District of Columbia Test Requirements

Find your licensure area below to determine which test you need to take and see the minimum qualifying score. To learn more about a specific test, click the test title. Once you know your test(s), find out how to register for Praxis™ tests and read the Praxis test retake policy.

Most tests are offered in both Session 1 and Session 2. Refer to the fees page for tests that are restricted to a particular session.

In general, unless it is specifically stated that a calculator is permitted or required for a particular test, calculators may not be used on any Praxis tests (see Calculator Use).

For additional information, refer to the completed testing flyer on the OSSE website.

Notes:

In general, test codes that begin with "5" or "6" are delivered in computer format; codes that begin with "0" or "1" are delivered on paper.
"CDT" refers to computer-delivered tests. "PDT" refers to paper-delivered tests.

Tests Required for All Licensure Areas

Beginning teachers in all content areas must pass all three Praxis I® Pre-Professional Skills Tests (PPST®) in either format OR any of the options listed in the Praxis I Alternatives section below.

If you wish to take all three computer-delivered Praxis I exams (5710, 5720, 5730) at the same time, select Praxis I Pre-Professional Skills Test: Combined Test (5750) when registering. Scores will be reported by individual test (5710, 5720, 5730).

Praxis I — Qualifying Score Option

To Be Certified in	You Need to Take	CDT Code	PDT Code	Qualifying Score
All Areas	Praxis I Reading	5710	0710	172
	and
	Praxis I Writing	5720	0720	171
	and
	Praxis I Mathematics	5730	0730	174

Praxis I — Composite Score Option

To Be Certified in	You Need to Take	CDT Code	PDT Code	Qualifying Score
All Areas	Praxis I Reading	5710	0710	Minimum Score 168
	and
	Praxis I Writing	5720	0720	Minimum Score 165
	and
	Praxis I Mathematics	5730	0730	Minimum Score 169
	Composite score of 517 Note: Applicants may meet the basic skills testing requirement by submitting either individual Praxis I qualifying scores or achieving a combined total score of 517 for all three PPST or CPPST tests and meeting the minimum scores indicated in the table.

Praxis I Alternatives

In place of the Praxis I Pre-Professional Skills Tests (PPST), the District of Columbia will accept the following options from candidates:

PPST Writing Test with a score of 171, or
GRE® Analytical Writing section with a score of 3.5, and

A combined Verbal and Math score for one of the alternative tests below

Alternative Test	Combined Score
ACT®	20
GRE Test	288
SAT®	960

Alternative Test	Combined Score
SAT (pre-2005)	850
GRE Test (pre-2012)	870

Tests Required for Specific Licensure Areas

Early Childhood

To Be Certified in	You Need to Take	CDT Code	PDT Code	Qualifying Score
Early Childhood Education (PK–3)	Early Childhood: Content Knowledge	5022	0022	165
	and
	Principles of Learning and Teaching: Early Childhood	5621	0621	157
	To meet highly qualified teacher requirements, Early Childhood teachers who are NEW to the profession and are teaching grades K–3 must pass the Early Childhood Content Knowledge exam (0022/5022) OR the Elementary Education: Content Knowledge (0014/5014) exam to be deemed highly qualified (the Elementary exam is NOT a licensure requirement for EC teachers). Veteran K–3 teachers may pass either exam or meet HOUSSE requirements to be highly qualified.
	Elementary Education: Content Knowledge (Calculator allowed.)	5014	0014	145

Elementary Education

To Be Certified in	You Need to Take	CDT Code	PDT Code	Qualifying Score
Elementary Education 1–6	Elementary Education: Instructional Practice and Applications	5015	n/a	161
	or
	Principles of Learning and Teaching: Grades K–6	5622	0622	160
	and
	Elementary Education: Content Knowledge (Calculator allowed.)	5014	0014	145
Elementary Mathematics or Science Resource 1–6	Principles of Learning and Teaching: Grades K–6	5622	0622	160

