Praxis Subject Assessments

You may send test scores to MSDE in one of the following ways: notation on a college transcript, photocopy of the original score report, or official verification from a state department of education.

Important Information Regarding New Testing Requirements

Reading Assessment:

Beginning September 1, 2019, candidates applying for initial certification in the areas of early childhood, elementary, special education (all grade bands), and ESOL will be required to present the Praxis Teaching Reading: Elementary Education assessment.  Applicants may submit the Praxis 5203, if taken prior to September 1, 2019, but must submit the Praxis 5205 if taken after September 1, 2019.  After September 1, 2020, all candidates must submit the Praxis 5205.

If you are enrolled in a Maryland approved educator preparation program, you should work directly with your program to assure you understand your testing requirements.

Pedagogy Assessment:

Beginning on July 1, 2019, the edTPA and PPAT will be accepted in lieu of the Principles of Learning and Teaching assessment.  Currently, there is no specific score required for either the edTPA or PPAT; however, if an applicant submits the Principles of Learning and Teaching, the score indicated below is required.  After June 30, 2022, all teacher candidates must take either the edTPA or PPAT to fulfill the pedagogy assessment requirement.

Praxis Subject Area Assessments

**Professional certificate holders with certification in early childhood, elementary, or special education at the early childhood and elementary levels may test out of the reading requirement (12 semester hours) by meeting the qualifying score on the above Praxis subject assessment.

Middle School

(Two content assessments required if graduating from an approved dual program)

*** This pedagogy test is not required for graduates of approved teacher preparation programs in world languages or middle school. It is a requirement only for candidates completing certification through transcript analysis (world languages only- transcript analysis is not available for middle school certification) or alternative preparation programs.

World Languages

Please note that applicants seeking certification in a world language may meet the testing requirement by presenting qualifying scores on the Praxis content assessment in the specific language or presenting qualifying scores on both the ACTFL OPI and WPT for that language. The pedagogy test (5841) is not required for graduates of approved teacher preparation programs in world languages. It is a requirement only for candidates completing certification through transcript analysis or through alternative preparation programs.