Creating Consistency and Confidence Across Classrooms 

Licensure processes, such as certification tests, set clear expectations for entry into the profession. It signals that a teacher has met established qualifications, reinforcing public trust in the education system. Licensure creates a uniform benchmark across schools and districts, so all students—regardless of location—have access to teachers who meet the same rigorous criteria.  

The Role of Licensure Exams in Teacher Preparation 

Teacher licensure exams, such as Praxis tests, play a crucial role in assuring students, families, and school communities that a teacher is prepared to meet the demands of today’s classrooms.  

These assessments contribute to the overall importance of licensure in multiple ways: 

• Licensure tests evaluate whether teacher candidates have mastered essential subject-matter knowledge, validating years of study and preparation. 
• Praxis and other certification exams provide information to teacher candidates and preparation programs about content and skills the teacher candidate has mastered as well as pinpointing areas for growth prior to the teacher entering the classroom. 
• Licensure tests ensure public confidence by ensuring that every teacher they encounter has met a rigorous standard of quality. They are based on evidence-based frameworks, such as InTASC standards, and demonstrate alignment with best practices and state requirements for effective teaching. 

Building Fair and Reliable Assessments 

Praxis exams are the result of a careful, multi-step process involving experts and stakeholders across the field. The goal is to develop fair, valid, and reliable measures of what new teachers need to know and be able to do. 

• Research based: Test developers review national and state standards, best practices in education, and professional guidelines to determine what knowledge and skills are essential for the beginning teacher. 
• Collaborative: A diverse group of stakeholders – including practicing teachers, EPP faculty, state education officials, and assessment experts – work together to review these requirements and ensure the test content reflects real-world expectations of beginning teachers.  
• Technical expertise: Experienced content and assessment experts write the test questions. Each of these questions are subject to multiple reviews to make sure they are clear, accurate, and free of bias.  
• Field testing: Items are tested with real candidates to ensure they perform as intended before they are included on an actual test. This helps eliminate any items or wording that may be confusing, inaccurate, too easy, or too difficult. 
• Setting passing scores: Finally, panels of educators participate in a research-proven process to develop a recommended cut score. States may adopt this recommended score for any test, or they may set the cut score at a score that is most appropriate for their context.  

Praxis tests undergo continual review and updates as necessary to ensure they remain relevant and fair measures of new teacher knowledge and skills.   

Scoring is equally rigorous. Praxis tests may include constructed response items, selected response items, or a combination of both. Selected response items are scored using AI for maximum accuracy. Constructed responses are evaluated by trained raters using detailed rubrics to ensure fairness and consistency.  

Licensure as a Standard of Excellence 

Licensure is a key part of a teacher’s journey, offering a consistent way to demonstrate essential knowledge and skills. While readiness is shaped by many factors, Praxis tests help uphold professional standards and support preparation programs in strengthening teacher quality.  Ultimately, licensure reflects a shared belief in the power of great teaching—and the promise of every student’s potential.