Pennsylvania Department of Education

Pennsylvania Test Requirements

Special Alert: Please be advised that as of April 2, 2012 all 4–8 candidates must pass the Praxis II® PA Middle School core and content area tests for certification. As of August 31, 2013 the N–3, K–6, and N–12 Special Education tests and the Middle Level 7–9 tests will no longer be accepted by the Pennsylvania Department of Education for certification because these certificates will no longer be issued. Students that are currently enrolled in a K–6 or a 7–9 program should take the current test requirements. Students that are currently in a Middle Level (4–8) program should take the new requirements.

As of April 2, 2012, the Praxis I® tests will only be required for Vocational Instructional I & II licenses. For all other licenses, the Praxis I test requirements will be replaced by an alternate basic skills test. The Pennsylvania Department of Education will accept scores for Praxis I tests if they are registered for prior to April 2, 2012, regardless of when the tests are taken. Candidates who are re-testing should continue to take the Praxis I test(s) they have not passed. Post baccalaureate candidates are no longer required to take the "basic skills" tests as a requirement for certification.

ALL CERTIFICATION AREAS REQUIRE THE APPROPRIATE CONTENT AREA TEST.

Educators applying for an initial undergraduate Instructional or Educational Specialist area license are required to pass a basic skills test and the appropriate Praxis II test for secondary, N–12, educational specialist, and educational leadership. Educators applying for Instructional areas that cover N–3 or K–6 must pass the Praxis II Fundamental Subjects: Content Knowledge test AND the appropriate Praxis II subject test prior to August 31, 2013. Educators applying for Instructional areas that cover K–12 must pass the Praxis II Fundamental Subjects: Content Knowledge test AND the appropriate Praxis II subject test.

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 Vocational Instructional certifications, see Vocational Instructional section

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 Specific Licensure Areas

N–3 or K–6 Areas

For Initial Certification: Educators applying for Instructional areas that cover N–3 or K–6 are required to pass a basic skills test, the Fundamental Subjects: Content Knowledge test and the appropriate Praxis II test(s) prior to August 31, 2013.

For Adding an N–3 or K–6 area to an existing PA Instructional certificate area: Educators applying to add on an Instructional N–3 or K–6 area to an existing PA Instructional certificate area are required to have passed the Fundamental Subjects: Content Knowledge (0511/5511) test within the past 10 years.

To Be Certified in You Need to Take CDT Code PDT Code Qualifying Score
Any N–3 or K–6 Area Fundamental Subjects: Content Knowledge (Calculator allowed.) (until August 31, 2013) 5511 0511 150
Early Childhood Education N–3 Early Childhood Education (until August 31, 2013) n/a 0020 530
Elementary Education K–6 Elementary Education: Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment (until August 31, 2013) 5011 0011 168

Middle Level (Grades 4–8)

Middle Level (Grades 4–8) Educators applying for an initial Instructional 4–8 area are required to pass a basic skills assessment (PAPA), in addition to passing the appropriate Praxis II test(s). Please note that you must take and pass the Core Assessment (which contains three modules) AND the Subject Concentration test(s) for the subject(s) you are preparing to teach: English/Language Arts, Math, Science, Social Studies. The tests may be scheduled in any order. The first time you register for the Core Assessment (which contains three modules) all three modules must be taken on the same day. If you fail to reach the qualifying score on one or more of the Core Assessment modules, you are permitted to schedule a retest on just the module that was not previously passed.

