A Praxis test is one of a series of American teacher certification exams written and administered by the Educational Testing Service . Various Praxis tests are usually required before, during, and after teacher training courses in the U.S.
7-537: To be a teacher in about half of the states in the US, the Praxis test is required. It usually consists of two separate tests, Praxis 1 and 2. In some states, alternative teacher certification programs allow prospective educators to obtain licensure without taking Praxis tests. The Praxis I, or Pre-Professional Skills Test ( PPST ), consisted of three exams: reading, writing, and mathematics. On September 1, 2014, ETS transitioned to
14-543: A different combination of Praxis II exams for certification. In many states, these include a content knowledge and a pedagogy exam. In some states, students must pass these exams before being accepted into the student teaching component of the program. Many states use the Praxis II tests to determine highly qualified teachers status under the No Child Left Behind Act . The Praxis II School Counseling specialty exam
21-609: Is awarded a teaching license even though that person has not completed a traditional teacher certification program. In the US, traditional teacher certification is earned through completing a bachelor's or master's degree in education , taking standardized tests (usually a Praxis test ), and fulfilling additional state requirements. Alternatively certified teachers typically possess a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university and are completing (or have completed) an alternative certification program while teaching full-time. Other state certification requirements, such as
28-532: Is used by some states as a licensure requirement to practice professional school counseling. It replaced the National Teacher Examination (NTE), also administered by ETS. Examples of states that require teaching candidates to pass their state-specific tests, in lieu of the Praxis: Alternative teacher certification Alternative teacher certification is a process by which a person
35-466: The 1980s. A decline in the number of students seeking a degree in education was creating a shortage of teachers in American elementary and high schools . States began to search for a way to recruit and train people who had already earned a four-year degree and wanted to become teachers. While the requirements for an alternative certification vary from state to state, there are certain commonalities found in
42-517: The Praxis "CASE" or "Core Academic Skills for Educators" which also consists of reading, writing, and mathematics exams. These sections can be taken as a combined test or separately. In most colleges and universities, a passing score must be earned for admission to teacher education. In most states, a passing score must be earned before the teacher education graduate can apply for his or her teaching license or certificate. The Praxis II assessments cover many different subject areas. Each state requires
49-533: The type of education coursework or the length of practice teaching, may be modified or waived. In the United States , alternative certification is offered in forty-eight states and the District of Columbia . Program prerequisites vary by state, but if you have a bachelor's degree and are legally eligible to work in the US, you'll likely meet the minimum requirements! Alternative certification programs first appeared in
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