The Praxis® Tests
Supporting aspiring teachers on their journey to the classroom
Select a step to learn more about the Praxis® tests.
South Dakota Test Requirements
How to qualify for certification
For initial certification in South Dakota, all candidates must:
- earn a baccalaureate degree.
- 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.
| To Be Certified in | You Need to Take | Test Code | Qualifying Score |
|---|---|---|---|
All Areas (Beginning teachers & teachers without prior teaching experience) |
PPAT® Assessment (must use the PPAT Assessment website to register.) |
35 |
|
| or | |||
| Principles of Learning and Teaching: Early Childhood¹ | 5621 |
157 |
|
| or | |||
| Principles of Learning and Teaching: Grades K–6¹ | 5622 |
160 |
|
| or | |||
| Principles of Learning and Teaching: Grades 5–9¹ | 5623 |
160 |
|
| or | |||
| Principles of Learning and Teaching: Grades 7–12¹ | 5624 |
157 |
|
| or | |||
5625 |
157 |
||
Tests required for specific licensure areas
| To Be Certified In | You Need to Take | Test Code | Qualifying Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Early Childhood Regular Education4 | Education of Young Children | 5024 |
160 |
| or | |||
5025 |
156 |
||
| To Be Certified in | You Need to Take | Test Code | Qualifying Score |
|---|---|---|---|
Self Contained K–4th Grade5 |
Early Childhood Education | 5025 |
156 |
| or | |||
5001 |
5 |
||
Reading and Language Arts Subtest |
5002 |
150 |
|
Mathematics Subtest |
5003 |
146 |
|
Social Studies Subtest |
5004 |
147 |
|
Science Subtest |
5005 |
150 |
|
| 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. | |||
or |
|||
7811 |
6 |
||
Reading and Language Arts CKT Subtest |
7812 |
156 |
|
Mathematics CKT Subtest |
7813 |
143 |
|
Science CKT Subtest |
7814 |
144 |
|
Social Studies CKT Subtest |
7815 |
161 |
|
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. |
|||
Self Contained 5th–8th Grade |
5001 |
7 |
|
Reading and Language Arts Subtest |
5002 |
150 |
|
Mathematics Subtest |
5003 |
146 |
|
Social Studies Subtest |
5004 |
147 |
|
Science Subtest |
5005 |
150 |
|
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. |
|||
or |
|||
7811 |
8 |
||
Reading and Language Arts CKT Subtest |
7812 |
156 |
|
Mathematics CKT Subtest |
7813 |
143 |
|
Science CKT Subtest |
7814 |
144 |
|
Social Studies CKT Subtest |
7815 |
161 |
|
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. |
|||
or |
|||
5146 |
141 |
||
K–4th Grade English Language Arts Endorsement |
Elementary Education: Multiple Subjects Reading and Language Arts Subtest | 5002 |
150 |
| or | |||
Elementary Education: Content Knowledge for Teaching Reading and Language Arts CKT Subtest |
7812 |
156 |
|
K–4th Grade Math Endorsement |
5003 |
146 |
|
| or | |||
Elementary Education: Content Knowledge for Teaching Mathematics CKT Subtest |
7813 |
143 |
|
K–4th Grade Science Endorsement |
5005 |
150 |
|
| or | |||
Elementary Education: Content Knowledge for Teaching Science CKT Subtest |
7814 |
144 |
|
K–4th Grade Social Studies Endorsement |
Elementary Education: Multiple Subjects Social Studies Subtest | 5004 |
147 |
| or | |||
Elementary Education: Content Knowledge for Teaching Social Studies CKT Subtest |
7815 |
161 |
|
5th–8th Grade English Language Arts Endorsement |
Middle School English Language Arts | 5047 |
164 |
| or | |||
| English Language Arts: Content Knowledge² | 5038 |
167 |
|
| or | |||
| Elementary Education: Multiple Subjects Reading and Language Arts Subtest | 5002 |
150 |
|
| or | |||
Elementary Education: Content Knowledge for Teaching Reading and Language Arts CKT Subtest |
7812 |
156 |
|
| 5164 | 157 | ||
| or | |||
| 5th–8th Grade Math Endorsement | 5164 |
157 |
|
| or | |||
| 5165 | 159 | ||
| or | |||
5003 |
146 |
||
| or | |||
Elementary Education: Content Knowledge for Teaching Mathematics CKT Subtest |
7813 |
143 |
|
5th–8th Grade Science Endorsement |
Middle School Science | 5442 |
152 |
| or | |||
| General Science | 5436 |
141 |
|
| or | |||
5005 |
150 |
||
Elementary Education: Content Knowledge for Teaching Science CKT Subtest |
7814 |
144 |
|
5th–8th Grade Social Studies Endorsement |
Middle School Social Studies | 5089 |
145 |
| or | |||
| Social Studies: Content Knowledge | 5081 |
146 |
|
| or | |||
| Elementary Education: Multiple Subjects Social Studies Subtest | 5004 |
147 |
|
| or | |||
Elementary Education: Content Knowledge for Teaching Social Studies CKT Subtest |
7815 |
161 |
|
Endorsements cannot be awarded without a valid South Dakota Teaching Certificate. Some Endorsements may be added through coursework or a major.
