Iowa Test Requirements

The Iowa Department of Education requires that you take one or more Praxis II® tests listed below for teacher certification. Iowa requires a test in pedagogy and a test in content.

Select your test below and determine the minimum qualifying score. To learn more about a specific test and to access sample content, 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).

Notes:

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

Pedagogy Tests Required for All Licensure Areas

To Be Certified in You Need to Take CDT Code PDT Code Qualifying Score
All Pre–K, PreK–3, Early Childhood Areas Principles of Teaching and Learning: Early Childhood 5621 0621 159
All K–12 or Birth–21 Areas (Choose one) Principles of Teaching and Learning: Early Childhood 5621 0621 159
or
Principles of Teaching and Learning: Grades K–6 5622 0622 165
or
Principles of Teaching and Learning: Grades 5–9 5623 0623 163
or
Principles of Teaching and Learning: Grades 7–12 5624 0624 162
All K–6 or K–8 Areas Principles of Teaching and Learning: Grades K–6 5622 0622 165
All 5–12 Areas (Choose one) Principles of Teaching and Learning: Grades 5–9 5623 0623 163
or
Principles of Teaching and Learning: Grades 7–12 5624 0624 162
All 9–12 Areas Principles of Teaching and Learning: Grades 7–12 5624 0624 162

Content Tests Required for Specific Licensure Areas

Early Childhood Education

Candidates must also pass the appropriate Principles of Learning and Teaching test.

praxis testing for Iowa Early Childhood Education
To Be Certified in You Need to Take CDT Code PDT Code Qualifying Score
Early Childhood Teacher – PreK–K (Endorsement 103) Early Childhood: Content Knowledge 5022 0022 168
Note: If candidates are adding this endorsement area (103) to Elementary Classroom Teacher K–6 (Endorsement 102), they do not need to take this exam. Test 0022/5022 is required only for candidates who will only be certified in grades PK–K and/or PK–3.
PreK to Grade 3 Teacher – PreK–3 (Endorsement 106) Early Childhood: Content Knowledge 5022 0022 168
Note: If candidates are adding this endorsement area (106) to Elementary Classroom Teacher K–6 (Endorsement 102), they do not need to take this exam. Test 0022/5022 is required only for candidates who will only be certified in grades PK–K and/or PK–3.
PreK to Grade 3, Including Special Education (Endorsement 100) Interdisciplinary Early Childhood Education 5023 0023 170
Note: If candidates are adding this endorsement area (100) to Elementary Classroom Teacher K–6 (Endorsement 102), they do not need to take this exam. Test 0023/5023 is required only for candidates who will only be certified in grades PK–K and/or PK–3.

Elementary Education

Candidates must also pass the appropriate Principles of Learning and Teaching test.

praxis testing for Iowa Elementary Education
To Be Certified in You Need to Take CDT Code PDT Code Qualifying Score
Elementary Classroom Teacher K–6 (Endorsement 102) Elementary Education: Content Knowledge (Calculator allowed.) 5014 0014 151
Short Term Exemption for Elementary Education Majors
Iowa Elementary Education majors graduating after January 1, 2013 who have already signed up for the 0011/5011 test may use that test to qualify for licensure in lieu of the 0622/5622 test until June 30, 2013. The qualifying score for the 0011/5011 test is 165.

Early Adolescence (Grades K–8)

Candidates must also pass the appropriate Principles of Learning and Teaching test.

praxis testing for Iowa Early Adolescence (Grades K–8)
To Be Certified in You Need to Take CDT Code PDT Code Qualifying Score
Art K–8 (Endorsement 113) Art: Content and Analysis n/a 0135 154
English/Language Arts K–8 (Endorsement 119) Middle School: English Language Arts 5049 0049 161
Health K–8 (Endorsement 137) Health Education 5550 0550 640
History K–8 (Endorsement 162) Middle School Social Studies 5089 0089 152
Mathematics K–8 (Endorsement 142) Middle School Mathematics (Calculator allowed.) n/a 0069 151
Music K–8 (Endorsement 144) Music: Content and Instruction n/a 0114 162
Physical Education K–8 (Endorsement 146) Physical Education: Content and Design 5095 0095 159
Reading K–8 (Endorsement 148) Teaching Reading 5204 0204 163
Science – Basic K–8 (Endorsement 150) Middle School Science n/a 0439 146
Social Studies K–8 (Endorsement 164) Middle School Social Studies 5089 0089 152
Speech Comm/Theatre K–8 (Endorsement 167) Speech Communication: Content Knowledge n/a 0221 152
or
Theatre n/a 0641 162
Teacher Librarian K–8 (Endorsement 108) Library Media Specialist 5311* 0311 156

*Available beginning February 2013.

