Overview of North Dakota Testing Requirements

How to Qualify for Licensure

For initial licensure in North Dakota, all candidates must:

• Successfully complete a state agency approved bachelor's level teacher education program, which includes a professional education sequence and general studies. North Dakota requires 26 semester hours or 40 quarter hours of professional education coursework for secondary licensure and 34 semester hours or 50 quarter hours for elementary education licensure.
• Maintain at least a 2.5 overall grade point average.
• Successfully complete at least 10 weeks of full time, supervised student teaching in the certifiable area at the appropriate grade level(s).
• Clear fingerprinting screening for criminal convictions.
• Receive recommendation for licensure by recent supervisors.
• Pay all applicable licensing fees.
• Pass The Praxis Series™ tests for their certification area.

For comprehensive information on licensing requirements and testing, please visit the Licensure page of the North Dakota Education Standards and Practices Board.

Important Information

• Beginning with the 2012–13 testing year, ETS is administering new versions of two test titles (listed below). The new tests cover the same content as the previous tests. However, scores are reported on a different scale, so requirements will vary from previous versions. All scores for discontinued tests are reportable for 10 years from the date the test was taken. Consult the Test Requirements table for specific score requirements.

  • Latin — New Test Code: 0601
  • Theatre — New Test Code: 0641

• ETS is offering several additional tests in a computer-delivered format that will be introduced throughout the testing year. Visit Test Centers and Dates to find testing centers near you. The computer-delivered versions cover the same content as the paper-delivered versions and are scored on the same scale; however, the computer-delivered tests have different test codes.

  • Art: Content Knowledge (5134) — February 2013
  • Biology: Content Knowledge (5235) — September 2012
  • Business Education: Content Knowledge (5101) — December 2012
  • Chemistry: Content Knowledge (5245) — September 2012
  • Earth and Space Sciences: Content Knowledge (5571) — October 2012
  • Family and Consumer Sciences (5121) — December 2012
  • General Science: Content Knowledge (5435) — September 2012
  • Music: Content Knowledge (5113) — February 2013
  • Physics: Content Knowledge (5265) — September 2012
  • Professional School Counselor (5421) — February 2013
  • Speech-Language Pathology (5330) — December 2012
  • World and United States History: Content Knowledge (5941) — December 2012
• North Dakota requires a Social Security number (SSN) in order to process educator certification paperwork. ETS does not require your SSN for its own purposes, but will submit it to North Dakota with your test results. Failure to provide your SSN could delay processing of your certification application.

Who Must Take the Tests?

Teacher candidates or those wishing to become certified must take The Praxis Series™ tests.

Prior to entering a teacher education program at your college or university, you may be required to take the Praxis I® tests to demonstrate your qualifications.

In North Dakota, you must take the appropriate Praxis II® tests for each area of certification you seek.

Out-of-state Applicants/Reciprocal Licensure

North Dakota has conditional reciprocity with other states. To receive interim reciprocal licensure, an applicant must first hold a valid, current regular educator certificate or license from another state, province or similar jurisdiction.

For more information on applying for educator licensure in North Dakota, visit the licensure page of the North Dakota Education Standards and Practices Board. If you have a certificate or a license from another state, application directions for out-of-state candidates are provided.

See also:

• About the Praxis™ Tests
• The Praxis Series™ Information Bulletin
• Prepare for a Test
• Register for a Test
• Accommodations for Test Takers with Disabilities