North Carolina Praxis Tests

Praxis Tests in North Carolina

North Carolina is one of many states that utilizes various Praxis exams as part of the teacher certification process. The exams are used to ensure the readiness of these prospective educators by testing their knowledge and skills in specific areas. There are two main types of Praxis exams used in NC. One Praxis exam in NC, the Praxis Core Academic Skills series, is used for admission into a teacher preparation program in the state. The other type of Praxis exam in NC, the Praxis Subject Assessments, is used to evaluate test takers' content-specific knowledge and skills for teacher certification. Which exam(s) is required will vary for candidates based on their desired content area and the grade level(s) they wish to teach.

North Carolina Praxis Requirements

The required Praxis exam for NC will vary based on the licensure area. There are 2 areas that all candidates must test for, admission to NC state-approved educator preparation programs and performance assessment. The other 8 licensure areas will vary based on candidates' personal certification goals. These areas are:

• Elementary Education
• Middle School Education
• Secondary Education
• All Grades
• World Languages
• Special Education
• Career and Technical Education
• Special Service Personnel

Candidates must know which Praxis exams are required, as well as the passing Praxis scores for NC. Below, we will discuss the required Praxis exams for each licensure area and the passing Praxis scores for NC.

Admission to NC State-Approved Educator Preparation Programs

One Praxis exam in NC that is required for all licensure areas (K through 12) is the Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators. This exam is used for admission to state-approved educator preparation programs and consists of 3 subtests. The Praxis Core passing score in NC is different for each subtest. However, candidates applying for initial teacher certification must earn a composite score of 468 on the 3 subtests. The table below lists each subtest of the Praxis Core and the single subtest passing Praxis Core scores in NC.

Performance Assessment

Another Praxis exam in NC that is required for all licensure areas is the Praxis Performance Assessment for Teachers (PPAT). In order to meet the performance assessment requirement for the state, all candidates must pass this test to obtain their teaching license or pass an alternative state-approved performance assessment. The PPAT is slightly different than other Praxis exams in that test takers must use the PPAT Assessment website to register for the test instead of the ETS Praxis website. The table below lists the passing Praxis scores for NC.

Elementary Education

Aspiring elementary education teachers for grades K through 6 are only required to take one Praxis exam in NC to obtain licensure. These educators must pass the Praxis Elementary Education: Content Knowledge for Teaching Mathematics CKT Subtest. This exam helps ensure that new elementary school teachers are prepared to teach math to students. It was designated as an option for meeting the state's math requirement in 2019. The table here lists the passing Praxis scores for NC.

Middle School Education

There are several Praxis exams in NC required for aspiring middle school teachers. These exams are based on the test taker's desired content area. For example, aspiring middle school math teachers must take a math-related Praxis exam designed for middle grades. The table below lists the required Praxis exam for each licensure area and the passing Praxis scores for NC.

Secondary Education

Required Praxis exams in NC for aspiring high school teachers are more specific to their desired content area. All high school teachers (except for those teaching physics and Earth science) must pass a content-specific exam and a Principles of Learning and Teaching: Grades 7-12 exam. The passing score for the Principles of Learning and Teaching: Grades 7-12 exam is 157. The table below lists each licensure area, the required Praxis exam(s), and the passing Praxis scores for NC.

All Grade Levels

The All Grade Levels licensure area includes the different subject areas that can be taught to K through 12th-grade students. There are several different required Praxis exams for these different certifications. The table below lists each certification area, required exam, and the passing Praxis scores for NC.

World Languages

Aspiring language-related teachers in NC will need to take the Praxis exam that corresponds with their specific language. This includes educators who wish to work with students whose first language is something other than English. Most of these exams are designated for teachers wishing to teach anywhere from grades K through 12. The table below lists each licensure area, the corresponding exam, and the passing Praxis scores for NC.

Special Education

There is a wide range of required Praxis exams in NC for the field of special education. Each exam corresponds to a specific position or type of disability. Many licensure areas require multiple Praxis exams. All educators seeking licensure must take the Fundamental Subjects: Content Knowledge exam (except for those seeking licensure as an exceptional children program administrator, general curriculum teacher, or visually impaired teacher). The passing score for this exam is 148. The table below lists each area, required exam(s), and passing scores for NC.

Career and Technical Education

There are a few different Praxis exams in NC required for those wishing to teach in career and technical education. Each of these required Praxis exams is specific to the desired content area. The table below explains the required exam for each certification area, as well as the passing Praxis scores in NC.

Special Service Personnel

The Special Service Personnel licensure area includes several different specialized positions found in schools, such as counselors, media coordinators, and speech-language pathologists. After 2011, those wishing to become audiologists or speech-language pathologists in NC are required to meet the testing requirements set by the NCBOESLPA. All other special service personnel certification areas are listed in the table below with their required Praxis exam and passing score.

Praxis NC Registration

Test takers must register for their required Praxis exam in NC. This can be done through the mail, via phone, or online. Registration through the mail takes a long time (up to 3 weeks), and registration by phone comes with an additional fee ($35). Online registration is quick and fast. Candidates can use their online account to select their exam, schedule their test day, pay the necessary fee, and print their admission ticket.

Praxis test dates in NC may vary by exam. For instance, Praxis 1 test dates in NC (Praxis Core dates) will likely vary from Praxis 2 test dates in NC (Praxis Subject Assessments). Some tests are offered more often than others. For example, some exams are offered continuously, and others are offered in testing windows each month. Test takers will need to choose from available Praxis NC test dates and times. These test dates and times may also vary based on the test taker's chosen test location. While all Praxis exams are offered in-person at test centers around NC and the country, many Praxis exams are also available for at-home testing through online proctoring. Once candidates register for the exam, they can reschedule their exam if needed for a fee ($40).

Test takers with disabilities or other health-related needs can apply for alternative testing accommodations. They will need to submit their request form with any required documentation and wait up to 6 weeks for their request to be processed. If approved, test takers will receive an email with instructions about how to complete registration.

Candidates who do not pass their Praxis exam the first time can take as many retakes as necessary. However, they must wait at least 28 days between test dates. Each time candidates take a Praxis exam, they must pay the associated test fee. Praxis exam fees range from $78 to $170. Any additional Praxis score reports will also cost test takers an additional $50 per report.

Preparing for the Praxis Tests in NC

Candidates should begin preparing for their required Praxis exam in NC as soon as possible. Test takers may want to start by using an NC Praxis study guide for their specific exam. These guides provide information about the format and content of the exam. Test takers can use this information to get familiar with the material they need to study and create an individualized study plan to designate an appropriate amount of time for each topic. Test takers can find or create flashcards to practice key concepts and review material. They may also use practice tests to evaluate their progress in learning the exam material. Practice tests help test takers get familiar with the types of questions they will see on the exam, as well as practice answering questions under a time constraint. Many of these study resources are available online.