West Virginia 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.

Most tests are offered in both Session 1 and Session 2. Refer to the fees page for tests that are restricted to a particular session.

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 West Virginia, your score report will be sent automatically to the West Virginia Department of Education. If you test outside of West Virginia, select the West Virginia Department of Education (state code 8480) as a score recipient when you register or on an additional score report request.

Notes:

In general, test codes that begin with "5" are delivered in computer format; codes that begin with "0" are delivered on paper.
"CDT" refers to computer-delivered tests. "PDT" refers to paper-delivered tests.

Tests Required for All Licensure Areas

Praxis™ Core Academic Skills for Educators (Core)

Persons who meet one or more of the following criteria may be exempt from the Praxis™ Core Academic Skills for Educators (Core).

hold certification through the NBPTS
hold or have held a West Virginia Professional Certificate
hold a master's degree from an accredited institution of higher education
attained, from a single administration, a composite score of 25 on the American College Test (ACT), 26 on the ACT enhanced (effective November 1989), 1035 on the Scholastic Achievement Test (SAT),1125 on the re-centered SAT (effective April 1995), or 1170 on the revised SAT using the combined Critical Reading and Math score (effective March 2005)
satisfied a passing score in basic skills reading, writing and mathematics in another state
hold a valid out-of-state certificate in the content area
successfully completed three years of experience within the last seven years in one or a combination of specializations recognized on an out-of-state professional certificate valid during those three years

If you wish to take all three computer-delivered Core exams (5712, 5722, 5732) at the same time, select Core Academic Skills for Educators: Combined Test (5751) when registering. Scores will be reported by individual test (5712, 5722, 5732).

To Be Certified in	You Need to Take	CDT Code	PDT Code	Qualifying Score
All Areas	Core Academic Skills for Educators: Reading	5712	n/a	156
	and
	Core Academic Skills for Educators: Writing	5722	n/a	162
	and
	Core Academic Skills for Educators: Mathematics	5732	n/a	150

Principles of Learning and Teaching

To Be Certified in	You Need to Take	CDT Code	PDT Code	Qualifying Score
Professional Education	Principles of Learning and Teaching: Grades K–6	5622	0622	160
	or
	Principles of Learning and Teaching: Grades 5–9	5623	0623	160
	or
	Principles of Learning and Teaching: Grades 7–12	5624	0624	157
	Candidates for the initial West Virginia Professional Teaching Certificate shall take one of the above Principles of Learning and Teaching tests as indicated in the West Virginia Board of Education Policy 5100.

Tests Required for Specific Licensure Areas

Early Childhood Education

To Be Certified in	You Need to Take	CDT Code	PDT Code	Qualifying Score
Early Childhood Education (K–4)	Early Childhood Education	n/a	0020	530
	and
	Teaching Reading: Elementary Education	5203	n/a	162*
Early Education (PreK–K)	Pre-Kindergarten Education	5531	0531	155
Preschool Education (Birth–PreK)	No Praxis II test required.

* Score is not required until July 1, 2014.

Elementary Education

To Be Certified in	You Need to Take	CDT Code	PDT Code	Qualifying Score
Elementary Education (K–6)	Elementary Education: Multiple Subjects (Calculator allowed.)	5031	n/a	*
	Mathematics Subtest (Calculator allowed.)	5033	n/a	164
	Reading Language Arts Subtest	5032	n/a	165
	Science Subtest (Calculator allowed.)	5035	n/a	159
	Social Studies Subtest	5034	n/a	155
	* To pass the Elementary Education: Multiple Subjects test you must receive a passing score on each subtest. You must take the full test on your initial attempt. If after your first attempt you did not pass one of the individual subtests, you may take just that subtest again for a reduced fee.
	and
	Teaching Reading: Elementary Education	5203	n/a	162¹

¹ Score is not required until July 1, 2014.

Middle School Education

To Be Certified in	You Need to Take	CDT Code	PDT Code	Qualifying Score
English (5–9)	Middle School English Language Arts	5047	n/a	164
General Math through Algebra 1 (5–9)	Middle School Mathematics (On-screen calculator provided.)	5169	n/a	165
General Science (5–9)	Middle School Science	n/a	0439	151
Mathematics (5–9)	Middle School Mathematics (On-screen calculator provided.)	5169	n/a	165
Social Studies (5–9)	Middle School Social Studies	5089	0089	151

