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About
The exams listed below meet the basic competency exam requirement for teacher certification in Alaska. You must have a passing score for reading, writing and mathematics. Scores from exams with a reading, a writing, and a math section that have distinct qualifying scores may be combined to form a set of passing scores.
A score report for a basic competency exam must be submitted with your application or be on file with the Teacher Certification Office. If a score report is not available from the testing organization, a letter from a college, university or state agency that has previously received the score report may be substituted. The letter must be written on letterhead and list the sub scores of the reading, writing and math portions of the exam.
If you do not have passing scores on one of the exams below, but you have a current and valid teaching certificate issued by another state (United States only), you may qualify for an Out-of-State Initial teaching certificate that can be valid for up to three years. The application for an Out-of-State Initial teaching certificate is be located at Applications for Teaching Certificates.
Please note that there will be more changes posted to this website coming soon—by early July 2023.
Praxis
Subject | Core |
Reading (5712) | 156 |
Writing (5722) | 162 |
Math (5732) | 150 |
Subject | PPST | CBT | CBT |
|---|---|---|---|
Reading | 175 | 322 | 322 |
Writing | 174 | 321 | 321 |
Math | 173 | 318 | 318 |
| PPST = PreProfessional Skills Test | |||
| CBT = Computer-Based Test | |||
An average score of 174 with no score less than 172 on each of the reading, writing and math sections of Praxis-I. PPST is also considered a passing score on a basic competency exam.
Applicants who have passed the Praxis I or the Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators exams in reading, writing and mathematics may have official scores sent to the Teacher Certification Office directly from Education Testing Services (ETS) using code 7027, or may submit a copy of an examinee score report Score Report.
For further information regarding the Praxis CASE, please contact Education Testing Services (ETS) or (609) 771-7395.
CBEST
Total Score: 123 or higher (no individual score less than 37) |
Individual tests: 41 or higher (reading / writing / math) |
Passing scores for the CBEST exam must be submitted with the application for Initial teacher certification. Applicants must submit an original Passing Status Verification Card or an original score report showing passing score(s) for individual test(s).
For further information regarding CBEST, please visit California Educator Credentialing Examinations website.
WEST-B
| Subject | Scores |
|---|---|
| Reading | 240 |
| Writing | 240 |
| Math | 240 |
Passing scores for the WEST-B exam must be submitted with the application for Initial teacher certification. Applicants may submit a copy of the examinee score report. For further information regarding WEST-B, please visit Washington Educator Skills Tests website.
National Evaluation Series (NES) Essential Academic Skills
| Subject | Scores |
|---|---|
| Reading | 220 |
| Writing | 220 |
| Math | 220 |
Passing scores for the National Evaluation Series (NES) Essential Academic Skills exam must be submitted with the application for Initial teacher certification. Applicants may submit a copy of the examinee score report. More information about the NES Essential Academic Skills Test is available at National Evaluation Series.
American College Test (ACT) and SAT (Previously known as the Scholastic Assessment Test)
Applicants may substitute a passing score on one or more sections of the SAT or ACT for the equivalent passing scores on the WEST-B. The adopted passing scores for SAT and ACT are listed below.
Subject | WEST–B | SAT | ACT |
Math | PASS | 515 (Prior to 3/2016) 530 (After 3/2016) | 22 |
Reading | PASS | 500 (Prior to 3/2016) 27 (After 3/2016) | 22 |
Writing | PASS | 490 (Prior to 3/2016) 28 (After 3/2016) | 8 (beginning 9/1/2019) |
- The SAT writing test was added in 2005. This means no writing score will be accepted for SAT before 2005.
- SAT Score reports prior to October 2004 will have "verbal" scores which are the critical reading scores. If the score reports are from October 1996 to September 2004, then the verbal scores are the same as the reading scores beyond 2004. Use those scores to see if the candidate has satisfied the requirement.
- SAT October 2004 and later score reports will have critical reading, mathematics and writing scores listed if the candidate took the tests.
- ACT Writing was added Feb. 2005 so no ACT writing score will be accepted before Feb. 2005.
- ACT Reading was added Oct. 1989. No ACT reading score will be accepted before Oct. 1989.
