Teacher Testing
Entrance to Major Testing
The Pennsylvania Department of Education requires that Undergraduate students in all Instructional I teacher certification programs must successfully complete a Basic Skills Assessment.
- Elementary and Early Childhood Education
- Middle Level Education
- Secondary Education
- Special Education
- World Language
- Agriculture
- Art Education
- Kinesiology
- Music
The Basic Skills Assessment requirement can be fulfilled by completing the Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators (CORE) exams.
The CORE series includes three modules: Reading, Writing, and Mathematics. You may take one or all three modules at one test appointment. The CORE may be passed by achieving a 156 in Reading, a 162 in Writing and a 142 in Mathematics, or by the Composite Score Option. Once on the PDE testing page, select option 2 under "Testing Requirements."
Students in Workforce Education must successfully complete the CORE tests. Please contact the Workforce Education program for passing score information.
- Vocational I must successfully complete the reading and writing exams
- Vocational II must successfully complete the reading, writing, and math exams
Certification Testing
Testing Requirements for Teacher Certification Programs (PDF)
Elementary & Early Childhood Education
- PK-4— PECT
- English 4-8— PRAXIS
- Social Studies 4-8— PRAXIS
Secondary Education
- Biology— PRAXIS Biology: Content Knowledge
- Chemistry— PRAXIS Chemistry: Content Knowledge
- Communication— PRAXIS: Speech Communication: Content Knowledge
- Earth/Space— PRAXIS Earth Science: Content Knowledge
- English— PRAXIS English Language Arts: Content Knowledge
- Environmental— PRAXIS: Environmental Education (PA)
- General Science— PRAXIS General Science: Content Knowledge
- Mathematics— PRAXIS Mathematics: Content Knowledge
- Physics— PRAXIS Physics: Content Knowledge
- Social Studies— PRAXIS Social Studies: Content Knowledge
Special Education
- Special Education PK-8 and Special Education 7-12— ESP Special Education PreK – 8, Modules 1 & 2 and/or PECT Special Education 7 – 12, Modules 1 & 2
SPLED students must receive certification in another area in addition to Special Education.
World Language
- French— ACTFL French OPI & WPT and PRAXIS Fundamental Subjects: Content Knowledge
- German— ACTFL German OPI & WPT and PRAXIS Fundamental Subjects: Content Knowledge
- Latin— PRAXIS Latin and PRAXIS Fundamental Subjects: Content Knowledge
- Russian— ACTFL Russian OPI & WPT and PRAXIS Fundamental Subjects: Content Knowledge
- Spanish— ACTFL Spanish OPI & WPT and PRAXIS Fundamental Subjects: Content Knowledge
Workforce Education
WF ED students must pass their Occupational Competency Assessment before obtaining their certification.
Teacher Certification in Majors in Other Colleges
Agriculture — PRAXIS Agriculture, Fundamental Subjects: Content Knowledge
Art Education — PRAXIS Art: Content Knowledge, Fundamental Subjects: Content Knowledge
Kinesiology — PRAXIS Health & Physical Education: Content Knowledge, Fundamental Subjects: Content Knowledge
Music — PRAXIS Music: Content Knowledge, Fundamental Subjects: Content Knowledge
For information regarding testing and registration:
PRAXIS -- CORE ALTERNATE SCORING METHOD
PRAXIS -- Alternate Scoring Method with a Sliding GPA for all Speciality Tests - Please contact your academic advisor for clarification of this process.
Title II Report (Higher Education Act--1998)
Penn State's Institutional Report to the Pennsylvania Department of Education: In compliance with Title II, Section 207 of the Higher Education Act of 1998 and General Standard for the Institutional Preparation of Professional Educators -- Chapter 354.