Table 7.1. Test requirements for initial certification of elementary and secondary teachers, by type of test and state: 2017 and 2018

Compiles and disseminates data on state education practice activities

	Type of test, 2017						Type of test, 2018
State	Basic skills exam		Subject- matter exam		Knowledge of teaching exam	Assessment of teaching performance	Basic skills exam		Subject- matter exam		Knowledge of teaching exam	Assessment of teaching performance


United States¹	39		46		26	26	39		46		26	26

Alabama²	Yes		Yes		Yes	Yes	Yes		Yes		Yes	Yes
Alaska	Yes		Yes		No	No	Yes		Yes		No	No
Arizona	No		Yes		Yes	No	No		Yes		Yes	No
Arkansas	Yes		Yes		Yes	No	Yes		Yes		Yes	No
California	Yes		—	³	No	Yes	Yes		—	³	No	Yes

Colorado	No		Yes		No	No	No		Yes		No	No
Connecticut	Yes		Yes	⁴	No	No	Yes		Yes	⁴	No	No
Delaware	Yes		Yes		No	No	Yes		Yes		No	No
District of Columbia	Yes		Yes		Yes	No	Yes		Yes		Yes	No
Florida	Yes		No		No	Yes	Yes		No		No	Yes

Georgia	Yes		Yes		No	Yes	Yes		Yes		No	Yes
Hawaii	Yes		Yes		No	No	Yes		Yes		No	No
Idaho	No		Yes		No	Yes	No		Yes		No	Yes
Illinois⁵	Yes		Yes		Yes	Yes	Yes		Yes		Yes	Yes
Indiana	—		—		—	—	—		—		—	—

Iowa	No		Yes		Yes	No	No		Yes		Yes	No
Kansas	No		Yes		Yes	No	No		Yes		Yes	No
Kentucky	Yes		Yes		Yes	Yes	Yes		Yes		Yes	Yes
Louisiana	Yes		Yes		Yes	Yes	Yes		Yes		Yes	Yes
Maine	Yes		Yes		Yes	No	Yes		Yes		Yes	No

Maryland	Yes		Yes		Yes	No	Yes		Yes		Yes	No
Massachusetts	Yes		Yes		No	Yes	Yes		Yes		No	Yes
Michigan	Yes		Yes		No	Yes	Yes		Yes		No	Yes
Minnesota	Yes		Yes		Yes	No	Yes		Yes		Yes	No
Mississippi	Yes		Yes		Yes	Yes	Yes		Yes		Yes	Yes

Missouri	Yes		Yes		Yes	Yes	Yes		Yes		Yes	Yes
Montana	No		Yes		No	No	No		Yes		No	No
Nebraska	Yes		Yes		No	No	Yes		Yes	⁶	No	No
Nevada	Yes		Yes		No	No	Yes		Yes		No	No
New Hampshire	Yes		Yes		No	No	Yes		Yes		No	No

New Jersey	Yes		Yes		No	Yes	Yes		Yes		No	Yes
New Mexico	Yes		Yes		Yes	Yes	Yes		Yes		Yes	Yes
New York	Yes	⁷	Yes		Yes	Yes	Yes	⁷	Yes		Yes	Yes
North Carolina	Yes		Yes		Yes	Yes	Yes		Yes		Yes	Yes
North Dakota	Yes		Yes		Yes	Yes	Yes		Yes		Yes	Yes

Ohio	No		Yes		Yes	Yes	No		Yes		Yes	Yes
Oklahoma	—		—		—	—	—		—		—	—
Oregon	No		Yes		No	Yes	No		Yes		No	Yes
Pennsylvania	Yes		Yes		No	Yes	Yes		Yes		No	Yes
Rhode Island	Yes	⁸	Yes		Yes	Yes	Yes	⁸	Yes		Yes	Yes

South Carolina	No	⁹	Yes		Yes	No	No	⁹	Yes		Yes	No
South Dakota	Yes		Yes		Yes	No	Yes		Yes		Yes	No
Tennessee	Yes		Yes		Yes	No	Yes		Yes		Yes	No
Texas	Yes		Yes		Yes	Yes	Yes		Yes		Yes	Yes
Utah	Yes		Yes		No	Yes	Yes		Yes		No	Yes

Vermont	Yes		Yes		No	No	Yes		Yes		No	No
Virginia	Yes		Yes		Yes	No	Yes		Yes		Yes	No
Washington	Yes		Yes		No	Yes	Yes		Yes		No	Yes
West Virginia	Yes		Yes		Yes	Yes	Yes		Yes		Yes	Yes
Wisconsin	Yes		Yes		No	Yes	Yes		Yes		No	Yes
Wyoming	No		No		No	No	No		No		No	No

— Not available.

¹ National total reflects the number of "Yes" responses for each column.

² All applicants for initial Alabama certification must document passing scores on three basic skills assessments (administered by ACT) in mathematics, reading and writing. For almost all teaching fields, a passing score on the designated content knowledge test (administered by Educational Testing Service) is required for initial certification.

³ California accepts college course work or exam for the single subject credential only; the multiple subject credential requires a subject matter examination.

⁴ Candidates seeking a Connecticut certificate to teach an occupational subject (i.e. electrical, plumbing, automotive, etc.) are required to hold a high school diploma or equivalent. Subject matter exams are required for persons seeking certification in the following areas: Biology, business education, chemistry, Earth science, elementary education, English, French, general science, German, health education, Italian, family and consumer sciences, mathematics, middle school English, middle school mathematics, middle school science, middle school social studies, music, physical education, physics, Russian, social studies, Spanish, special education, and technology education. Knowledge of teaching exams are required for elementary education. Candidates seeking a Connecticut coaching permit must be at least 18 years of age.

⁵ All programs must meet the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education standards. Additional coursework required for individuals seeking an Illinois license in Learning Behavior Specialist 1, Reading Content, Reading Methods, and English as a Second Language/Bilingual Methods. All students in approved programs leading to a teaching endorsement are expected to have adequate knowledge of technology and such knowledge is assessed on the Assessment of Professional Teaching exam.

⁶Required assessment tests listed at this website: http://www.education.ne.gov/EducatorPrep/IHE/SkillsTesting/ContentTestScores.pdf.

⁷Basic skills test (communicative and quantitative skills test) only required for applicants for a transitional certificate for a specific career and technical title.

⁸ Basic skills tests are not required for certification but are required as part of program admissions.

⁹Basic skills exams in reading, writing, and mathematics are required for entrance into a teacher education program in South Carolina, but are not an initial certification requirement.

SOURCE: National Association of State Directors of Teacher Education and Certification (NASDTEC), NASDTEC Knowledgebase, retrieved May 21, 2018 from http://www.nasdtec.net. Data Source.

Data Tables