| To Be Certified in | You Need to Take | Test Code | Qualifying Score |
|---|---|---|---|
Secondary Intermediate English Language Arts (Literature, Composition/Grammar) |
5038 |
167 |
|
Secondary Advanced Literature |
5038 |
167 |
|
Secondary Drama/Theater4 |
5641 |
148 |
|
Secondary Speech/Debate |
5221 |
143 |
|
Secondary Mass Communication4 |
5224 |
153 |
|
Secondary Intermediate Mathematics (Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra II) |
5164 | 157 | |
5165 |
159 |
||
Secondary Advanced Mathematics4 |
5165 |
159 |
|
| Secondary Intermediate Science (Biology, Physical Science, Earth Science)4 | General Science | 5436 |
141 |
| Secondary Advanced Biology4 | Biology | 5236 |
154 |
| Secondary Advanced Earth Science4 | Earth and Space Sciences | 5572 |
154 |
| Secondary Advanced Physical Science4 | 5485 |
157 |
|
| Secondary Chemistry4 | Chemistry | 5246 |
146 |
| Secondary Physics4 | Physics | 5266 |
145 |
Secondary Intermediate Social Science (History, Political Science, Geography) 4 |
5081 |
146 |
|
Secondary Advanced Geography4 |
5921 |
149 |
|
Secondary Advanced History4 |
5941 |
146 |
|
Secondary Advanced Political Science4 |
5931 |
149 |
|
Secondary Economics4 |
5911 |
147 |
|
Secondary Psychology4 |
5391 |
154 |
|
Secondary Sociology4 |
5952 |
154 |
|
Endorsements cannot be awarded without a valid South Dakota Teaching Certificate. Some Endorsements may be added through coursework or a major.
| To Be Certified in | You Need to Take | Test Code | Qualifying Score |
|---|---|---|---|
Elementary Art |
5134 |
151 |
|
Secondary Art |
5134 |
151 |
|
Elementary Computer Science |
5652 |
142 |
|
Secondary Computer Science |
5652 |
142 |
|
Elementary Music Education |
5113 |
150 |
|
Secondary Music Education |
5113 |
150 |
|
K–12 Instrumental Music Education |
Music: Content Knowledge | 5113 |
150 |
| or | |||
5115 |
150 |
||
K–12 Vocal Music Education |
Music: Content Knowledge | 5113 |
150 |
| or | |||
5116 |
153 |
||
Elementary Health Education |
5551 |
145 |
|
Secondary Health Education |
5551 |
145 |
|
Elementary Physical Education |
5091 |
140 |
|
Secondary Physical Education |
5091 |
140 |
|
Elementary Reading |
Teaching Reading: K–12 | 5206 |
156 |
| or | |||
5302 |
165 |
||
Secondary Reading |
Teaching Reading: K–12 | 5206 |
156 |
| or | |||
5302 |
165 |
||
Elementary Chinese |
5665 |
164 |
|
Secondary Chinese |
5665 |
164 |
|
Elementary French |
5174 |
152 |
|
Secondary French |
5174 |
152 |
|
Elementary German |
5183 |
154 |
|
Secondary German |
5183 |
154 |
|
Elementary Latin |
5601 |
152 |
|
Secondary Latin |
5601 |
152 |
|
Elementary Spanish |
5195 |
160 |
|
Secondary Spanish |
5195 |
160 |
|
Elementary English as a New Language |
5362 |
155 |
|
Secondary English as a New Language |
5362 |
155 |
|
Elementary Gifted Education |
5358 |
151 |
|
Secondary Gifted Education |
5358 |
151 |
|
| Elementary School Librarian | School Librarian | 5312 | 154 |
| Secondary School Librarian | School Librarian | 5312 | 154 |
| To Be Certified in | You Need to Take | Test Code | Qualifying Score |
|---|---|---|---|
Principal |
School Leaders Licensure Assessment (must use SLS website to register) |
6990 |
146 |
Superintendent or Assistant Superintendent |
School Superintendent Assessment (must use SLS website to register) |
6991 |
162 |
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.
| To Be Certified in | You Need to Take | Test Code | Qualifying Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Early Childhood Special Education Birth through Grade 3 | Special Education: Early Childhood/Early Intervention | 5692 | 159 |
Special Education K–12 |
Available through August 31, 2024 |
5354 |
145 |
| or | |||
| Special Education: Foundational Knowledge | 5355 |
145 |
|
Endorsements cannot be awarded without a valid South Dakota Teaching Certificate. Some Endorsements may be added through coursework or a major.
| To Be Certified in | You Need to Take | Test Code | Qualifying Score |
|---|---|---|---|
Agriculture Food and Natural Resources Career Cluster |
5701 |
147 |
|
Architecture and Construction Career Cluster |
5051 |
154 |
|
Business Management and Administration Career Cluster |
5101 |
148 |
|
Business Marketing and Management Career Pathway |
5561 |
158 |
|
Construction Career Pathway |
5051 |
154 |
|
Design and Pre-Construction Career Pathway |
5051 |
154 |
|
Education and Training Career Cluster |
5122 |
153 |
|
Family and Consumer Science Career Cluster |
5122 |
153 |
|
Finance Career Cluster |
5101 |
148 |
|
Human Services Career Cluster |
5122 |
153 |
|
Information Technology Career Cluster |
5652 |
142 |
|
Marketing Career Cluster Endorsement |
5561 |
158 |
|
Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Career Cluster4 |
5051 |
154 |
| To Be Certified In | You Need to Take | Test Code | Qualifying Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| School Counselor | School Counselor | 5422 | 159 |
| To Be Certified in | You Need to Take | Test Code | Qualifying Score |
|---|---|---|---|
Braille |
0633 |
164 |
|
CEO |
5412 |
146 |
|
Para-professional |
(must use the ParaPro Assessment website to register) |
1755 |
461 |
1 Only one PLT test is required, even if preparation is at multiple levels. 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.
This page is a supplement to The Praxis® Tests Information Bulletin (PDF) and the ParaPro Assessment Information Bulletin (PDF).