To Be Certified in You Need to Take CDT Code PDT Code Qualifying Score
Middle Level 4–8 Pennsylvania Grades 4–8 Core Assessment  (Calculator allowed.) 5152 n/a *
Pedagogy Subtest 5153 n/a 162
English Langage Arts and Social Studies Subtest 5154 n/a 152
Mathematics and Science Subtest  (Calculator allowed.) 5155 n/a 164
* To pass the Pennsylvania Grades 4–8 Core Assessment you must receive a passing score on each subtest. You must take the full test on your initial attempt. If after your first attempt you did not pass one of the individual subtests, you may take just that subtest again for a reduced fee.
Test takers seeking certification in Middle Level 4-8 must ALSO take the Subject Concentration test(s) for the area(s) they plan to teach.
Middle Level Citizenship Education 4–8 Pennsylvania Grades 4–8 Subject Concentration: Social Studies 5157 n/a 150
Middle Level English 4–8 Pennsylvania Grades 4–8 Subject Concentration: English Language Arts 5156 n/a 156
Middle Level Mathematics 4–8 Pennsylvania Grades 4–8 Subject Concentration: Mathematics  (Calculator allowed.) 5158 n/a 173
Middle Level Science 4–8 Pennsylvania Grades 4–8 Subject Concentration: Science  (Calculator allowed.) 5159 n/a 156

Middle Level (Grades 7–9) (until August 31, 2013)

Educators applying for an initial Instructional 7–9 area are required to pass a basic skills test and the appropriate Praxis II test prior to August 31, 2013.

To Be Certified in You Need to Take CDT Code PDT Code Qualifying Score
Middle Level Citizenship Education 7–9 Middle School Social Studies (until August 31, 2013) 5089 0089 152
Middle Level English 7–9 Middle School English Language Arts (until August 31, 2013) 5049 0049 163
Middle Level Mathematics 7–9 Middle School Mathematics (Calculator allowed.)
(until August 31, 2013)		 n/a 0069 151
Middle Level Science 7–9 Middle School Science (until August 31, 2013) n/a 0439 144

Secondary Education (Grades 7–12)

Educators who are currently undergraduates applying for an initial Instructional 7–12 area are required to pass a basic skills test, in addition to passing the appropriate Praxis II test(s).

To Be Certified in You Need to Take CDT Code PDT Code Qualifying Score
Biology 7–12 Biology: Content Knowledge 5235 0235 147
Chemistry 7–12 Chemistry: Content Knowledge 5245 0245 154
Citizenship Education 7–12 Citizenship Education: Content Knowledge 5087 0087 148
Communication 7–12 Communication n/a 0800 530
Cooperative Education 7–12 Cooperative Education n/a 0811 161
Earth & Space Science 7–12 Earth and Space Sciences: Content Knowledge 5571 0571 157
English 7–12 English Language, Literature, and Composition: Content Knowledge 5041 0041 160
General Science 7–12 General Science: Content Knowledge 5435 0435 146
Mathematics 7–12 Mathematics: Content Knowledge  (Graphing calculator required.) 5061 0061 136
Physics 7–12 Physics: Content Knowledge 5265 0265 140
Safety/Driver Education 7–12 Safety/Driver Education n/a 0860 520
Social Sciences 7–12 Social Sciences: Content Knowledge n/a 0951 160
Social Studies 7–12 Social Studies: Content Knowledge 5081 0081 157

K–12 Areas

Educators applying for an initial Instructional K–12 area are required to pass a basic skills test, the Fundamental Subjects: Content Knowledge test and the appropriate Praxis II test(s).

To Be Certified in You Need to Take CDT Code PDT Code Qualifying Score
Any K–12 Area Fundamental Subjects: Content Knowledge (Calculator allowed.) 5511 0511 150
Agriculture K–12 Agriculture n/a 0780 520
Art K–12 Art: Content Knowledge 51341 0134 158
Business, Computers & Information Technology K–12 Business Education: Content Knowledge (Calculator allowed.) 5101 0101 154
Chinese (Mandarin) K–12 Chinese (Mandarin): World Language 5665 n/a 164
Environmental Education K–12 Environmental Education n/a 0831 156
Family and Consumer Sciences K–12 Family and Consumer Sciences 5121 0121 162
French K–12 French: World Language 5174 n/a 162
German K–12 German: World Language 5183 n/a 163
Health K–12 Health Education 5550 0550 650
Health and Physical Education K–12 Health and Physical Education: Content Knowledge 5856 0856 146
Latin K–12 Latin n/a 0601 152
Library Science K–12 Library Media Specialist 53111 0311 151
Marketing/Distributive Education K–12 Marketing Education n/a 0561 144
Music K–12 Music: Content Knowledge 51131 0113 158
Reading Specialist
K–12		 Reading Specialist 5301 n/a 164
Spanish K–12 Spanish: World Language 5195 n/a 168
Technology Education K–12 Technology Education n/a 0051 159

1Available beginning February 2013.

