The teacher shortage is perhaps the most persistent challenge facing public education and remains an all-hands-on-deck effort. Districts are working tirelessly to recruit and retain teachers, while many schools and universities are offering scholarships, incentives, and paid teaching experiences to strengthen the pipeline. Yet for many aspiring educators, one of the biggest obstacles to entering or staying in the classroom has nothing to do with preparation or commitment. It is geography.

Why Location Matters 

In large parts of the United States, aspiring educators live in what can be described as “testing deserts” - places where access to licensure exams is limited, distant, or difficult to navigate. In some states teacher candidates may have just one place statewide where they can physically take a licensure exam. For many candidates, that single site is far from home. Reaching it may require long drives, flights, unpaid time off, childcare arrangements, or overnight stays.

Some candidates experience more logistical constraints during the licensure process, including paraprofessionals, provisionally certified teachers, and career changers already working in schools. The added pressure may increase anxiety and delay progress, even when candidates are prepared and ready for the test.

District leaders see the consequences firsthand. When educators cannot complete licensure requirements on time because of testing access issues, schools risk losing staff they have already hired and trained. In rural districts, where recruiting replacements is already difficult, even small disruptions can destabilize staffing for an entire school year.

Regional differences in testing access can create delays for candidates completing licensure requirements, which may have downstream effects on the educator pipeline.

Bringing Licensure Closer to Home 

Addressing these challenges, Praxis has expanded options for how and where testing takes place. Rather than requiring educators to travel long distances to a fixed testing site, mobile and on-site testing models are available and bring exams directly into local communities. Additionally, Praxis At-Home testing offers candidates the flexibility to complete licensure exams securely from home, further reducing travel and logistical barriers. 

Through Praxis Testing Support Services, districts and educator preparation programs can host pop-up test centers in approved local spaces. Testing stations, proctors, and technical support are provided on site, allowing candidates to test closer to home, and in familiar environments.

For educators, this reduces travel time, cost, and stress. For districts, it creates greater visibility into who is testing and when, helping leaders plan staffing more effectively and support candidates through the final steps of licensure.

Keeping Qualified Educators on the Path to the Classroom

When educators can complete required exams without excessive disruption to their daily lives, they may be more likely to stay on the path to certification. When districts retain provisionally certified teachers rather than losing them to logistical delays, students benefit.

Teacher shortages are complex, but Praxis has developed solutions to support access to this important licensure step. By removing logistical obstacles unrelated to candidate readiness, states and districts can strengthen the educator pipeline while maintaining rigorous standards and helping more qualified teachers reach or remain in the classroom.