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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.

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 Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE) website.

All license seekers must submit original test-taker score report(s) attached to their D.C. licensure application packet (printing/submitting the PDF score report sent by ETS is acceptable). The process to separately send individual test results electronically or through regular mail to this jurisdiction has not been finalized at this time. Failure to submit your score results as part of your licensure application packet will result in a licensure denial response.

Tests Required for All Licensure Areas

Beginning teachers in all content areas must pass all three Praxis® Core Academic Skills for Educators (Core) tests OR a Core alternative assessment. For information on Core alternatives, please visit the website for DC's licensure office and refer to the most recent version of the Educator Testing Flyer accessible from the website.

To Be Certified in You Need to Take Test Code Qualifying Score
All Areas Core Academic Skills for Educators: Reading 5713 *
and
Core Academic Skills for Educators: Writing 5723 *
and
Core Academic Skills for Educators: Mathematics(On-screen four-function calculator provided.) 5733 *
If you wish to take all three computer-delivered Core Academic Skills for Educators exams (5713, 5723, 5733) at the same time, select Core Academic Skills for Educators Combined Test (5752) when registering. Scores will be reported by individual test (5713, 5723, 5733).

Tests Required for Specific Licensure Areas

Early Childhood

To Be Certified in You Need to Take Test Code Qualifying Score
Early Childhood Education (PreK–3) Early Childhood Education 5025 *
and
Principles of Learning and Teaching: Early Childhood 5621 *
Early Childhood Special Education (PreK–3) Special Education: Preschool/Early Childhood 5691 *
and
Principles of Learning and Teaching: Early Childhood 5621 *

Elementary Education

To Be Certified in You Need to Take Test Code Qualifying Score
Elementary Education 1–6 Principles of Learning and Teaching: Grades K–6 5622 *
and
Elementary Education: Multiple Subjects (On-screen scientific calculator provided.) 5001 *
Reading Subtest 5002 *
Mathematics Subtest (On-screen scientific calculator provided.) 5003 *
Social Studies Subtest 5004 *
Science Subtest (On-screen scientific calculator provided.) 5005 *
* To pass the Elementary Education: Multiple Subjects test you must receive a passing score on each subtest. If you wish to take all four subtests (5002, 5003, 5004, 5005) at the same time, select Elementary Education: Multiple Subjects (5001) when registering. If you wish to take or retake an individual subtest, you may register to take just that subtest.
Elementary Mathematics or Science Resource
1–6		 Principles of Learning and Teaching: Grades K–6 5622 *

Middle School Education

To Be Certified in You Need to Take Test Code Qualifying Score
Middle School Education (4–8) Middle School: Content Knowledge (Calculator allowed.) 5146 *
and
Principles of Learning and Teaching: Grades 5–9 5623 *
Middle School English (4–8) Middle School English Language Arts 5047 *
and
Principles of Learning and Teaching: Grades 5–9 5623 *
Middle School Mathematics (4–8) Middle School Mathematics (On-screen graphing calculator provided.) 5169 *
and
Principles of Learning and Teaching: Grades 5–9 5623 *
Middle School Science (4–8) Middle School Science 5442 *
and
Principles of Learning and Teaching: Grades 5–9 5623 *
Middle School Social Studies (4–8) Middle School Social Studies 5089 *
and
Principles of Learning and Teaching: Grades 5–9 5623 *

