COST Praxis & State-Specific Testing 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: New York State requires candidates for initial teacher certification to pass the:
- Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators
- New York State Teacher Certification Examinations (NYSTCE) (Correct answer)
- Illinois Licensure Testing System (ILTS)
- Colorado Educator Licensing Assessments (CELA)
Correct answer: New York State Teacher Certification Examinations (NYSTCE)
New York uses its own NYSTCE exam series, which includes content specialty tests and the edTPA, rather than Praxis.
Question 2: The Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators exam covers which three areas?
- Science, Social Studies, and Health
- Reading, Writing, and Mathematics (Correct answer)
- Pedagogy, Curriculum Design, and Assessment
- Child Development, Psychology, and Ethics
Correct answer: Reading, Writing, and Mathematics
The Praxis Core tests foundational academic skills in reading, writing, and mathematics as a prerequisite for teacher preparation programs.
Question 3: Illinois requires out-of-state teachers to pass the Illinois Licensure Testing System (ILTS). Which of the following is TRUE about the ILTS?
- It replaces the need for any Praxis scores in Illinois (Correct answer)
- It is developed and administered by ETS
- Illinois automatically waives ILTS for NBCT-certified teachers
- ILTS scores are accepted by all neighboring states
Correct answer: It replaces the need for any Praxis scores in Illinois
Illinois uses the ILTS, which is its own state-specific exam system, and passing it satisfies Illinois content knowledge requirements instead of Praxis.
Question 4: When a teacher applies for out-of-state licensure, the new state's department of education typically evaluates which Praxis component first to determine basic academic qualification?
- Praxis Subject Assessment scores
- Praxis Core Academic Skills scores (Correct answer)
- Praxis Performance Assessment (Praxis PA) scores
- PLT (Principles of Learning and Teaching) scores
Correct answer: Praxis Core Academic Skills scores
Praxis Core scores demonstrate that a candidate has met foundational academic skills standards, which many states check before reviewing subject-area competency.
Question 5: The Principles of Learning and Teaching (PLT) Praxis exam is categorized by which variable?
- Subject matter specialty
- Grade-level band (K-6, 5-9, 7-12) (Correct answer)
- State of initial licensure
- Teaching methodology specialization
Correct answer: Grade-level band (K-6, 5-9, 7-12)
The PLT exam comes in three grade-level versions (K-6, 5-9, and 7-12) to reflect pedagogical knowledge appropriate to different developmental stages.
Question 6: A teacher certified in Georgia (which uses Praxis) relocates to Massachusetts (which uses MTEL). What will she most likely need to do?
- Transfer her Georgia certificate directly with no additional testing
- Pass the required MTEL exams for her subject and grade level (Correct answer)
- Submit her Praxis scores and request a waiver from MTEL testing
- Take only the Praxis PLT since MTEL waives content testing for experienced teachers
Correct answer: Pass the required MTEL exams for her subject and grade level
Massachusetts uses the MTEL (Massachusetts Tests for Educator Licensure), which is a different exam system than Praxis, so she will need to pass the applicable MTEL tests.
Question 7: How long are Praxis exam scores typically valid for licensure purposes?
- 1 year from the test date
- Scores never expire once earned
- Score validity varies by state, commonly 5-10 years (Correct answer)
- Exactly 3 years nationwide
Correct answer: Score validity varies by state, commonly 5-10 years
There is no universal Praxis score expiration; individual states set their own policies, which often range from 5 to 10 years or indefinitely.
COST Praxis & State-Specific Testing 3
New York State requires candidates for initial teacher certification to pass the: