What Are the Praxis Tests?
Administered by the Educational Testing Service (ETS), the Praxis exam is one of the key steps to becoming a licensed educator in more than 40 U.S. states and territories. The most common requirements is the Praxis Core Test (also called the Praxis I), the Praxis Subject Assessments (also called the Praxis II), and Praxis Content Knowledge for Teaching (CKT) tests. Each state or agency sets the testing requirements when becoming a licensed educator. Check with your local agency for requirements and test fees.
Praxis I: Core Tests
The Praxis I, more commonly referred to as the Praxis Core, is a test comprising three subject areas: reading, writing, and mathematics. This test is generally administered early in the college career and is designed to measure the skills and content knowledge of candidates entering teacher preparation programs. Some states may require the Praxis Core as part of the licensure process.
Praxis II: Subject Assessments and Principles of Learning and Teaching (PLT) Tests
The Praxis II Subject Assessments, or Praxis 2, consists of Subject Assessments and Principles of Learning and Teaching (PLT) tests. The Praxis 2 Subject Assessments include over 90 tests ranging from social studies to agriculture and special education. The Subject Assessments measure both general and subject-specific knowledge and teaching skills.
The PLT test measures general teaching knowledge at one of the four grade-level ranges:
- Early Childhood
- K-6
- 5-9
- 7-12
Praxis Content Knowledge for Teaching (CKT) Tests
The Praxis CKT assessments cover two areas: your understanding of the curriculum, and your ability to teach the student curriculum. The CKT tests are specifically designed for teachers specializing in elementary education. There are four subject areas:
- Reading
- Language Arts
- Science
- Social Studies
What Are the Requirements for Taking a Praxis Test?
If you are in the process of becoming an educator, find out which exams are required by your licensing state or agency. Once you have identified which exams are required, you can check out the registration details. The Praxis Tests Information Bulletin is a great place to start!
Praxis registration is simple and can be completed online, by mail, or by phone. Fees vary by state and test, but you can expect each test to cost anywhere from $50 to over $200.
How to Find a Praxis Test Date
The Praxis Test is administered year-round through an international network of test centers. This network includes the Praxis Prometric testing center and Strategic Testing Networks (STNs) located in colleges and universities. Many of the Praxis exams offer an in-home option, too. All tests are delivered by computer with the exception of Braille Proficiency (0633).
Choosing a Praxis Exam Date
Preparation time should be a key consideration when scheduling your testing appointment. Give yourself enough time to develop a strategy and study plan. You will also want to make sure that the test date aligns with any requirements for your licensing process if there are any. You can use the ETS's Praxis® Test and Praxis Score Report Dates page to see how your test date will affect the date on which you'll get your score.
Taking a Praxis Test at Home
Taking the Praxis in the comfort of your home environment is a popular option. At-home testing is proctored using ProctorU and therefore requires the appropriate technology. Make sure to have any equipment issues resolved prior to your appointment time. If you have any hesitancy about being able to maintain a quiet environment and/or consistent internet connection, you may want to consider taking the exam in one of the approved Praxis test locations.
Taking a Praxis Exam at a Test Center
If you have decided to take your Praxis Exam at a test center, you will need to make sure you have all of the required materials with you on test day. Arrive at least 30 minutes prior to your set appointment time to complete registration. Here's a quick look at the items you need to bring with you:
- Admission ticket
- Valid photo ID
- A calculator, if allowed for your test
ETS provides several registration options for the Praxis, including online, mail, and phone options.
Note:If you're taking the American Sign Language (ASLPI) test you must register by mail.
Register Online
Praxis registration via online is the quickest, fee-free method to register for your exam. The biggest key here is to ensure your Praxis account information is correct, especially your email address. ETS will often communicate important information via email. Your admission ticket for test day will be found in your Praxis account and will need to be printed to take with you.
Register by Mail
To register by mail, a Test Authorization Voucher Form must be completed and mailed to ETS. A voucher number and registration instructions will be mailed in return once the request has been received and processed. This process generally takes approximately three weeks. Your admission ticket will not be mailed to you. You will need to print it from your Praxis account and bring it with you to the test center.
Register by Phone
Registration by phone if the following two conditions have been met:
- You have previously created a Praxis account online
- You are testing at a U.S. test center
There is a $35 surcharge to use this registration method.
Testing Accommodations
Test takers whose primary language is not English (PLNE) and test takers with disabilities or health-related needs may require some accommodations during their testing process.
PLNE accommodations include extended testing time. This service does not apply to language tests and changes cannot be made after registration.
Disability or health-related testing accommodations are available for test takers who meet the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act (ADAAA) disability requirements.
Receiving Praxis Exam Results
The timeline for receiving your Praxis exam results will vary by test. You can find out during the registration process what date the Praxis score report will be available, including at-home delivery dates.
Your official score report will be available via your Praxis account on the score release date. You will also receive an email when your score has been posted. Your score results will also be shared with whatever agencies or institutions you selected during the registration process (up to four can be selected). In some states, your results are automatically shared with the state's teacher credentialing agency.
Your scores are valid for 10 years. You can order additional score reports at any point during those 10 years for a fee of $50 per score recipient.
How to Prepare for Praxis I, II or CKT Exams
Robust preparation for the Praxis can lay the groundwork for a smooth, successful testing experience. Once you know which tests will be required for your licensing, you can develop your preparation strategy and study plans.
Strategies and Tips for Taking a Praxis Test
An effective strategy to prepare for taking a Praxis exam should include the following:
- Learn what is on the test and how it will be scored.
- Evaluate how well you know the content. Be honest with yourself in this step. Overestimating your knowledge can lead to inadequate preparation.
- Find your study materials.
- Perhaps the most important of the items: plan and organize your time.
- Develop your study plan.
- Practice explaining key concepts in your own words. It's helpful to explain these key concepts to a friend or family member that has minimal knowledge on the Praxis to assess your efficacy.
- Take an online Praxis practice test or two. Practice tests can help you see how well prepared you are for test day. These tests should cover the same concepts that are on the actual exam.
Expert Contributor
Jessica Spute-Pedersen
Jessica Spute-Pedersen, M.F.A. has over 13 years of experience teaching middle and high school English. She holds a current Virginia state license to teach English grades 6-12 and has passed multiple Praxis exams. Jessica completed an M.F.A. in Creative Writing at Southern New Hampshire University and a B.A. in English at Old Dominion University.
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Praxis tests are offered throughout the year. You can find available test dates easily, along with the score reporting date, on the ETS site here:https://www.ets.org/praxis/register/dates_locations/dates.
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Most Praxis tests are administered via computer either at a test center or at home. The at-home exams are proctored using a webcam proctor software, similar to the in-person proctor at the test centers.
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The cost of the Praxis exam will vary based on which test(s) are required for your license. The test fees, not including any registration or other fees, range from $50 to over $200.
