Overview of North Carolina Testing Requirements
For initial certification in North Carolina, all candidates (traditional and alternate routes) must:
- Complete a state-approved educator preparation program.
- Pass the Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators (Core) tests, if required.
- Pass one or more Praxis Subject Assessments as required by the state for their certification area(s).
- Complete the PPAT® Assessment or other state-approved performance assessment.
- If you test in North Carolina at a test center or at home, and your Praxis profile address is in North Carolina, your score report will be sent automatically to the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction.
- If you test outside North Carolina or your Praxis profile address is not in North Carolina, your scores are NOT automatically sent to the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction. To have your scores sent to the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction, you must select the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (state code 7846) as a score recipient when you register.
- For all methods of Praxis testing, to request additional score reports, you must select the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (state code 7846) with each additional score report request.
- ETS discontinued paper-delivered testing.
- However, Praxis tests will continue to be available in a paper-delivered format as required for ADA accommodations.
- All scores for previously administered paper-delivered tests are reportable for 10 years from the date the test was taken.
- Teacher candidates or those wishing to become certified must take the Praxis tests.
- Before entering an educator preparation program at your college or university, you may be required to take the Core tests to demonstrate your qualifications. However, there are exemptions for individuals taking both the SAT® and ACT® exams.
- Individuals with a total SAT score of 1100 taken before March 2016 are exempt from Praxis Core testing requirements for teacher education program admission.
- Individuals with a total redesigned SAT score of 1170 taken after March 2016 are exempt from Praxis Core testing requirements for teacher education program admission.
- Individuals with a total SAT score of less than 1100 taken before March 2016, but a score of at least 550 on the Verbal test, are exempt from the Core Reading and Writing tests for teacher education program admission.
- Individuals with a total redesigned SAT score of less than 1170, but a score of at least 600 on the evidence-based reading and writing test, are exempt from the Core Reading and Writing tests for teacher education program admission.
- Individuals with a total SAT score of less than 1100 taken before March 2016, but a score of at least 550 on the Math test, are exempt from the Core Mathematics test for teacher education program admission.
- Individuals with a total redesigned SAT score of less than 1170 taken after March 2016, but a score of at least 570 on the Math test, are exempt from the Core Mathematics test for teacher education program admission.
- Individuals with a composite ACT score of 24 are exempt from Praxis I Core testing requirements for teacher education program admission.
- Individuals with a composite ACT score of less than 24, but with a score of at least 24 on the English test, are exempt from the Core Reading and Writing tests for teacher education program admission.
- Individuals with a composite ACT score of less than 24, but a score of at least 24 on the Math test, are exempt from the Core Mathematics test for teacher education program admission.
- Individuals who hold a bachelor’s degree.
- In North Carolina, you must take the appropriate Praxis Subject Assessments for each licensure area you seek.
To be licensed in
You need to take
Qualifying score
OR
An alternative state-approved performance assessment.
See also links to other Praxis web pages and resources
![state logo state logo](https://praxis.ets.org/dw/image/v2/BKPD_PRD/on/demandware.static/-/Library-Sites-ets-praxisLibrary/default/dw3c897f13/North Carolina.jpeg)
For more information about educator requirements in North Carolina:
- North Carolina: Certification website
Other Programs used in North Carolina