Secondary Education/Content Endorsements

To Be Certified in	You Need to Take	CDT Code	PDT Code	Qualifying Score
Agriculture	Agriculture	n/a	0700	430
American Sign Language	No Praxis II test required.
Art	Art: Content Knowledge	5134	0134	158
Biology	Biology: Content Knowledge	5235	0235	152
Business Education	Business Education: Content Knowledge(Calculator allowed.)	5101	0101	157
Business Education/Marketing	Business Education: Content Knowledge(Calculator allowed.)	5101	0101	157
	and
	Marketing Education	n/a	0561	153
Chemistry	Chemistry: Content Knowledge	5245	0245	157
Chemistry and Physics	Chemistry: Content Knowledge	5245	0245	157
	and
	Physics: Content Knowledge	5265	0265	126
Computer Science Education	No Praxis II test required.
Dance	No Praxis II test required.
Driver Education	Driver Education	n/a	0867	141
English (5–Adult)	English Language Arts: Content Knowledge	5038	n/a	167
English as a Second Language (PreK–Adult)	No Praxis II test required.
Family and Consumer Science	Family and Consumer Sciences	5121	0121	146
French (5–Adult)	French: World Language	5174	n/a	160
General Science (5–Adult)	General Science: Content Knowledge	5435	0435	153
German (5–Adult)	German: World Language	5183	n/a	160
Health	Health Education	5551	n/a	156
Instructional Technology (PreK–Adult)	No Praxis II test required.
Japanese	No Praxis II test required.
Journalism	No Praxis II test required.
Latin (5–Adult)	Latin	n/a	0601	131
Marketing	Marketing Education	n/a	0561	153
Mathematics (5–Adult)	Mathematics: Content Knowledge(On-screen graphing calculator provided.)	5161	n/a	160
Music	Music: Content Knowledge	5113	n/a	155
Oral Communication (5–Adult)	Speech Communication: Content Knowledge	5221	n/a	150
Physical Education	Physical Education: Content Knowledge	5091	0091	150
Physics	Physics: Content Knowledge	5265	0265	126
Reading Education	No Praxis II test required.
Reading Specialist	Reading Specialist	5301	n/a	164
Russian	No Praxis II test required.
School Library/Media	Library Media Specialist	5311	0311	138
Social Studies (5–Adult)	Social Studies: Content Knowledge	5081	0081	148
Spanish (5–Adult)	Spanish: World Language	5195	n/a	163
Technology Education	Technology Education	5051¹	n/a	159
Theatre	No Praxis II test required.
Wellness (PreK–12)	Health Education	5551	n/a	156
	and
	Physical Education: Content Knowledge	5091	0091	150

¹ Available beginning July 2014.

Administrator/School Leader

To Be Certified in	You Need to Take	CDT Code	PDT Code	Qualifying Score
Principal	Educational Leadership: Administration and Supervision	5411	0411	141
Superintendent	Educational Leadership: Administration and Supervision	5411	0411	141
Supervisor of Instruction	Educational Leadership: Administration and Supervision	5411	0411	141
Vocational Administrator	Educational Leadership: Administration and Supervision	5411	0411	141

Special Education

To Be Certified in	You Need to Take	CDT Code	PDT Code	Qualifying Score
Autism	Special Education: Core Knowledge and Applications	5354	0354	151
Behavioral Disorders (excluding Autism)	Special Education: Teaching Students With Behavioral Disorders/Emotional Disturbances	5372	n/a	154
	and
	Special Education: Core Knowledge and Applications	5354	0354	151
Deaf and Hard of Hearing	No Praxis II test required.
Gifted	No Praxis II test required.
Mentally Impaired (Mild/Moderate)	Special Education: Core Knowledge and Applications	5354	0354	151
Multi-Categorical Special Education (BD excluding Autism, MI, SLD)	Special Education: Core Knowledge and Mild to Moderate Applications	5543	0543	153
Preschool Special Needs (PreK–K)	Special Education: Preschool/Early Childhood	5691¹	n/a	159
Severe Disabilities	Special Education: Core Knowledge and Severe to Profound Applications	5545	0545	158
Specific Learning Disabilities	Special Education: Core Knowledge and Applications	5354	0354	151
	and
	Special Education: Teaching Students with Learning Disabilities	5383	n/a	151
Visually Impaired	Special Education: Teaching Students with Visual Impairments	5282	n/a	163

¹ Available beginning July 2014.

Student Support Personnel

To Be Certified in	You Need to Take	CDT Code	PDT Code	Qualifying Score
Athletic Trainer	No Praxis II test required.
School Counselor	Professional School Counselor	5421	0421	156
School Nurse	No Praxis II test required.
School Psychologist	School Psychologist	n/a	0401	148
School Psychologist	Since this is the same test taken for national certification, the national score will be accepted if it is the same or higher than the state validated score.
Social Services Attendance	No Praxis II test required.
Speech Assistant	No Praxis II test required.
Speech-Language Pathologist	Speech-Language Pathology	5330	0330	600
Speech-Language Pathologist	Since this is the same test taken for national certification, the national score will be accepted if it is the same or higher than the state validated score.

n/a — Not available in this delivery method.

This page is a supplement to The Praxis Series™ Information Bulletin.