Secondary Education

To Be Certified in You Need to Take Test Code Qualifying Score
Biology (7–12) Biology: Content Knowledge 5235 *
and
Principles of Learning and Teaching: Grades 7–12 5624 *
Business Education (7–12) Business Education: Content Knowledge (Calculator allowed.) 5101 *
and
Principles of Learning and Teaching: Grades 7–12 5624 *
Chemistry (7–12) Chemistry: Content Knowledge 5245 *
and
Principles of Learning and Teaching: Grades 7–12 5624 *
Computer Science (7–12) Computer Science 5652 *
and
Principles of Learning and Teaching: Grades 7–12 5624 *
English (7–12) English Language Arts: Content Knowledge 5038 *
and
Principles of Learning and Teaching: Grades 7–12 5624 *
General Science (7–12) General Science: Content Knowledge 5435 *
and
Principles of Learning and Teaching: Grades 7–12 5624 *
Home Economics (7–12) Family and Consumer Sciences 5122 *
and
Principles of Learning and Teaching: Grades 7–12 5624 *
Marketing Education (7–12) Marketing Education 5561 *
or
Principles of Learning and Teaching: Grades 7–12 5624 *
Mathematics (7–12) Mathematics: Content Knowledge (On-screen graphing calculator provided.) 5161 *
and
Principles of Learning and Teaching: Grades 7–12) 5624 *
Physics (7–12) Physics: Content Knowledge 5265 *
and
Principles of Learning and Teaching: Grades 7–12 5624 *
Social Studies (7–12) Social Studies: Content Knowledge 5081 *
and
Principles of Learning and Teaching: Grades 7–12 5624 *

All Grades

For P–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 Test Code Qualifying Score
Art P–12; Performing Arts–Visual Arts (P–12) Art: Content Knowledge 5134 *
and
Principles of Learning and Teaching: Early Childhood 5621 *
or
Principles of Learning and Teaching: Grades K–6 5622 *
or
Principles of Learning and Teaching: Grades 5–9 5623 *
or
Principles of Learning and Teaching: Grades 7–12 5624 *
Bilingual Education (P–12) Principles of Learning and Teaching: Early Childhood 5621 *
or
Principles of Learning and Teaching: Grades K–6 5622 *
or
Principles of Learning and Teaching: Grades 5–9 5623 *
or
Principles of Learning and Teaching: Grades 7–12 5624 *
Health and Physical Education (P–12) Health and Physical Education: Content Knowledge 5857 *
and
Principles of Learning and Teaching: Early Childhood 5621 *
or
Principles of Learning and Teaching: Grades K–6 5622 *
or
Principles of Learning and Teaching: Grades 5–9 5623 *
or
Principles of Learning and Teaching: Grades 7–12 5624 *
Music Instrumental or Vocal (P–12); Performing Arts–Music (K–12) Music: Content Knowledge 5113 *
and
Principles of Learning and Teaching: Early Childhood 5621 *
or
Principles of Learning and Teaching: Grades K–6 5622 *
or
Principles of Learning and Teaching: Grades 5–9 5623 *
or
Principles of Learning and Teaching: Grades 7–12 5624 *
Performing Arts–Dance (P–12) Principles of Learning and Teaching: Early Childhood 5621 *
or
Principles of Learning and Teaching: Grades K–6 5622 *
or
Principles of Learning and Teaching: Grades 5–9 5623 *
or
Principles of Learning and Teaching: Grades 7–12 5624 *
Performing Arts–Drama & Theatre (P–12) Theatre 5641 *
and
Principles of Learning and Teaching: Early Childhood 5621 *
or
Principles of Learning and Teaching: Grades K–6 5622 *
or
Principles of Learning and Teaching: Grades 5–9 5623 *
or
Principles of Learning and Teaching: Grades 7–12 5624 *

World Languages

To Be Certified in You Need to Take Test Code Qualifying Score
Chinese (K–12) Chinese (Mandarin): World Language 5665 *
and
World Languages Pedagogy 5841 *
English as a Second Language (P–12) English to Speakers of Other Languages 5362 *
and
Principles of Learning and Teaching: Early Childhood 5621 *
or
Principles of Learning and Teaching: Grades K–6 5622 *
or
Principles of Learning and Teaching: Grades 5–9 5623 *
or
Principles of Learning and Teaching: Grades 7–12 5624 *
French (K–12) French: World Language 5174 *
and
World Languages Pedagogy 5841 *
German (P–12) German: World Language 5183 *
and
World Languages Pedagogy 5841 *
Latin (P–12) Latin 5601 *
and
World Languages Pedagogy 5841 *
Spanish (P–12) Spanish: World Language 5195 *
and
World Languages Pedagogy 5841 *
All Other Foreign Language Subject Areas World Languages Pedagogy 5841 *

