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South Dakota

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.) or		35
	Principles of Learning and Teaching: Early Childhood¹ or	5621	157
	Principles of Learning and Teaching: Grades K–6¹ or	5622	160
	Principles of Learning and Teaching: Grades 5–9¹ or	5623	160
	Principles of Learning and Teaching: Grades 7–12¹ or	5624	157
	Principles of Learning and Teaching: PreK–12	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 or	5024	160
	Early Childhood Education	5025	156

To Be Certified In

You Need to Take

Test Code

Qualifying Score

Early Childhood Regular Education⁴

Education of Young Children

5024

160

Early Childhood Education

5025

156

To Be Certified in	You Need to Take	Test Code	Qualifying Score
Self Contained K–4th Grade⁵	Early Childhood Education or	5025	156
	Elementary Education: Multiple Subjects (On-screen scientific calculator provided)	5001	⁵
	Reading and Language Arts Subtest	5002	150
	Mathematics Subtest (On-screen scientific calculator provided)	5003	146
	Social Studies Subtest	5004	147
	Science Subtest (On-screen scientific calculator provided)	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
	Elementary Education: Content Knowledge for Teaching (On-screen scientific calculator provided)	7811	⁶
	Reading and Language Arts CKT Subtest	7812	156
	Mathematics CKT Subtest (On-screen scientific calculator provided)	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	Elementary Education: Multiple Subjects (On-screen scientific calculator provided)	5001	⁷
	Reading and Language Arts Subtest	5002	150
	Mathematics Subtest (On-screen scientific calculator provided)	5003	146
	Social Studies Subtest	5004	147
	Science Subtest (On-screen scientific calculator provided)	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
	Elementary Education: Content Knowledge for Teaching (On-screen scientific calculator provided)	7811	⁸
	Reading and Language Arts CKT Subtest	7812	156
	Mathematics CKT Subtest (On-screen scientific calculator provided)	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
	Middle School: Content Knowledge (Calculator allowed)	5146	141
K–4th Grade Subject Specific Endorsements
K–4th Grade English Language Arts Endorsement	Elementary Education: Multiple Subjects Reading and Language Arts Subtest or	5002	150
	Elementary Education: Content Knowledge for Teaching Reading and Language Arts CKT Subtest	7812	156
K–4th Grade Math Endorsement	Elementary Education: Multiple Subjects Mathematics Subtest (On-screen scientific calculator provided) or	5003	146
	Elementary Education: Content Knowledge for Teaching Mathematics CKT Subtest (On-screen scientific calculator provided)	7813	143
K–4th Grade Science Endorsement	Elementary Education: Multiple Subjects Science Subtest (On-screen scientific calculator provided) or	5005	150
	Elementary Education: Content Knowledge for Teaching Science CKT Subtest	7814	144
K–4th Grade Social Studies Endorsement	Elementary Education: Multiple Subjects Social Studies Subtest or	5004	147
	Elementary Education: Content Knowledge for Teaching Social Studies CKT Subtest	7815	161
5th–8th Grade Subject Specific Endorsements
5th–8th Grade English Language Arts Endorsement	Middle School English Language Arts or	5047	164
	English Language Arts: Content Knowledge² or	5038	167
	Elementary Education: Multiple Subjects Reading and Language Arts Subtest or	5002	150
	Elementary Education: Content Knowledge for Teaching Reading and Language Arts CKT Subtest	7812	156
	Middle School Mathematics (On-screen graphing calculator provided) or	5164	157
5th–8th Grade Math Endorsement	Accepted through August 31, 2022 Middle School Mathematics (On-screen scientific calculator provided) or	5169	165
	Middle School Mathematics (On-screen scientific calculator provided) or	5164	157
	Accepted through August 31, 2022 Mathematics Content Knowledge³ (On-screen scientific calculator provided) or	5161	160
	Mathematics (On-screen scientific calculator provided) or	5165	159
	Elementary Education: Multiple Subjects Mathematics Subtest (On-screen scientific calculator provided) or	5003	146
	Elementary Education: Content Knowledge for Teaching Mathematics CKT Subtest (On-screen scientific calculator provided)	7813	143
5th–8th Grade Science Endorsement	Middle School Science or	5442	152
	Accepted through August 31, 2023 General Science: Content Knowledge or	5435	143
	Accepted through September 1, 2022 General Science or	5436	141
	Elementary Education: Multiple Subjects Science Subtest (On-screen scientific calculator provided)	5005	150
	Elementary Education: Content Knowledge for Teaching Science CKT Subtest	7814	144
5th–8th Grade Social Studies Endorsement	Middle School Social Studies or	5089	145
