Praxis Core Exams
On July 1, 2020, Iowa Legislation signed a new law removing the requirement of a developed pre-professional skills test for program admission. For those looking for the Praxis Core requirements prior to the new legislation signed into law on July 1, 2020, those can be accessed through this PDF document.
Praxis Subject Assessments
Iowa Administrative Code requires candidates to pass an approved content and pedagogy assessments in order to be considered program completers and be recommended for licensure.
- A pedagogy test that is relevant to the grade level that you are going to teach.
- A content test that is relevant to the subject that you are going to instruct.
To find out more information about these tests, please review the information provided by ETS
Endorsements: Please take the exam that aligns with your initial endorsement.
- For elementary education majors, this is: “Elementary education: Content knowledge exam.” You do not have to take an exam for additional endorsements.
Student pursuing an initial endorsement in grades 5-12, K-12 music, or K-12 PE: You can choose the pedagogy test for the grade level you are most confident in.
Register: Students have to register for the exams using the information from ETS
Review: Students can prepare for the tests by reviewing tests at a glance.
Cost: Varies. Review the ETS fees information
Subject Assessment Exams
| Iowa endorsement numbers and area for ECE & elementary teachers | Praxis Content Knowledge exams | Test code | Passing score (before Oct. 1, 2019) | Passing score (after Oct. 1, 2019) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 100 – Teacher – Birth-grade 3, inclusive settings | Interdisciplinary early childhood education | 5023 | 172 | 172 |
| 102 – Teacher elem classroom K-6 | Elementary education: Content knowledge | 5018 | 151 | 151 |
| Iowa endorsement numbers for areas and for secondary teachers | Praxis Content Knowledge exams | Test code | Passing score (before Oct. 1, 2019) | Passing score (after Oct. 1, 2019) |
| 112 – Agriculture-5-12 | Agriculture | 5701 | 158 | 147 |
| 120 – English Language Arts | English Language Arts: Content and Analysis | 5039 | 164 | 164 |
| 122 – Chinese-5-12 | Chinese (Mandarin): World Language | 5665 | 183 | 164 |
| 124 – French-5-12 | French: World Language | 5174 | 154 | 152 |
| 126 – German-5-12 | German: World Language | 5183 | 150 | 151 |
| 134 – Spanish-5-12 | Spanish: World Language | 5195 | 151 | 151 |
| 138 – Health Education | Health Education | 5551 | 153 | 145 |
| 139 – Family and Consumer Science – General-5-12 | Family and Consumer Sciences | 5122 | 151 | 152 |
| 143 – Mathematics | Mathematics: Content Knowledge | 5161 | 135 | 135 |
| 144/145 – Music | Music: Content Knowledge | 5113 | 155 | 154 |
| 146/147 – Physical Education-K-8 and 5-12 | Physical Education: Content and Design | 5091 | 140 | 140 |
| 151 – Biology-5-12 | Biology: Content Knowledge | 5235 | 149 | 147 |
| 152 – Chemistry-5-12 | Chemistry: Content Knowledge | 5245 | 141 | 135 |
| 153 – Earth Science-5-12 | Earth and Space Science: Content Knowledge | 5571 | 148 | 147 |
| 156 – Physics-5-12 | Physics: Content Knowledge | 5265 | 130 | 130 |
| 157 – American Government-5-12 *Political science education students should take this exam | Government/Political Science | 5931 | 150 | 149 |
| 158 – American History-5-12 *History education students should take this exam | World and U.S. History: Content Knowledge | 5941 | 145 | 145 |
| 166 – World History-5-12 | World and U.S. History: Content Knowledge | 5941 | 145 | 145 |
| 186 – All Social Studies-5-12 | Social Studies: Content Knowledge | 5081 | 150 | 150 |
PPAT
The PPAT assessment evaluates test takers on their abilities to impact student learning as it relates to the InTASC Model Core Teaching Standards, demonstrating that they have the basic pedagogical content knowledge and application for the classroom to begin teaching as an entry-level teacher. It is designed to:
- Develop more effective teachers in the classroom
- Identify strengths and areas for improvement of practice
- Allow student teachers to continually refine their teaching practices
- Contribute to a development plan for professional growth
The PPAT assessment must be completed and passed by a teacher candidate during their student teaching semester.
As of August 2018, the minimum score needed to pass the PPAT at Iowa State is 32 out of a possible 60 points. The state of Iowa reviews and updates the minimum passing score required each year and a new score for each academic year is set in July.
Cost: ETS reviews pricing each year and may publish a new fee by August 1 of each year. Below is a complete fee schedule for the PPAT, including late fee payment charges:
Fees and payments for the PPAT assessment
| Description | Fee |
|---|---|
| Registration fee | $300 |
| Reschedule fee | $30 |
| Re-submission fee (price per task) | $75 |
| Additional fees | |
| Late registration fees | $40 |
| Late submission service fee (price per task) | $50 |
The assessment contains four tasks requiring written commentary and submission of artifacts. A video submission also is required for one of the tasks. The task requirements are found on the pages of this website. You will complete tasks by entering a written response for each textbox, uploading artifacts and linking those artifacts to your written response, uploading a video and uploading permission forms via an online submission system on or before the submission deadline. Tasks include:
- Task 1: Knowledge of students and the learning environment
- Task 2: Assessment and data collection to measure and inform student learning
- Task 3: Designing instruction for student learning
- Task 4: Implementing and analyzing instruction to promote student learning
To register or to get the most up-to-date information visit the PPAT website by ETS.
Fall 2020 Student Teachers – Praxis PLT
Fall 2020 student teachers will be required to take the Praxis Principles of Learning and Teaching (Praxis PLT) in place of the PPAT to fulfill the Program Completion Pedagogy Assessment requirement.
Endorsements: Please take the exam that aligns with your initial endorsement using the table below:
ETS Praxis PEDAGOGY General Education
| Endorsement Grade Levels | Praxis Pedagogy Test (PLT) | Required Score |
|---|---|---|
| PK-K or PK-3 only (with no other grade level endorsement) | Principles of Learning and Teaching (PLT): Early Childhood #5621 | 157 |
| K-6 or K-8 general education | Principles of Learning and Teaching (PLT): K- 6 #5622 | 160 |
| 5-12 general education | Principles of Learning and Teaching (PLT): 5-9 #5623 OR | 160 |
| Principles of Learning and Teaching (PLT): 7-12 #5624 | 157 | |
| 9-12 general education | Principles of Learning and Teaching (PLT): 7-12 #5624 | 157 |
| K-12 general education | Principles of Learning and Teaching (PLT): K- 6 #5622 OR | 160 |
| Principles of Learning and Teaching (PLT): 5-9 #5623 OR | 160 | |
| Principles of Learning and Teaching (PLT): 7-12 #5624 | 157 |
Student pursuing an initial endorsement in grades 5-12, K-12 music, or K-12 PE: You may choose the pedagogy test for the grade level in which you are most confident.
Register: Students have to register for the exams using the information from ETS
Review: Students can prepare for the tests by reviewing tests at a glance.
Cost: Varies. Review the ETS fees information
Teresa Kahler, Praxis
Coordinator of Licensure
133A MacKay Hall
515-294-7004
takahler@iastate.edu
Lisa Woolery, PPAT
Coordinator of Evaluation and Assessment
2662 Lagomarcino
515-294-7886
lwoolery@iastate.edu
Heidi Doellinger, PPAT
Director of Educator Preparation
1620D Lagomarcino
515-294-6368
hldoell@iastate.edu