West Virginia 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).

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.

Tests Required for All Licensure Areas

Praxis I®

Persons who meet one or more of the following criteria may be exempt from the Praxis I:

  1. hold certification through the NBPTS
  2. hold or have held a West Virginia Professional Certificate
  3. hold a master's degree from an accredited institution of higher education
  4. attained, from a single administration, a composite score of 25 on the American College Test (ACT), 26 on the ACT enhanced (effective November 1989), 1035 on the Scholastic Achievement Test (SAT),1125 on the re-centered SAT (effective April 1995), or 1170 on the revised SAT using the combined Critical Reading and Math score (effective March 2005)
  5. satisfied a passing score in basic skills reading, writing and mathematics in another state
  6. hold a valid out-of-state certificate in the content area
  7. successfully completed three years of experience within the last seven years in one or a combination of specializations recognized on an out-of-state professional certificate valid during those three years

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
All Areas Praxis I Reading 5710 0710 174
and
Praxis I Writing 5720 0720 172
and
Praxis I Mathematics 5730 0730 172

Principles of Learning and Teaching

To Be Certified in You Need to Take CDT Code PDT Code Qualifying Score
Professional Education 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
Candidates for the initial West Virginia Professional Teaching Certificate shall take one of the above Principles of Learning and Teaching tests as indicated in the West Virginia Board of Education Policy 5100.

Tests Required for Specific Licensure Areas

Early Childhood Education

To Be Certified in You Need to Take CDT Code PDT Code Qualifying Score
Early Childhood Education (K–4) Early Childhood Education n/a 0020 530
Early Education (PreK–K) Pre-Kindergarten Education 5531 0531 155
Preschool Education (Birth–PreK) No Praxis II test required.

Elementary Education

To Be Certified in You Need to Take CDT Code PDT Code Qualifying Score
Elementary Education (K–6) Elementary Education: Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment 5011 0011 155

Middle School Education

To Be Certified in You Need to Take CDT Code PDT Code Qualifying Score
English (5–9) Middle School English Language Arts 5049 0049 147
General Math through Algebra 1 Middle School Mathematics (Calculators allowed.) n/a 0069 148
General Science
(5–9)
Middle School Science n/a 0439 151
Mathematics (5–9) Middle School Mathematics (Calculators allowed.) n/a 0069 148
Social Studies (5–9) Middle School Social Studies 5089 0089 151

Secondary Education/Content Endorsements

To Be Certified in You Need to Take CDT Code PDT Code Qualifying Score
Agriculture Agriculture n/a 0700 430
American Sign Language No Praxis II test required.
Art Art: Content Knowledge 5134 0134 158
Biology Biology: Content Knowledge 5235 0235 152
Business Education Business Education: Content Knowledge(Calculator allowed.) 5101 0101 157
Business Education/Marketing Business Education: Content Knowledge(Calculator allowed.) 5101 0101 157
and
Marketing Education n/a 0561 153
Chemistry Chemistry: Content Knowledge 5245 0245 157
Chemistry and Physics Chemistry: Content Knowledge 5245 0245 157
and
Physics: Content Knowledge 5265 0265 126
Computer Science Education No Praxis II test required.
Dance No Praxis II test required.
Driver Education Driver Education n/a 0867 141
English (5–Adult) English Language, Literature, and Composition: Content Knowledge 5041 0041 155
English as a Second Language
(PreK–Adult)
No Praxis II test required.
Family and Consumer Science Family and Consumer Sciences 5121 0121 146
French (5–Adult) French: World Language 5174 n/a 160
General Mathematics through Algebra I (5–Adult) No Praxis II test required.
General Science
(5–Adult)
Biology: Content Knowledge Part 1 n/a 0231 148
and
Physical Science: Content Knowledge n/a 0481 142
and
General Science: Content Knowledge Part 2 n/a 0432 149
A passing score submitted for the Biology endorsement (Biology: Content Knowledge 0235) may be submitted for the Biology test requirement indicated for General Science. Also, a passing score submitted for the Chemistry or Physics endorsement (Chemistry: Content Knowledge 0245 or Physics: Content Knowledge 0265) may be substituted for the Physical Science test requirement indicated for General Science.
German (5–Adult) German: World Langage 5183 n/a 160
Health Health Education 5550 0550 640
Instructional Technology
(PreK–Adult)
No Praxis II test required.
Japanese No Praxis II test required.
Journalism No Praxis II test required.
Latin (5–Adult) Latin n/a 0601 131
Marketing Marketing Education n/a 0561 153
Mathematics
(5–Adult)
Mathematics: Content Knowledge(Graphing calculator required.) 5061 0061 133
Music Music: Content Knowledge 5113 n/a 155
Oral Communication
(5–Adult)
Speech Communication: Content Knowledge n/a 0221 150
Physical Education Physical Education: Content Knowledge 5091 0091 150
Physics Physics: Content Knowledge 5265 0265 126
Reading Education No Praxis II test required.
Reading Specialist Reading Specialist 5301 n/a 164
Russian No Praxis II test required.
School Library/Media Library Media Specialist 5311 0311 138
Social Studies
(5–Adult)
Social Studies: Content Knowledge 5081 0081 148
Spanish (5–Adult) Spanish: World Language 5195 n/a 163
Technology Education Technology Education n/a 0051 159
Theatre No Praxis II test required.
Wellness (PreK–12) Health Education 5550 0550 640
and
Physical Education: Content Knowledge 5091 0091 150

