Praxis Testing Information
Why do I have to take the Praxis II content test?
Effective July 1, 2005, the Utah State Office of Education (USOE) now requires all graduates of teacher education programs to submit test score documentation of a USOE approved content-area exam in order to satisfy USOE Level I educator licensure requirements. The USOE has established this testing requirement to meet the Federal No Child Left Behind “highly qualified status” requirement. This content test requirement also helps meet other national standards (e.g., Federal Title II legislation - Higher Education Act) to demonstrate teacher competence. The USOE has contracted with Educational Testing Services (ETS) to administer their Praxis II : Subject Assessments to fulfill this testing requirement. All teaching majors/minors now have an approved ETS Praxis II content tests; however, some tests have not completed the complete standard setting process so a Utah “pass rate” has not yet been established. Please check the current Utah State University listing of USOE approved Praxis II content tests that is provided below to determine which Praxis II content test you should take.
Utah State University’s Council on Teacher Education (composed of members from several academic departments representing Elementary, Secondary, Special Education, etc.) as well as representatives from ASUSU, Utah superintendents, Utah Education Association, and the Utah State Office of Education met on March 19, 2007 and issued the following updated policy for Praxis II testing at Utah State University.
Effective July 1, 2007, all Utah State University teacher education candidates will be required to take and pass the Praxis II content exam approved by the Utah State Office of Education (USOE) in their major content(s) area prior to student teaching. In addition, USU teacher education candidates will be required to take the USOE approved Praxis II content exam in their minor/ endorsement content(s) area(s) prior to student teaching if their minor/endorsement content area has been identified as a NCLB core content area (English, Reading or Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, Foreign Languages, Civics and Government, Economics, Arts, History, or Geography). A passing score will not be required in the minor/endorsement area(s) prior to student teaching but will be required prior to USU recommendation for educator licensure. Teacher candidates will not be allowed to begin their student teaching until verification of their major content test score has been received. Students must provide documentation of their Praxis II content test scores as soon as it is available to their departmental Student Teaching Office who will then forward this testing documentation to USU’s Office of Teacher Education, Graduation, and Educator Licensing. Student test scores will be added to USU’s Teacher Education database.
What Praxis II content tests are currently approved by the Utah State Office of Education?
The following listing of tests identifies the specific Educational Testing Service (ETS) Praxis II Content Tests that have been approved by the Utah State Office of Education for specific majors/minors/endorsements. Please carefully review this matrix so that you take the correct content test which has been approved for your major/minor/endorsement area(s). This matrix also provides information about the specific testing schedule, test fee, test length, and Utah cutoff score, if one has been established. If no Utah cutoff score exists, approval for student teaching and Utah licensure will still be processed. If students take the Praxis exam and a Utah cutoff score has not been established, they will receive a “Pending” for their NCLB “highly qualified status” until the Utah cutoff score has been established.. Please feel free to call our office at 435-797-1443 or email me at francine.johnson@usu.edu if you have any questions or concerns.
Click here to see the Praxis II Tests - Utah State University Matrix
How do I register for a Praxis II content test?
There are two ways you can register for the Praxis II content exams.
1. You can register for the Praxis II content tests online at www.ets.org/praxis using a credit card.
2. If you must pay by check or money order, complete the paper-based registration form in the center of the Praxis Information and Registration Bulletin. You can obtain this registration bulletin by downloading a copy from the Praxis Web Site at www.ets.org/praxis or going to USU’s Testing Service located in the basement of the University Inn Room 115.
Please note that the registration deadline for each testing date is approximately one month and one day prior to the testing date. If you are registering by mail, your registration must be processed by ETS on that deadline not just received!
When can I take the Praxis II content exam?
ETS has seven national testing dates. They are always on a Saturday. The following table summarizes the testing dates and registration deadlines for the current academic year.
Click here to view Current ETS Testing Schedule
How much does it cost to take the Praxis II content exams?
There is a $50 registration fee that is required at the time you register with ETS. This registration fee is in addition to the cost of the test. The registration fee is for per academic year (September through July). Individual test fees are currently ranging from $65-$95.
Does ETS provide any financial aid for their testing costs?
ETS does have fee waivers available for these exams which you can apply for. We have learned that if students are receiving financial aid, they will most likely qualify for the fee waiver. If approved for a fee waiver, the $50 registration fee and the test fee may be waived. For more information on fee waivers, please refer to page 8 in the ETS Praxis Series Information and Registration Bulletin.
Where can I take the Praxis II content exams?
You can take the Praxis II content exams at any of the following Utah institutions of higher education.