Special Education

To Be Certified in You Need to Take CDT Code PDT Code Qualifying Score
Special Education
N–12		 Special Education: Core Knowledge and Applications 5354 0354 151
Special Education: Hearing Impaired
K–12		 Special Education: Education of Deaf and Hard of Hearing Students n/a 0272 160
Special Education:
Speech & Language
Impaired K–12		 Special Education: Teaching Speech to Students with Language Impairments n/a 0881 159
or
Speech-Language Pathology 5330 0330 600
Special Education:
Visually Impaired
K–12		 Special Education: Teaching Students with Visual Impairments n/a 0282 163

Educational Specialist

Educators applying for an initial certificate in the areas of

  • Elementary Counselor, Secondary Counselor and School Psychologist: Must pass the appropriate Praxis II test(s).
  • Home and School Visitor and Instructional Technology Specialist: Educational Specialist candidates with a baccalaureate degree who hold current and valid Pennsylvania license as a registered nurse, dental hygienist, psychologist, counselor or social worker and can provide a copy of this Pennsylvania license as part of their application for the related Pennsylvania Educational Specialist certification are not required to take any tests to receive the related certificate.

Note: A current and valid Pennsylvania license is required to obtain a school nurse and dental hygienist certification.

To Be Certified in You Need to Take CDT Code PDT Code Qualifying Score
School Counselor:
Elementary K–6 or
Secondary 7–12		 Professional School Counselor 5421* 0421 156
School Psychologist
K–12		 School Psychologist n/a 0401 150

*Available beginning February 2013.

Administration

To Be Certified in You Need to Take CDT Code PDT Code Qualifying Score
Principal or Vocational Director School Leaders Licensure Assessment (Must use SLS website to register.) 6011 n/a 163
Superintendent: Letter of Eligibility School Superintendent Assessment (Must use SLS website to register.) (Required beginning January 1, 2013.) 6021 n/a 160
Supervisor or Vocational Supervisor Educational Leadership: Administration and Supervision 5411 0411 143

Vocational Instructional

Educators who are currently undergraduates applying for an initial Vocational Instructional I or Vocational Instructional II certificate must pass the Praxis I tests.

Vocational Instructional I — Praxis I Method 1
To Be Certified in You Need to Take CDT Code PDT Code Qualifying Score
Vocational Instructional I Praxis I Reading 5710 0710 172
and
Praxis I Writing 5720 0720 173

Vocational Instructional I — Praxis I Method 2 — Composite

To Be Certified in You Need to Take CDT Code PDT Code Qualifying Score
Vocational Instructional I Praxis I Reading 5710 0710 No required minimum score
and
Praxis I Writing 5720 0720 No required minimum score
Composite score is an average on the Praxis I Reading and Praxis I Writing tests of 172.5 with no required minimum score. Praxis score reports will not indicate the composite score for the Vocational Instructional I license. In order to determine your composite score for the Vocational Instructional I license, you must average your scores on the Praxis I Reading and Praxis I Writing tests. Average 172.5

Vocational Instructional II — Praxis I Method 1

To Be Certified in You Need to Take CDT Code PDT Code Qualifying Score
Vocational Instructional II Praxis I Mathematics 5730 0730 173

Vocational Instructional I — Praxis I Method 2 — Composite

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).

To Be Certified in You Need to Take CDT Code PDT Code Qualifying Score
Vocational Instructional II Praxis I Reading 5710 0710 Minimum Score of 169
and
Praxis I Writing 5720 0720 Minimum Score of 170
and
Praxis I Mathematics 5730 0730 Minimum Score of 170
Composite score (sum of all three tests). A minimum score in each area with a composite score of 521 is required. 521

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

n/a — Not available in this delivery method.

 

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