Secondary Education (Grades 5–12)

Candidates must also pass the appropriate Principles of Learning and Teaching test.

praxis testing for Iowa Secondary Education (Grades 5–12))
To Be Certified in You Need to Take CDT Code PDT Code Qualifying Score
American Government 5–12 (Endorsement 157) Government/Political Science n/a 0931 149
American History 5–12 (Endorsement 158) World and United States History: Content Knowledge 5941 0941 147
Anthropology 5–12 (Endorsement 159) Social Sciences: Content Knowledge n/a 0951 147
Art 5–12 (Endorsement 114) Art: Content and Analysis n/a 0135 154
Biology 5–12 (Endorsement 151) Biology: Content Knowledge 5235 0235 149
Chemistry 5–12 (Endorsement 152) Chemistry: Content Knowledge 5245 0245 141
Driver and Safety Ed 5–12 (Endorsement 118) Driver Education n/a 0867 167
Earth Science 5–12 (Endorsement 153) Earth and Space Science: Content Knowledge 5571 0571 147
Economics 5–12 (Endorsement 160) Economics n/a 0911 150
English/Language Arts 5–12 (Endorsement 120) English Language Literature and Composition: Content and Analysis 5044 0044 165
General Science 5–12 (Endorsement 154) General Science: Content Knowledge 5435 0435 149
Geography 5–12 (Endorsement 161) Geography n/a 0921 160
Health 5–12 (Endorsement 138) Health Education 5550 0550 640
Journalism 5–12 (Endorsement 141) Journalism n/a 0223 161
Language Arts (All) 5–12 (Endorsement 1201) English Language Literature and Composition: Content and Analysis 5044 0044 165
Mathematics 5–12 (Endorsement 143) Mathematics: Content Knowledge (Graphing calculator required.) 5061 0061 125
Music 5–12 (Endorsement 145) Music: Content and Instruction n/a 0114 162
Physical Education 5–12 (Endorsement 147) Physical Education: Content and Design 5095 0095 159
Physical Science 5–12 (Endorsement 155) Physical Science: Content Knowledge n/a 0481 150
Physics 5–12 (Endorsement 156) Physics: Content Knowledge 5265 0265 127
Psychology 5–12 (Endorsement 163) Psychology n/a 0390 590
Reading 5–12 (Endorsement 149) Teaching Reading 5204 0204 163
Science (All) 9–12 (Endorsement 185) General Science: Content Knowledge 5435 0435 149
Social Studies (All) 5–12 (Endorsement 186) Social Studies: Content Knowledge 5081 0081 155
Sociology 5–12 (Endorsement 165) Sociology n/a 0950 650
Speech Comm/Theatre 5–12 (Endorsement 168) Speech Communication: Content Knowledge n/a 0221 152
or
Theatre n/a 0641 162
Teacher Librarian 5–12 (Endorsement 109) Library Media Specialist 5311* 0311 156
World History 5–12 (Endorsement 166) World and United States History: Content Knowledge 5941 0941 147

*Available beginning February 2013. 

All Grades (Grades K–12)

Candidates must also pass the appropriate Principles of Learning and Teaching test.

praxis testing for Iowa All Grades (Grades K–12)
To Be Certified in You Need to Take CDT Code PDT Code Qualifying Score
ESL Teacher K–12 (Endorsement 104) English to Speakers of Other Languages n/a 0361 147
Reading Specialist K–12 (Endorsement 176) Reading Specialist 5301 n/a 164
Talented and Gifted K–12 (Endorsement 107) Gifted Education n/a 0357 154
Teacher Librarian K–12 (Endorsement 174) Library Media Specialist 5311* 0311 156

*Available beginning February 2013. 

