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.

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.

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)
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	Test Code	Qualifying Score
All Areas	Core Academic Skills for Educators: Reading	5712	156
	and
	Core Academic Skills for Educators: Writing	5722	162
	and
	Core Academic Skills for Educators: Mathematics (On-screen four-function calculator provided.)	5732	150

Principles of Learning and Teaching

To Be Certified in	You Need to Take	Test Code	Qualifying Score
Professional Education	Principles of Learning and Teaching: Grades K–6	5622	160
	or
	Principles of Learning and Teaching: Grades 5–9	5623	160
	or
	Principles of Learning and Teaching: Grades 7–12	5624	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	Test Code	Qualifying Score
Early Childhood Education (K–4)	Early Childhood Education	5024	160
	and
	Teaching Reading: Elementary Education	5203	162
Early Education (PreK–K)	Pre-Kindergarten Education	5531	155
Preschool Education (Birth–PreK)	No Praxis II® test required.

Elementary Education

To Be Certified in	You Need to Take	Test Code	Qualifying Score
Elementary Education (K–6)	Elementary Education: Multiple Subjects (Calculator allowed.)	5031	*
	Mathematics Subtest (Calculator allowed.)	5033	164
	Reading Language Arts Subtest	5032	165
	Science Subtest (Calculator allowed.)	5035	159
	Social Studies Subtest	5034	155
	* To pass the Elementary Education: Multiple Subjects test you must receive a passing score on each subtest. Beginning in September, you are no longer required to take the full test on your first attempt. If you wish to take all four subtests (5032, 5033, 5034, 5035) at the same time, select Elementary Education: Multiple Subjects (5031) when registering. If you wish to take or retake an individual subtest, you may register to take just that subtest.
	and
	Teaching Reading: Elementary Education	5203	162

Middle School Education

To Be Certified in	You Need to Take	Test Code	Qualifying Score
English (5–9)	Middle School English Language Arts	5047	164
General Math through Algebra 1 (5–9)	Middle School Mathematics (On-screen calculator provided.)	5169	165
General Science (5–9)	Middle School Science	5440	150
Mathematics (5–9)	Middle School Mathematics (On-screen calculator provided.)	5169	165
Social Studies (5–9)	Middle School Social Studies	5089	151

Secondary Education/Content Endorsements

To Be Certified in	You Need to Take	Test Code	Qualifying Score
Agriculture	Agriculture	5701	147
American Sign Language	No Praxis II test required.
Art	Art: Content Knowledge	5134	158
Biology	Biology: Content Knowledge	5235	152
Business Education	Business Education: Content Knowledge(Calculator allowed.)	5101	157
Business Education/Marketing	Business Education: Content Knowledge(Calculator allowed.)	5101	157
	and
	Marketing Education	5561	153
Chemistry	Chemistry: Content Knowledge	5245	157
Chemistry and Physics	Chemistry: Content Knowledge	5245	157
	and
	Physics: Content Knowledge	5265	126
Computer Science Education	No Praxis II test required.
Dance	No Praxis II test required.
Driver Education	No Praxis II test required.
English (5–Adult)	English Language Arts: Content Knowledge	5038	167
English as a Second Language (PreK–Adult)	No Praxis II test required.
Family and Consumer Science	Family and Consumer Sciences	5121	146
French (5–Adult)	French: World Language	5174	160
General Science (5–Adult)	General Science: Content Knowledge	5435	153
German (5–Adult)	German: World Language	5183	160
Health	Health Education	5551	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	5601	131
Marketing	Marketing Education	5561	153
Mathematics (5–Adult)	Mathematics: Content Knowledge(On-screen graphing calculator provided.)	5161	160
Music	Music: Content Knowledge	5113	155
Oral Communication (5–Adult)	Speech Communication: Content Knowledge	5221	150
Physical Education	Physical Education: Content Knowledge	5091	150
Physics	Physics: Content Knowledge	5265	126
Reading Education	No Praxis II test required.
Reading Specialist	Reading Specialist	5301	164
Russian	No Praxis II test required.
School Library/Media	Library Media Specialist	5311	138
Social Studies (5–Adult)	Social Studies: Content Knowledge	5081	148
Spanish (5–Adult)	Spanish: World Language	5195	163
Technology Education	Technology Education	5051	159
Theatre	No Praxis II test required.
Wellness (PreK–12)	Health Education	5551	156
	and
	Physical Education: Content Knowledge	5091	150

Administrator/School Leader

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

Special Education

To Be Certified in	You Need to Take	Test Code	Qualifying Score
Autism	Special Education: Core Knowledge and Applications	5354	151
Behavioral Disorders (excluding Autism)	Special Education: Teaching Students With Behavioral Disorders/Emotional Disturbances	5372	154
	and
	Special Education: Core Knowledge and Applications	5354	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	151
Multi-Categorical Special Education (BD excluding Autism, MI, SLD)	Special Education: Core Knowledge and Mild to Moderate Applications	5543	153
Preschool Special Needs (PreK–K)	Special Education: Preschool/Early Childhood	5691	159
Severe Disabilities	Special Education: Core Knowledge and Severe to Profound Applications	5545	158
Specific Learning Disabilities	Special Education: Core Knowledge and Applications	5354	151
	and
	Special Education: Teaching Students with Learning Disabilities	5383	151
Visually Impaired	Special Education: Teaching Students with Visual Impairments	5282	163

Student Support Personnel

To Be Certified in	You Need to Take	Test Code	Qualifying Score
Athletic Trainer	No Praxis II test required.
School Counselor	Professional School Counselor	5421	156
School Nurse	No Praxis II test required.
School Psychologist	School Psychologist	5402	147
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	5331	162
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.

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