For more than 10,000 future educators, one near-pass score did not define their journey.

ETS Praxis is proud to celebrate a major milestone: more than 10,000 candidates have now completed Praxis Bridge, demonstrating that targeted support and rigorous standards can work together to help more aspiring educators stay on the path to licensure.

The milestone reflects something larger than the growth of a single program. Across the country, states are increasingly looking beyond traditional models and exploring ways to preserve standards while providing targeted support that keeps promising candidates moving forward.

What began as an innovative solution for near-pass candidates has grown into a national initiative helping strengthen educator pipelines and supporting candidate success.

A Different Approach to Supporting Candidate Success

Praxis Bridge was created for candidates who come close to passing an eligible Praxis assessment but fall within one Standard Error of Measurement (SEM) of their state's passing score. Instead of retaking the entire assessment, eligible candidates are offered a targeted professional learning module aligned to the content area where they need the most support.

The approach is simple but powerful: focus learning on specific content gaps and allow candidates to demonstrate mastery through a structured learning experience.

This model gives candidates a flexible pathway forward while maintaining educational integrity and preserving licensure standards.

A Path Forward for Near-Miss Candidates

The rapid growth of Praxis Bridge reflects a broader challenge across educator preparation.

An analysis of five years of Praxis data across more than 40 states revealed an important gap in the teacher pipeline. Among candidates who narrowly missed their state's passing score, 40% never returned to retest after their first attempt. Of those who did retest, roughly 60% did not pass on a second attempt, and a significant number of them do not make a third attempt. 

These findings suggest Praxis Bridge provides a valuable option for near-miss candidates that are at high risk of never completing this step on their journey to the classroom – all without lowering state standards. Upwards of 5,000 candidates in the pool that have participated so far were highly likely to have never become a teacher. 

Today, the program has been adopted by 19 states and territories and is available across 27 Praxis titles. More than 10,000 candidates have completed Praxis Bridge, demonstrating growing confidence that targeted learning can strengthen educator pipelines while maintaining the rigorous licensure standards established by participating states.

What Candidates Are Telling Us

The numbers tell one part of the story. Candidate feedback tells the rest.

Participant feedback reinforces the program's impact. More than 91% of participants agree that the learning activities enhance concept mastery, while an equally strong 91% say the practice questions effectively prepare them for success. Beyond the numbers, candidates consistently highlight focused learning, increased confidence, reduced test anxiety, and the ability to concentrate on specific areas for improvement as some of the program's greatest benefits.

For many future educators, Praxis Bridge represents the opportunity to keep momentum, strengthen understanding, and continue progressing toward their professional goals.

Looking Ahead

As Praxis Bridge continues to expand, ETS remains committed to developing innovative solutions that help states, educator preparation programs, and candidates navigate the evolving educator landscape.

With adoption growing, additional assessment coverage, and more than 10,000 completers already reached, Praxis Bridge is demonstrating that candidate support and high standards can work together.

The first 10,000 completers mark an important milestone. The next 10,000 represent an even greater opportunity to help more aspiring educators reach the classroom.