Middle School Education

To Be Certified in	You Need to Take	CDT Code	PDT Code	Qualifying Score
Middle School English/Language Arts (Grades 4–8)	Middle School English Language Arts	5049	0049	160
	and
	Principles of Learning and Teaching: Grades 5–9	5623	0623	160
Middle School Mathematics (Grades 4–8)	Middle School Mathematics (Calculator allowed.)	n/a	0069	152
	and
	Principles of Learning and Teaching: Grades 5–9	5623	0623	160
Middle School Science (Grades 4–8)	Middle School Science	n/a	0439	150
	and
	Principles of Learning and Teaching: Grades 5–9	5623	0623	160
Middle School Social Studies (Grades 4–8)	Middle School Social Studies	5089	0089	155
	and
	Principles of Learning and Teaching: Grades 5–9	5623	0623	160

Secondary Education

To Be Certified in	You Need to Take	CDT Code	PDT Code	Qualifying Score
Biology	Biology: Content Knowledge	5235	0235	150
	and
	Principles of Learning and Teaching: Grades 7–12	5624	0624	157
Business Education	Business Education: Content Knowledge (Calculator allowed.)	5101	0101	154
	and
	Principles of Learning and Teaching: Grades 7–12	5624	0624	157
Chemistry	Chemistry: Content Knowledge	5245	0245	152
	and
	Principles of Learning and Teaching: Grades 7–12	5624	0624	157
English	English Language, Literature, and Composition: Content Knowledge	5041	0041	160
	and
	Principles of Learning and Teaching: Grades 7–12	5624	0624	157
General Science	General Science: Content Knowledge	5435	0435	157
	and
	Principles of Learning and Teaching: Grades 7–12	5624	0624	157
Home Economics	Family and Consumer Sciences	5121	0121	159
	and
	Principles of Learning and Teaching: Grades 7–12	5624	0624	157
Marketing Education	Principles of Learning and Teaching: Grades 7–12	5624	0624	157
Mathematics	Mathematics: Content Knowledge (Graphing calculator required.)	5061	0061	141
	and
	Principles of Learning and Teaching: Grades 7–12)	5624	0624	157
Physics	Physics: Content Knowledge	5265	0265	143
	and
	Principles of Learning and Teaching: Grades 7–12	5624	0624	157
Social Studies	Social Studies: Content Knowledge	5081	0081	155
	and
	Principles of Learning and Teaching: Grades 7–12	5624	0624	157

All Grades

For K–12 Licensure Areas (except foreign language), applicants must successfully pass ONE of the Principles of Learning and Teaching (PLT) exams that most closely matches grades levels to be/being taught.