	Social Studies: Content Knowledge or	5081	146
	Elementary Education: Multiple Subjects Social Studies Subtest or	5004	147
	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
English Language Arts
Secondary Intermediate English Language Arts (Literature, Composition/Grammar)	English Language Arts: Content Knowledge²	5038	167
Secondary Advanced Literature	English Language Arts: Content Knowledge²	5038	167
Secondary Drama/Theater⁴	Theatre	5641	148
Secondary Speech/Debate	Speech Communication: Content Knowledge	5221	143
Secondary Mass Communication⁴	Journalism	5224	153
Mathematics
Secondary Intermediate Mathematics (Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra II)	Middle School Mathematics (On-screen graphing calculator provided)	5164	157
	Mathematics (On-screen graphing calculator provided)	5165	159
Secondary Advanced Mathematics⁴	Mathematics (On-screen graphing calculator provided)	5165	159
Science
Secondary Intermediate Science (Biology, Physical Science, Earth Science)⁴	Accepted through August 31, 2023 General Science: Content Knowledge or	5435	143
	Accepted beginning September 1, 2022 General Science or	5436	141
Secondary Advanced Biology⁴	Accepted through August 31, 2023 Biology: Content Knowledge or	5235	147
	Accepted beginning September 1, 2022 Biology or	5236	154
Secondary Advanced Earth Science⁴	Accepted through August 31, 2023 Earth and Space Sciences: Content Knowledge or	5571	150
	Accepted beginning September 1, 2022 Earth and Space Sciences or	5572	154
Secondary Advanced Physical Science⁴	Chemistry: Content Knowledge or	5245	135
	Physics: Content Knowledge or	5265	130
	Physical Science	5485	157
Secondary Chemistry⁴	Accepted through August 31, 2023 Chemistry: Content Knowledge or	5245	135
	Accepted beginning September 1, 2022 Chemistry or	5246	146
Secondary Physics⁴	Accepted through August 31, 2023 Physics: Content Knowledge or	5265	130
	Accepted beginning September 1, 2022 Physics or	5266	145
Social Science
Secondary Intermediate Social Science (History, Political Science, Geography)⁴	Social Studies: Content Knowledge	5081	146
Secondary Advanced Geography⁴	Geography	5921	149
Secondary Advanced History⁴	World and U.S. History: Content Knowledge	5941	146
Secondary Advanced Political Science⁴	Government/Political Science	5931	149
Secondary Economics⁴	Economics	5911	147
Secondary Psychology⁴	Psychology	5391	154
Secondary Sociology⁴	Sociology	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
Art
Elementary Art	Art: Content Knowledge	5134	151
Secondary Art	Art: Content Knowledge	5134	151
Computer Science
Elementary Computer Science	Computer Science	5652	142
Secondary Computer Science	Computer Science	5652	142
Music
Elementary Music Education	Music: Content Knowledge	5113	150
Secondary Music Education	Music: Content Knowledge	5113	150
K–12 Instrumental Music Education	Music: Content Knowledge or	5113	150
K–12 Instrumental Music Education	Music: Instrumental and General Knowledge	5115	150
K–12 Vocal Music Education	Music: Content Knowledge or	5113	150
K–12 Vocal Music Education	Music: Vocal and General Knowledge	5116	153
Physical Education and Health
Elementary Health Education	Health Education	5551	145
Secondary Health Education	Health Education	5551	145
Elementary Physical Education	Physical Education: Content Knowledge	5091	140
Secondary Physical Education	Physical Education: Content Knowledge	5091	140
Reading
Elementary Reading	Teaching Reading: K–12 or	5206	156
Elementary Reading	Reading Specialist	5302	165
Secondary Reading	Teaching Reading: K–12 or	5206	156
Secondary Reading	Reading Specialist	5302	165
World Languages
Elementary Chinese	Chinese (Mandarin): World Language	5665	164
Secondary Chinese	Chinese (Mandarin): World Language	5665	164
Elementary French	French: World Language	5174	152
Secondary French	French: World Language	5174	152
Elementary German	German: World Language	5183	154
Secondary German	German: World Language	5183	154
Elementary Latin	Latin	5601	152
Secondary Latin	Latin	5601	152
Elementary Spanish	Spanish: World Language	5195	160
Secondary Spanish	Spanish: World Language	5195	160
Other
Elementary English as a New Language	English to Speakers of Other Languages	5362	155
Secondary English as a New Language	English to Speakers of Other Languages	5362	155
Elementary Gifted Education	Gifted Education	5358	151
Secondary Gifted Education	Gifted Education	5358	151
Elementary School Librarian	Accepted through August 31, 2023 Library Media Specialist or	5311	152
	Accepted beginning September 1, 2022 School Librarian	5312	154
Secondary School Librarian	Accepted through August 31, 2023 Library Media Specialist or	5311	152
	Accepted beginning September 1, 2022 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

