complete an approved educator preparation program.
pass the Praxis® pedagogy test in their certification area.
pass the Praxis content test or complete other requirements for the endorsement.
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).
If you test in South Dakota at a testing center or using the Praxis at home solution, and your Praxis profile address is in South Dakota, your score report will be sent automatically to the South Dakota Department of Education.
If you test outside South Dakota or your Praxis profile address is not in South Dakota, your scores are NOT automatically sent to the South Dakota Department of Education. To have your scores sent to the South Dakota Department of Education, you must select the South Dakota Department of Education (8112) as a score recipient when you register.
For all methods of Praxis testing, to request additional score reports you must select the South Dakota Department of Education (state code 8112) with each additional score report request.
Tests Required for All Licensure Areas
Beginning teachers and teachers without prior teaching experience must pass one of the Principles of Learning and Teaching (PLT) tests along with the appropriate content-specific test.
praxis testing for South Dakota
To Be Certified in
You Need to Take
Test Code
Qualifying Score
All Areas (Beginning teachers & teachers without prior teaching experience)
5 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.
6 To pass the Elementary Education: Content Knowledge for Teaching test you must receive a passing score on each subtest. If you wish to take all four subtests (7812, 7813, 7814, 7815) at the same time, select Elementary Education: Content Knowledge for Teaching (7811) when registering. If you wish to take or retake an individual subtest, you may register to take just that subtest.
7 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.
8 To pass the Elementary Education: Content Knowledge for Teaching test you must receive a passing score on each subtest. If you wish to take all four subtests (7812, 7813, 7814, 7815) at the same time, select Elementary Education: Content Knowledge for Teaching (7811) when registering. If you wish to take or retake an individual subtest, you may register to take just that subtest.
Note: Endorsements cannot be awarded without a valid South Dakota Teaching Certificate. Some Endorsements may be added through coursework or a major.
Special education teachers who teach a specific core content area are required to meet the subject testing requirements for that core content area. Please refer to the appropriate section(s) on this page for requirements.
praxis testing for South Dakota
To Be Certified in
You Need to Take
Test Code
Qualifying Score
Early Childhood Special Education Birth through Grade 3
1 Only one PLT test is required, even if preparation is at multiple levels. Note: Teachers new to the profession and teachers without prior teaching experience must take the PLT test that most closely matches their preparation or submit a letter of verified teaching experience in an accredited K–12 school on a valid teacher certificate.
2 The 5038 test will also allow secondary level teachers to teach Language Arts at the middle school level without taking the 5047 Middle School Language Arts test.
3 The 5161 test will also allow secondary teachers to teach math at the middle school level without taking the 5169 Middle School Math test.
4 Both coursework and the designated test(s) must be completed to add this authorization to a certificate.
