North Carolina Test Requirements

Find your certification area below to determine which test(s) you need to take. For test prep materials, click the test title. Once you know which tests you should take, schedule your test.

Unless it’s specifically stated that a calculator is permitted or required for a particular test, you can’t use a calculator on any Praxis tests (see Calculator Use).

Score reporting

If you test in North Carolina at a test center or at home, and your Praxis profile address is in North Carolina, your score report will be sent automatically to the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction.
If you test outside North Carolina or your Praxis profile address is not in North Carolina, your scores are NOT automatically sent to the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction. To have your scores sent to the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction, you must select the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (state code 7846) as a score recipient when you register.
For all methods of Praxis testing, to request additional score reports you must select the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (state code 7846) with each additional score report request.

Tests required for all licensure areas

Higher education students seeking admission to North Carolina state-approved educator preparation programs must pass Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators (Core) tests or meet alternative testing requirements approved by the North Carolina State Board of Education.

To Be Licensed in	You Need to Take	Test Code	Qualifying Score
K–12: All Areas	Core Academic Skills for Educators: Reading	5713	156¹
	and
	Core Academic Skills for Educators: Writing	5723	162¹
	and
	Core Academic Skills for Educators: Mathematics (On-screen four-function calculator provided)	5733	150¹
	1 Applicants for initial teacher certification must achieve a composite score of 468 on the three sections of the Core Academic Skills for Educators. For single scores, refer to the list above.
	If you wish to take all three computer-delivered Core 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).

To Be Licensed in	You Need to Take	Qualifying Score
All Areas	PPAT^®Assessment (Must use PPAT Assessment website to register.)	38
	or
	An alternative state-approved performance assessment.

Tests required for specific licensure areas

The North Carolina Board of Education passed an adjustment to policy LICN-003, which allows the use of the Elementary Education: Content Knowledge for Teaching Mathematics CKT test as an option to meet the mathematics requirement for the Elementary Education (K-6) license effective April 6, 2019.

To Be Licensed in	You Need to Take	Test Code	Qualifying Score
Elementary Education (K-6)	Elementary Education: Content Knowledge for Teaching Mathematics CKT Subtest (On-screen four-function calculator provided)	7813	150

To Be Licensed in

You Need to Take

Test Code

Qualifying Score

Elementary Education (K-6)

Elementary Education: Content Knowledge for Teaching Mathematics CKT Subtest

(On-screen four-function calculator provided)

7813

150

To Be Licensed in	You Need to Take	Test Code	Qualifying Score
Language Arts (Middle Grades)	Middle School English Language Arts	5047	164
Mathematics (Middle Grades)	Middle School Mathematics (On-screen graphing calculator provided)	5164	157
Science (Middle Grades)	Middle School Science	5442	152
Social Studies (Middle Grades)	Middle School Social Studies	5089	149

To Be Licensed in	You Need to Take	Test Code	Qualifying Score
Anthropology (Secondary)	Social Studies: Content Knowledge	5081	158
	and
	Principles of Learning and Teaching: Grades 7–12	5624	157
Biology (Secondary)	Biology	5236	154
	and
	Principles of Learning and Teaching: Grades 7–12	5624	157
Chemistry (Secondary)	Chemistry	5246	146
	and
	Principles of Learning and Teaching: Grades 7–12	5624	157
Earth Science (Secondary)	Earth and Space Sciences	5572	154
Economics (Secondary)	Social Studies: Content Knowledge	5081	158
	and
	Principles of Learning and Teaching: Grades 7–12	5624	157
English (Secondary)	English Language Arts: Content Knowledge	5038	167
	and
	Principles of Learning and Teaching: Grades 7–12	5624	157
Geography (Secondary)	Social Studies: Content Knowledge	5081	158
	and
	Principles of Learning and Teaching: Grades 7–12	5624	157
History (Secondary)	Social Studies: Content Knowledge	5081	158
	and
	Principles of Learning and Teaching: Grades 7–12	5624	157
Mathematics (Secondary)	Mathematics (On-screen graphing calculator provided)	5165	159
	and
	Principles of Learning and Teaching: Grades 7–12	5624	157
Physics (Secondary)	Physics	5266	145
Political Science (Secondary)	Social Studies: Content Knowledge	5081	158
	and
	Principles of Learning and Teaching: Grades 7–12	5624	157
Science (Comprehensive, Secondary)	General Science	5436	141
	and
	Principles of Learning and Teaching: Grades 7–12	5624	157
Social Studies (Comprehensive, Secondary)	Social Studies: Content Knowledge	5081	158
	and
	Principles of Learning and Teaching: Grades 7–12	5624	157
Sociology (Secondary)	Social Studies: Content Knowledge	5081	158
	and
	Principles of Learning and Teaching: Grades 7–12	5624	157