Administrator/School Leader

To Be Certified in You Need to Take CDT Code PDT Code Qualifying Score
Principal Educational Leadership: Administration and Supervision 5411 0411 141
Superintendent Educational Leadership: Administration and Supervision 5411 0411 141
Supervisor of Instruction Educational Leadership: Administration and Supervision 5411 0411 141
Vocational Administrator Educational Leadership: Administration and Supervision 5411 0411 141

Special Education

To Be Certified in You Need to Take CDT Code PDT Code Qualifying Score
Autism Special Education: Core Knowledge and Applications 5354 0354 151
Behavioral Disorders
(excluding Autism)
Special Education: Teaching Students With Behavioral Disorders/Emotional Disturbances n/a 0371 156
and
Special Education: Core Knowledge and Applications 5354 0354 151
Deaf and Hard of Hearing No Praxis II test required.
Gifted No Praxis II test required.
Mentally Impaired
(Mild/Moderate)
Special Education: Core Knowledge and Applications 5354 0354 151
Multi-Categorical Special Education (BD excluding Autism, MI, SLD) Special Education: Core Knowledge and Mild to Moderate Applications 5543 0543 153
Preschool Special Needs (PreK–K) Special Education: Preschool/Early Childhood n/a 0691 159
Severe Disabilities Special Education: Core Knowledge and Severe to Profound Applications 5545 0545 158
Specific Learning Disabilities Special Education: Core Knowledge and Applications 5354 0354 151
and
Special Education: Teaching Students with Learning Disabilities n/a 0383 151
Visually Impaired Special Education: Teaching Students with Visual Impairments n/a 0282 163

Student Support Personnel

To Be Certified in You Need to Take CDT Code PDT Code Qualifying Score
Athletic Trainer No Praxis II test required.
School Counselor Professional School Counselor 5421 0421 156
School Nurse No Praxis II test required.
School Psychologist School Psychologist n/a 0401 148
Since this is the same test taken for national certification, the national score will be accepted if it is the same or higher than the state validated score.
Social Services Attendance No Praxis II test required.
Speech Assistant No Praxis II test required.
Speech-Language Pathologist Speech-Language Pathology 5330 0330 600
Since this is the same test taken for national certification, the national score will be accepted if it is the same or higher than the state validated score.

n/a — Not available in this delivery method.

This page is a supplement to The Praxis SeriesInformation Bulletin.

 

West Virginia Department of Education

Ready to take a
Praxis™ Test?

Register Now >

Praxis Test Centers and Dates

See test centers, dates and deadlines for Praxis computer-delivered and paper-delivered tests.

Praxis eBooks