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	Accepted through August 31, 2023 Special Education: Preschool/Early Childhood or	5691	159
	Accepted beginning September 1, 2022 Special Education: Early Childhood/Early Intervention	5692	159
Special Education K–12	Special Education: Core Knowledge and Applications	5354	145

To Be Certified in

You Need to Take

Test Code

Qualifying Score

Early Childhood Special Education Birth through Grade 3

Accepted through August 31, 2023

Special Education: Preschool/Early Childhood

5691

159

Accepted beginning September 1, 2022

Special Education: Early Childhood/Early Intervention

5692

159

Special Education K–12

Special Education: Core Knowledge and Applications

5354

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	Agriculture	5701	147
Architecture and Construction Career Cluster	Technology Education	5051	154
Business Management and Administration Career Cluster	Business Education: Content Knowledge (Calculator allowed)	5101	148
Business Marketing and Management Career Pathway	Marketing Education	5561	158
Construction Career Pathway	Technology Education	5051	154
Design and Pre-Construction Career Pathway	Technology Education	5051	154
Education and Training Career Cluster	Family and Consumer Sciences	5122	153
Family and Consumer Science Career Cluster	Family and Consumer Sciences	5122	153
Finance Career Cluster	Business Education: Content Knowledge (Calculator allowed)	5101	148
Human Services Career Cluster	Family and Consumer Sciences	5122	153
Information Technology Career Cluster	Computer Science	5652	142
Marketing Career Cluster Endorsement	Marketing Education	5561	158
Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Career Cluster⁴	Technology Education	5051	154

To Be Certified In	You Need to Take	Test Code	Qualifying Score
School Counselor	Accepted through August 31, 2023 Professional School Counselor or	5421	164
	Accepted beginning September 1, 2022 School Counselor	5422	159

To Be Certified In

You Need to Take

Test Code

Qualifying Score

School Counselor

Accepted through August 31, 2023

Professional School Counselor

5421

164

Accepted beginning September 1, 2022

School Counselor

5422

159

To Be Certified in	You Need to Take	Test Code	Qualifying Score
Braille	Braille Proficiency	0633	164
CEO	Educational Leadership: Administration and Supervision	5412	146
Para-professional	ParaPro Assessment (must use the ParaPro Assessment website to register)	1755	461

To Be Certified in

You Need to Take

Test Code

Qualifying Score

Braille

Braille Proficiency

0633

164

CEO

Educational Leadership: Administration and Supervision

5412

146

Para-professional

ParaPro Assessment

(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).

South Dakota Test Requirements

How to qualify for certification

Tests required for all licensure areas

Tests required for specific licensure areas

Early Childhood Education

Elementary Education

Secondary Education

All Grades

Administrator Alternative Certification

Special Education

Career and Technical Education

Education Specialists

Educator Permits