
- November 14, 2009
- January 9, 2010
- March 13, 2010
- April 24, 2010
- June 12, 2010
- July 24, 2010
Q: Can I take the test on computer?
A: Praxis subject knowledge tests are available only in paper-pencil format.
Q: How much does it cost to take a Praxis test?
A: Registration fee plus test fee. The registration fee is $50 and is charged only once during the testing year. The test fee is determined by test length (1 hour or two hours) and by the test format (multiple choice, constructed response, or a combination of the two). Visit Praxis Test List and Fees for more information on test and service fees.
Q: How do I know which test to take?
A: Refer to Test Requirements below.
Q: How do I register to take the test?
A: You may choose to register online or by submitting the nonscannable registration form found on The Praxis Series website or in the Registration Bulletin.
Q: Where can I get more information about Praxis II tests?
A: Select the test name to view and download information from the Test at A Glance booklet. Information includes test specifications, sample questions, and test-taking strategies.
Q: Where can I get The Praxis Series 2009-10 Information Bulletin?
A: The 2009-10 Praxis Series Information Bulletin and registration form are available as downloadable PDFs.
Q: Can I register online?
A: Yes. Visit online registration to register online.
Q: Who will receive my Praxis scores?
A: If you test at a center in Washington, a copy of your scores will automatically be sent to the OSPI Office of Professional Education and Certification. You may select up to three free score recipients when you register. Be sure to list your preparing institution as one recipient. You may elect a second and third recipient of your choice at the same time.
As more Washington educators take the WEST-E/Praxis II assessments, the Professional Educator Standards Board (PESB) urges them to save their score reports and store them in the same manner as their certificate or transcripts. The WEST-E score reports are important documents that educators may need continuously throughout their careers to produce evidence of having successfully passed a basic skills and/or a content knowledge assessment.
If a Praxis II score report is lost or misplaced, an additional copy can be obtained for a fee. See the Praxis II website for ordering information. Washington educators should not expect colleges/universities, ESDs or the OSPI Office of Professional Education and Certification to provide a copy of their WEST-E/Praxis II score reports.
Q: How long will my scores be available from The Praxis Series?
A: Your score(s) will remain on file for ten years. There is a service fee of $40 to send score reports to additional recipients after the test date.
For more information about the Praxis Series, visit The Praxis Series Frequently Asked Questions.
Where to Get Additional Information
To obtain additional information about the Praxis II series used by Washington, please contact:
Professional Educator Standards BoardOld Capitol Building
P.O. Box 47236
Olympia, WA 98504-7236
E-mail: pesbassessment@k12.wa.us
Telephone: 1-360-725-6275 Fax: 1-360-586-4548 TTY: 1-360-664-3631
To obtain additional information about teacher certification, please contact:
OSPI Office of Professional Education and CertificationTelephone: 1-360-725-6400 E-mail: cert@k12.wa.us
To contact ETS:
ETS-The Praxis Series
P.O. Box 6051
Princeton, NJ 08541-6051
Telephone: 1-800-721-6596, Monday - Friday 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. EST
Fax: 1-609-771-7906, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
Email: Questions or Comments for the PRAXIS® program
Test Requirements
| Licensure Area |
Session/ Test Code |
Test Name |
Qualifying Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Designated World Language: French | 20173 | French: Content Knowledge (PDF) (contains listening section) |
158 |
| Designated World Language: German | 20181 | German: Content Knowledge (PDF) (contains listening section) |
160 |
| Designated World Language: Spanish | 10191 | Spanish: Content Knowledge (PDF) (contains listening section) |
160 |
Attending Institution/Recipient Codes (List C)
Note: There may be additions, deletions, or other changes to the list after the Bulletin has been printed. Click on the link below for the most up-to-date Attending Institution/Recipient Codes.
Attending Institution/Recipient Codes (List C)
Your Scores and Score Report
See Scores for Praxis scoring information.
This page is a supplement to The Praxis Series 2009-10 Information Bulletin (PDF).