Utah State University (Logan, UT) - test center code #04606
Southern Utah University (Cedar City, UT) - test center code #04613
Weber State University (Ogden, UT) - test center code #04607
Brigham Young University (Orem, UT) - test center code #04611
University of Utah (Salt Lake City, UT) - test center code #04604
Utah Valley State College (Orem, UT) - test center code #08862
Dixie College (St. George, UT) - test center code #04615
For a comprehensive listing of all ETS national testing sites go www.ets.org/praxis and click on “Registration Code Lists”
Other USU codes that you may need as you are registering are the attending institution code (where you are receiving your training) and recipient institution code (where you want your test results sent). USU’s codes are as follows: USU’s attending institution code is #A4857; USU’s recipient institution code is #R4857
How will I receive the results of my test scores? How long will it take before I receive my test scores?
ETS score reports are mailed approximately one month after the testing date. Once you receive your test scores, please make a copy of your composite or overall scores AND your subscores. Please submit these scores to your teaching major’s Office of Student Teaching – Elementary Education, Secondary Education, or Special Education. Remember, you must take and pass you major content test prior to student teaching.
One important point – at the present time, ETS will only keep your complete score report – composite and subscores for only four months. If you need to request an additional copy of your original score report, please do so within four months of your testing date. If you request an additional score sheet beyond a four-month period, ETS will only have your composite scores available.
Are there any study guides or test preparation materials available for the Praxis II content exams?
The ETS Praxis website (http://www.ets.org/praxis) provides Test Preparation materials. There are currently three options: Tests at a Glance, Study Guides, and Diagnostic Preparation Program. Tests at a Glance provides a brief description of the test, key topics covered on the test, and sample questions with answers. Study Guides (available for purchase) provide a combination of test preparation and practice. The Diagnostic Preparation Program provides customized feedback for those who are retaking a Praxis test.
What Praxis II Contest Tests do I take if I have a dual teaching major?
Utah educator licensure requires the taking and passing of at least one Utah State Board of Education approved assessment, which usually is a Praxis content test. In addition, No Child Left Behind (NCLB) requires Praxis content tests in each of its core content areas which are English, Reading or Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, Foreign Languages, Civics and Government, Economics, Arts, History, or Geography.
Thus if a student completes a dual major in two NCLB core content areas, e.g., English and History, he/she must take and pass the Praxis content test in both English and History. If a student’s dual major includes only one NCLB core content areas, e.g., Spanish and sociology, he/she would be required to take and pass the Praxis content test in the NCLB core content area which is Spanish. However, if a student’s dual major involves two non-NCLB core content areas, e.g., Physical Education and Health, he/she must take and pass one Praxis content test, but he/she may choose which Praxis test he/she would like to take.
What is the Praxis II Principles of Learning and Teaching (PLT) Test and am I required to take it?
The Principles of Learning and Teaching Tests (PLT) are not content tests but rather focus on teaching pedagogy – e.g., philosophies of teaching, classroom management, lesson planning, assessment of student learning, communication techniques, students as learners, etc.
The PLT test must be taken and passed to receive your Utah Level 2 teaching license. Graduates who have received their Level 1 teaching license will have 3 years (Entry Year Experience) to fulfill the requirements to receive their Level 2 teaching licensing. The requirements to receive your Level 2 teaching license are:
1) Mentoring (experienced educator provides support
2) Passing the appropriate Praxis Principles of Learning and Teaching Test; 160 has been identified as a qualifying score
3) Teaching Assessment/Evaluation (3 years of successful teaching experience)
4) Teaching Porfolio demonstrating competence in INTASC standards
There are four PLTs – you only need to take and pass one of them.
* 30521 - PLT : Early Childhood - $90 - Cut-off Score 160
* 30522 - PLT: Grades K-6 - $90 - Cut-off Score 160
* 30523 - PLT: Grades 5-9 - $90 - Cut-off Score 160
* 30524 - PLT: Grades 7-12 - $90 - Cut-off Score 160
USU teacher education students are NOT required to take the PLT prior to graduation; but we STRONGLY RECOMMEND students take this exam during their student teaching experience.
There are two reasons why USU is encouraging students to take this exam prior to graduation.
1) The USU’s Departments of Elementary Education, Secondary Education, and Special Education have reviewed the content of these exams and have found that all the material has been covered in their levels that students take prior to student teaching. Thus, if students take this exam during their student teaching, this content will be more recent than waiting to take this exam during your first three years of teaching.
2) Students who take and pass this exam will greatly enhance their marketability in obtaining a teaching position. Districts will be more inclined to employ a teacher who has met all their testing requirements – content testing (highly qualified) and PLT (Level 2 licensure)