A PraxisTM test is a type of exam used in the United States to certify new teachers. They are generally divided into three categories, and other types of certification exams may be used to supplement or replace them. Certain states, for example, may opt to use their own proprietary tests instead of the Praxis II®. The Praxis I® is usually taken before a prospective teacher can begin teacher training at a college or university, whereas the Praxis II® — or a similar replacement — usually covers knowledge more specific to the subject matter he plans to teach. Praxis III® is a practical exam that typically involves observing a teacher during his or her first year of teaching.
PraxisTM tests are divided into three categories. The Praxis I®:, Praxis II®, and Praxis III® are the three options. Some, or all, of these exams may be required depending on the state in which a teacher is certified and the state in which he plans to teach. While 21 states require prospective teachers to pass a series of Praxis II® tests, the remaining states have their own exams that take the place of the PraxisTM test.
Praxis I® is usually taken before a student begins teacher education classes. Reading, writing, and math sections are usually included in this test, which is also known as a pre-professional skills test (PPST). Passing all three sections of the Praxis I® is usually one of the requirements for entering a teacher education program.
Many teachers are required to take additional specialized tests prior to certification in addition to the Praxis I® reading, writing, and math sections. In order to accomplish this, the Praxis II® series typically consists of a number of specialized tests for various fields of study. Depending on the subject a person wishes to teach, he may be required to take several Praxis II® tests. If he plans to teach in a state where the Praxis II® is not used, he may be required to take a completely different test, or series of tests.
The Praxis III® is a practical examination that most teachers take during their first year in the classroom. An assessor visits the classroom and observes the teacher as she teaches a lesson as part of this test. This examination also includes several interviews with the new teacher, including one prior to and one following the observed lesson.
The Educational Testing Service (ETS®), a non-profit organization based near Princeton, New Jersey, created the PraxisTM test. Despite being based in the United States, ETS® provides testing services for primary, secondary, and higher education all over the world. In the mid-1990s, the PraxisTM test began to gradually replace the National Teacher Examination (NTE) across the United States. The ETS® also offers exams such as the SAT® in the United States and the Test de Français International (TFI®) in Canada, in addition to the PraxisTM.