Special Education

For P–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 Test Code Qualifying Score
Bilingual Special Education (P–12) Special Education: Core Knowledge and Applications 5354 *
and
Principles of Learning and Teaching: Early Childhood 5621 *
or
Principles of Learning and Teaching: Grades K–6 5622 *
or
Principles of Learning and Teaching: Grades 5–9 5623 *
or
Principles of Learning and Teaching: Grades 7–12 5624 *
Early Childhood Special Education (PreK–3) Special Education: Preschool/Early Childhood 5691 *
and
Principles of Learning and Teaching: Early Childhood 5621 *
Gifted and Talented Education (P–12) Gifted Education 5358 *
and
Principles of Learning and Teaching: Early Childhood 5621 *
or
Principles of Learning and Teaching: Grades K–6 5622 *
or
Principles of Learning and Teaching: Grades 5–9 5623 *
or
Principles of Learning and Teaching: Grades 7–12 5624 *
Special Education: Categorical Emotional Disturbance (P–12) Special Education: Teaching Students with Behavioral Disorders and Emotional Disturbances 5372 *
and
Principles of Learning and Teaching: Early Childhood 5621 *
or
Principles of Learning and Teaching: Grades K–6 5622 *
or
Principles of Learning and Teaching: Grades 5–9 5623 *
or
Principles of Learning and Teaching: Grades 7–12 5624 *
Special Education: Categorical Hearing Impairments (P–12)
 
 Special Education: Education of Deaf and Hard of Hearing Students 5272 *
and
Principles of Learning and Teaching: Early Childhood 5621 *
or
Principles of Learning and Teaching: Grades K–6 5622 *
or
Principles of Learning and Teaching: Grades 5–9 5623 *
or
Principles of Learning and Teaching: Grades 7–12 5624 *
Special Education: Categorical Intellectual Disabilities (P–12) Special Education: Teaching Students with Intellectual Disabilities 5322 *
and
Principles of Learning and Teaching: Early Childhood 5621 *
or
Principles of Learning and Teaching: Grades K–6 5622 *
or
Principles of Learning and Teaching: Grades 5–9 5623 *
or
Principles of Learning and Teaching: Grades 7–12 5624 *
Special Education: Categorical Learning Disabilities (P–12) Special Education: Teaching Students with Learning Disabilities 5383 *
and
Principles of Learning and Teaching: Early Childhood 5621 *
or
Principles of Learning and Teaching: Grades K–6 5622 *
or
Principles of Learning and Teaching: Grades 5–9 5623 *
or
Principles of Learning and Teaching: Grades 7–12 5624 *
Special Education: Categorical Visual Impairments (P–12) Special Education: Teaching Students with Visual Impairments 5282 *
and
Principles of Learning and Teaching: Early Childhood 5621 *
or
Principles of Learning and Teaching: Grades K–6 5622 *
or
Principles of Learning and Teaching: Grades 5–9 5623 *
or
Principles of Learning and Teaching: Grades 7–12 5624 *
Special Education: Non-Categorical (P–12) Special Education: Core Knowledge and Applications 5354 *
and
Principles of Learning and Teaching: Early Childhood 5621 *
or
Principles of Learning and Teaching: Grades K–6 5622 *
or
Principles of Learning and Teaching: Grades 5–9 5623 *
or
Principles of Learning and Teaching: Grades 7–12 5624 *

Administrator/School Leader

To Be Certified in You Need to Take Test Code Qualifying Score
Administrative Services Credential School Leaders Licensure Assessment (Must use SLS website to register.) 6990 *

School Support Personnel

To Be Certified in You Need to Take Test Code Qualifying Score
Reading Specialist (P–12) Reading Specialist 5302 *
School Counselor (P–12) Professional School Counselor 5421 *
School Librarian (P–12) Library Media Specialist 5311 *
School Psychologist (P–12) School Psychologist 5402 *

This page is a supplement to The Praxis® Tests Information Bulletin.