To Be Licensed in	You Need to Take	Test Code	Qualifying Score
Academically/ Intellectually Gifted (K–12)	Gifted Education	5358	157
Art (K–12)	Art: Content and Analysis	5135	161
Health and Physical Education (K–12)	Health and Physical Education: Content Knowledge	5857	160
Health Specialist (K–12)	Health Education	5551	156
Music (K–12)	Music: Content and Instruction	5114	162
Physical Education (K–12)	Physical Education: Content Knowledge	5091	152
Reading (Bachelor's Level, K–12)	Teaching Reading: K–12	5206	156
Reading (Graduate Level, K–12)	Reading Specialist	5302	165
Speech Communication (K–12)	Speech Communication: Content Knowledge	5221	143

To Be Licensed in	You Need to Take	Test Code	Qualifying Score
English as a Second Language (K–12)	English to Speakers of Other Languages	5362	155
French (Secondary, K–12)	French: World Language	5174	162
German (Secondary, K–12)	German: World Language	5183	163
Latin (9–12)	Latin	5601	146
Spanish (Secondary, K–12)	Spanish: World Language	5195	168

To Be Licensed in	You Need to Take	Test Code	Qualifying Score
Exceptional Children Program Administrator	Educational Leadership: Administration and Supervision	5412	146
Special Education: Adapted Curriculum	The following tests are required for licensure.
	Available through July 31, 2024 Special Education: Core Knowledge and Severe to Profound Applications	5545	158
	or
	Special Education: Severe to Profound	5547	156
	and
	Fundamental Subjects: Content Knowledge (On-screen scientific calculator provided)	5511	148
Special Education: Behaviorally/ Emotionally Disabled	The following tests are required for licensure.
	Special Education: Teaching Students with Behavioral Disorders/and Emotional Disturbances	5372	154
	and
	Fundamental Subjects: Content Knowledge (On-screen scientific calculator provided)	5511	148
Special Education: Cross Categorical	The following tests are required for licensure.
	Available through July 31, 2024 Special Education: Core Knowledge and Applications	5354	151
	or
	Special Education: Foundational Knowledge	5355	145
	and
	Fundamental Subjects: Content Knowledge (On-screen scientific calculator provided)	5511	148
Special Education: General Curriculum (K–12)	The following tests are required for licensure. The North Carolina Board of Education passed an adjustment to policy LICN-003, which allows the use of the Elementary Education: Content Knowledge for Teaching Mathematics CKT Subtest as an option to meet the mathematics requirement for the Exceptional Children: General Curriculum license effective April 6, 2019.
	Elementary Education: Content Knowledge for Teaching Mathematics CKT Subtest (On-screen scientific calculator provided)	7813	150
	and
	Available through July 31, 2024 Special Education: Core Knowledge and Mild to Moderate Applications	5543	158
	or
	Special Education: Foundational Knowledge	5355	145
	See the Public Schools of North Carolina website for additional testing requirements
Special Education: Learning Disabled	The following tests are required for licensure.
	Special Education: Teaching Students with Learning Disabilities	5383	151
	and
	Fundamental Subjects: Content Knowledge (On-screen scientific calculator provided)	5511	148
Special Education: Mentally Disabled	The following tests are required for licensure.
	Special Education: Teaching Students with Intellectual Disabilities	5322	156
	and
	Fundamental Subjects: Content Knowledge (On-screen scientific calculator provided)	5511	148
Special Education: Severely Profoundly Mentally Disabled	The following tests are required for licensure.
	Special Education: Teaching Students with Intellectual Disabilities	5322	156
	and
	Fundamental Subjects: Content Knowledge (On-screen scientific calculator provided)	5511	148
Special Education: Visually Impaired	The following test is required for licensure. Special Education: Teaching Students with Visual Impairments	5282	163

To Be Licensed in	You Need to Take	Test Code	Qualifying Score
Business Education (Career–Technical Education)	Business Education: Content Knowledge (Calculator allowed)	5101	154
Career–Technical Education Director	Educational Leadership: Administration and Supervision	5412	146
Family and Consumer Sciences (Career–Technical Education)	Family and Consumer Sciences	5122	153
Marketing Education (Career–Technical Education)	Marketing Education	5561	169
Technology Education (Career–Technical Education)	Technology Education	5051	159

To Be Licensed in	You Need to Take	Test Code	Qualifying Score
Audiologist	Effective July 1, 2020, Audiologist testing requirements for North Carolina are determined by the NCBOESLPA.
Counselor	School Counselor	5422	159
Curriculum–Instructional Specialist	Educational Leadership: Administration and Supervision	5412	146
Media Coordinator	School Librarian	5312	154
Media Supervisor	Educational Leadership: Administration and Supervision	5412	146
School Psychologist	School Psychologist	5403	155
Speech-Language Pathologist	Effective July 1, 2011, Speech-Language Pathologist testing requirements for North Carolina are determined by the NCBOESLPA.

TBA: To Be Announced. All TBA scores will be available once the test is required.

This page is a supplement to The Praxis^® Tests Information Bulletin (PDF).

North Carolina Test Requirements

Score reporting

Tests required for all licensure areas

Admission to North Carolina State-Approved Educator Preparation Programs

Performance Assessment

Tests required for specific licensure areas

Elementary Education

Middle School Education

Secondary Education

All Grades

World Languages

Special Education

Career & Technical Education

Special Service Personnel