To Be Certified in	You Need to Take	CDT Code	PDT Code	Qualifying Score
Art K–12	Art: Content Knowledge	5134*	0134	158
	and
	Principles of Learning and Teaching: Early Childhood	5621	0621	157
	or
	Principles of Learning and Teaching: Grades K–6	5622	0622	160
	or
	Principles of Learning and Teaching: Grades 5–9	5623	0623	160
	or
	Principles of Learning and Teaching: Grades 7–12	5624	0624	157
Bilingual Education K–12; Computer Science K–12; Computer Educator Teacher K–12	Principles of Learning and Teaching: Early Childhood	5621	0621	157
	or
	Principles of Learning and Teaching: Grades K–6	5622	0622	160
	or
	Principles of Learning and Teaching: Grades 5–9	5623	0623	160
	or
	Principles of Learning and Teaching: Grades 7–12	5624	0624	157
Health and Physical Education K–12	Health and Physical Education: Content Knowledge	5856	0856	156
	and
	Principles of Learning and Teaching: Early Childhood	5621	0621	157
	or
	Principles of Learning and Teaching: Grades K–6	5622	0622	160
	or
	Principles of Learning and Teaching: Grades 5–9	5623	0623	160
	or
	Principles of Learning and Teaching: Grades 7–12	5624	0624	157
Music K–12	Music: Content Knowledge	5113*	0113	161
	and
	Principles of Learning and Teaching: Early Childhood	5621	0621	157
	or
	Principles of Learning and Teaching: Grades K–6	5622	0622	160
	or
	Principles of Learning and Teaching: Grades 5–9	5623	0623	160
	or
	Principles of Learning and Teaching: Grades 7–12	5624	0624	157
Performing Arts–Dance or Visual Arts K–12	Principles of Learning and Teaching: Early Childhood	5621	0621	157
	or
	Principles of Learning and Teaching: Grades K–6	5622	0622	160
	or
	Principles of Learning and Teaching: Grades 5–9	5623	0623	160
	or
	Principles of Learning and Teaching: Grades 7–12	5624	0624	157
Performing Arts–Drama & Theatre K–12	Theatre	n/a	0641	157
	and
	Principles of Learning and Teaching: Early Childhood	5621	0621	157
	or
	Principles of Learning and Teaching: Grades K–6	5622	0622	160
	or
	Principles of Learning and Teaching: Grades 5–9	5623	0623	160
	or
	Principles of Learning and Teaching: Grades 7–12	5624	0624	157
Performing Arts–Music K–12	Music: Content Knowledge	5113*	0113	161
	and
	Principles of Learning and Teaching: Early Childhood	5621	0621	157
	or
	Principles of Learning and Teaching: Grades K–6	5622	0622	160
	or
	Principles of Learning and Teaching: Grades 5–9	5623	0623	160
	or
	Principles of Learning and Teaching: Grades 7–12	5624	0624	157

*Available beginning February 2013.

World Languages

To Be Certified in	You Need to Take	CDT Code	PDT Code	Qualifying Score
Chinese	Chinese (Mandarin): World Language	5665	n/a	164
	and
	World Languages Pedagogy	n/a	0841	158
English as a Second Language	English to Speakers of Other Languages	n/a	0361	141
	and
	Principles of Learning and Teaching: Early Childhood	5621	0621	157
	or
	Principles of Learning and Teaching: Grades K–6	5622	0622	160
	or
	Principles of Learning and Teaching: Grades 5–9	5623	0623	160
	or
	Principles of Learning and Teaching: Grades 7–12	5624	0624	157
French	French: World Language	5174	n/a	162
	and
	World Languages Pedagogy	n/a	0841	158
German	German: World Language	5183	n/a	163
	and
	World Languages Pedagogy	n/a	0841	158
Latin	Latin	n/a	0601	152
	and
	World Languages Pedagogy	n/a	0841	158
Spanish	Spanish: World Language	5195	n/a	168
	and
	World Languages Pedagogy	n/a	0841	158
All Other Foreign Language Subject Areas	World Languages Pedagogy	n/a	0841	158

Special Education

To Be Certified in	You Need to Take	CDT Code	PDT Code	Qualifying Score
Bilingual Special Education K–12	Special Education: Core Knowledge and Applications	5354	0354	151
	and
	Principles of Learning and Teaching: Early Childhood	5621	0621	157
	or
	Principles of Learning and Teaching: Grades K–6	5622	0622	160
	or
	Principles of Learning and Teaching: Grades 5–9	5623	0623	160
	or
	Principles of Learning and Teaching: Grades 7–12	5624	0624	157
Non-Categorical Special Education: K–12	Special Education: Core Knowledge and Applications	5354	0354	151
	and
	Principles of Learning and Teaching: Early Childhood	5621	0621	157
	or
	Principles of Learning and Teaching: Grades K–6	5622	0622	160
	or
	Principles of Learning and Teaching: Grades 5–9	5623	0623	160
	or
	Principles of Learning and Teaching: Grades 7–12	5624	0624	157

Administrator/School Leader

To Be Certified in	You Need to Take	CDT Code	PDT Code	Qualifying Score
Administrative Services Credential	School Leaders Licensure Assessment (Must use SLS website to register.)	6011	n/a	163

n/a — Not available in this delivery method.

This page is a supplement to The Praxis Series™ Information Bulletin.