Special Education — Stand-Alone

Please note: the tests listed below are only for those candidates that have a stand-alone Special Education Endorsement and are not certified in any other area. Candidates choosing tests in this section are required to take two tests for a specific licensure area. The second test listed fulfills the pedagogy requirement. Candidates choosing tests in this section are not required to take a Principles of Learning and Teaching test.

praxis testing for Iowa Special Education — Stand-Alone
To Be Certified in You Need to Take CDT Code PDT Code Qualifying Score
Deaf or Hard of Hearing Birth–21 (Endorsement 266) Fundamental Subjects: Content Knowledge(Calculator allowed.) 5511 0511 162
and
Special Education: Education of Deaf and Hard of Hearing Students n/a 0272 160
Early Childhood Special Education (Endorsement 262) Early Childhood: Content Knowledge 5022 0022 168
and
Special Education: Early Childhood n/a 0691 159
Instructional Strategist I: Mild/Moderate K–8 (Endorsement 260)
or
Instructional Strategist I: Mild/Moderate 5–12 (Endorsement 261)		 Fundamental Subjects: Content Knowledge(Calculator allowed.) 5511 0511 162
and
Special Education: Core Knowledge and Mild to Moderate Applications 5543 0543 162
Instructional Strategist II: BD/LD K–12 (Endorsement 263) Fundamental Subjects: Content Knowledge(Calculator allowed.) 5511 0511 162
and
Special Education: Teaching Students with Behavioral Disorders/Emotional Disturbances n/a 0371 158
or
Special Education: Teaching Students with Learning Disabilities n/a 0383 151
Instructional Strategist II: MD K–12 (Endorsement 264) Fundamental Subjects: Content Knowledge(Calculator allowed.) 5511 0511 162
and
Special Education: Core Knowledge and Severe to Profound Applications 5545 0545 169
Instructional Strategist II: Physically Handicapped K–12 (Endorsement 265) Fundamental Subjects: Content Knowledge(Calculator allowed.) 5511 0511 162
and
Special Education: Core Knowledge and Applications 5354 0354 165
Visually Impaired Birth–21 (Endorsement 267) Fundamental Subjects: Content Knowledge(Calculator allowed.) 5511 0511 162
and
Special Education: Teaching Students with Visual Impairments n/a 0282 163

Career and Technical Education

Candidates must also pass the appropriate Principles of Learning and Teaching test.

praxis testing for Iowa Career and Technical Education)
To Be Certified in You Need to Take CDT Code PDT Code Qualifying Score
Agriculture 5–12 (Endorsement 112) Agriculture n/a 0700 520
Agriscience/
Agribusiness 5–12
(Endorsement 300)		 Agriculture n/a 0700 520
Business (All) 5–12 (Endorsement 1171) Business Education: Content Knowledge(Calculator allowed.) 5101 0101 165
Consumer/
Homemaking Ed 5–12 (Endorsement 303)		 Family and Consumer Sciences 5121 0121 162
Family and Consumer Science –General 5–12 (Endorsement 139) Family and Consumer Sciences 5121 0121 162
Industrial Technology 5–12 (Endorsement 140) Technology Education n/a 0051 171
Marketing/Dist Education 5–12 (Endorsement 301) Marketing Education n/a 0561 161
Office Education 5–12 (Endorsement 302) Business Education: Content Knowledge(Calculator allowed.) 5101 0101 165
Trade and Industrial 5–12 (Endorsement 307) Technology Education n/a 0051 171

World Languages

Candidates must also pass the appropriate Principles of Learning and Teaching test.

praxis testing for Iowa World Languages
To Be Certified in You Need to Take CDT Code PDT Code Qualifying Score
Chinese K–8 (Endorsement 121)
or
Chinese 5–12 (Endorsement 122)		 Chinese (Mandarin): World Language 5665 n/a 164
French K–8 (Endorsement 123)
or
French 5–12 (Endorsement 124)		 French: World Language 5174 n/a 153
German K–8 (Endorsement 125)
or
German 5–12 (Endorsement 126)		 German: World Language 5183 n/a 155
Latin K–8 (Endorsement 129)
or
Latin 5–12 (Endorsement 130)		 Latin n/a 0601 155
Spanish K–8 (Endorsement 133)
or
Spanish 5–12 (Endorsement 134)		 Spanish: World Language 5195 n/a 153

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

n/a — Not available in this delivery method.

 

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