- ACT Writing subsection was updated and a new version was administered September 2015. (see score as of 9/2015)
Graduate Record Examination (GRE)
Subject | Scores |
Reading (Verbal) | 450 (Before 8/1/2011) 153 (After 8/1/2011) |
Mathematics (Quantitative) | 500 (Before 8/1/2011) 145 (After 8/1/2011) |
Writing | 4.5 |
Passing scores for the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) general test must be submitted with the application for Initial teacher certification. Applicants who have passed the GRE reading, writing and mathematics may also have official scores sent to the Teacher Certification Office directly from Education Testing Services (ETS) using code 4231. If sending scores with the application, applicants may submit a copy of an examinee score report.
Pre-service Academic Performance Assessment (PAPA)
Test Name | Passing Score |
Reading (8001) | 220 |
Mathematics (8002) | 193 |
Writing (8003) | 633 |
For further information regarding the Pre-service Academic Performance Assessment (PAPA), please visit the Pennsylvania Certification Testing website.
Alabama WorkKeys
Subject | Scores |
Reading for Information | 4 |
Writing | 3 |
Applied Mathematics | 4 |
Passing scores for each of the reading, English language skills, and math tests for the Florida Teacher Certification Exams must be submitted with the application for Initial teacher certification (the GK test is not the same as the CLAST). Applicants may submit a copy of an examinee score report showing passing scores.
Florida Teacher Certification Exams - General Knowledge
Passing scores for each of the reading, English language skills, and math tests for the Florida Teacher Certification Exams must be submitted with the application for Initial teacher certification (the GK test is not the same as the CLAST). Applicants may submit a copy of an examinee score report showing passing scores.
Georgia Assessments for the Certification of Educators
Passing scores for the reading, writing, and math tests for the Georgia Assessments for the Certification of Educators must be submitted with the application for Initial teacher certification. Applicants may submit a copy of an examinee score report showing passing scores.
Illinois Certification Testing System
Scaled Total Test Score | 240 and Scores of |
Reading | 50 percent of questions correct |
Writing | 5 out 12 |
Math | 35 percent of questions correct |
Language Arts | 50 percent of questions correct |
Passing scores for the Illinois Certification Testing System test #96 Basic Skills or TAP 400 must be submitted with the application for Initial teacher certification. Applicants may submit a copy of an examinee score report showing passing scores on all four sections of the exam. The subtests on this exam may not be combined with other subtests on other exams to create a set of passing scores.
Michigan Test for Teacher Certification
A scaled score of 220 is the passing score for each of the reading, writing, and math tests for the Michigan Test for Teacher Certification (MTTC). Applicants must submit a copy of an examinee score report showing passing scores at the time of application.
New Mexico Assessment of Teacher Basic Skills
| Subject | Scores |
|---|---|
| Reading | 240 |
| Writing | 240 |
| Math | 240 |
Passing scores for the New Mexico Assessment of Teacher Basic Skills exam must be submitted with the application for Initial teacher certification. Applicants may submit a copy of an examinee score report.
New York State Teacher Certification Academic Literacy Skills Test
A qualifying score of 520 on the New York State Teacher Certification Academic Literacy Skills Test must be submitted with the application for Initial teacher certification. Applicants may submit a copy of an examinee score report. The subtests on this exam may not be combined with other subtests on other exams to create a set of passing scores.
(Historic-no longer being offered but still accepted) New York State Teacher Certification Liberal Arts and Sciences Test
A qualifying score of 220 on the New York State Teacher Certification Liberal Arts and Sciences Test must be submitted with the application for Initial teacher certification. Applicants may submit a copy of an examinee score report. The subtests on this exam may not be combined with other subtests on other exams to create a set of passing scores.
Oklahoma General Education Test
A total test score of 240 or more and additionally with passing scores on each of the general studies and liberal arts and sciences tests on the Oklahoma General Education Test must be submitted with the application for Initial teacher certification. Applicants may submit a copy of an examinee score report.
The subtests on this exam may not be combined with other subtests on other exams to create a set of passing scores.
CBASE
A score of 235 must be obtained on each section of the CBASE to pass (English, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies). If you fail one or more components, you can retake those components as many times as necessary within a two-year period. You will be required to pay the test fee again. If, after two years, you have not passed all components, you must retake the entire exam.
