Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE)

CURRENT CERTIFICATION TEST AND SCORE REQUIREMENTS

Please review the testing policy and directions for submitting tests found in CSPG 21:
CSPG 21 - Testing Link

Workbook Menu
This workbook is divided into four, tabbed worksheets. Select a link below to view the appropriate section. Use the link in the upper left
corner of each section to return to this menu.

1) Basic Skills Tests

2) Instructional Certification Areas

Instructional Section Notes: You may search by subject on the Instructional Certification Subject Area filter (Down Triangle)

3) Educational Specialist Certification Areas

4) Supervisory, Administrative and Letter of Eligibility Certification Areas

Visit education.pa.gov > Certification or contact us for more information.

Page 1 of 11 Introduction Revised: 8/29/2019

 Pennsylvania Department of Education
Certification Test and Score Requirements

Basic Skills - Chapter 354 provides an alternative to the 3.0 GPA program entrance
Return to the Introduction Menurequirement by passing the Praxis CORE or PAPA Basic Skills tests.

CORE Academic Skills Test Registration Link:

Test Number
Core - September 1, 2019
Reading 5713
Mathematics 5733
Writing 5723
Core taken before September 1, 2020
Reading 5712
Mathematics 5732
Writing 5722

Page 2 of 11 1-Basic Skills Updated: 8/29/2019

 Pennsylvania Department of Education
Certification Test and Score Requirements

0 GPA program entrance

Basic Skills tests.

ETS

Passing Score

156
142
162

156
142
162

Page 3 of 11 1-Basic Skills Updated: 8/29/2019

 Pennsylvania Department of Education
Certification Test and Score Requirements

Is Fundamental Qualifying Qualifying Qualifying Qualifying Qualifying Test

Instructional Certification INSTRUCTIONAL CONTENT TEST
Subjects Score Passing Score Score Score Score Score Registration
Subject Area NAME & CODE
Required?† 2.80-2.99 GPA 3.01-3.25 GPA 3.26-3.50 GPA 3.51-3.75 GPA 3.76-4.0 GPA Link

Fundamental Subjects Content ETS

155 150 149 148 146 145
Knowledge (5511)

Agriculture PK-12 Agriculture (5701) Yes 155 147 146 145 144 141 ETS

Art Education PK-12 Art: Content Knowledge (5134) Yes 164 158 157 155 154 152 ETS

Biology 7-12 Biology (5236) 161 154 153 151 150 148 ETS

Business-Computer-
Information Technology PK- Business Education (5101) Yes 159 154 153 152 150 149 ETS
12

Chemistry 7-12 Chemistry (5246) 153 146 145 143 142 140 ETS

Citizenship Ed: Content Knowledge ETS

Citizenship Education 7-12 153 148 147 146 144 143
(5087)

Communications 7-12 Speech Communication (5221) 150 145 144 143 141 140 ETS

Computer Science 7-12 Computer Science (5652) 156 149 148 146 145 143 ETS

Cooperative Work Education Contact Your

Cooperative Education 7-12 650 644 643 641 640 638
(5961 or 5962) Program Advisor

Dance PK-12 Coming soon! Yes - - - - - - -

Earth and Space Science 7- ETS

Earth and Space Sciences (5572) 161 154 153 151 150 148
12

English 7-12 English Language Arts: Content Knowledge (5038) 173 167 166 164 163 162 ETS

Environmental Education (0831) is no

Environmental Education Yes TBD
longer available through ETS. PDE will 164 156 155 154 153 150
PK-12
develop a new test.

Family & Consumer Science Yes 8/31/24 - See160 ETS

Family & Consumer Sciences (5122) Discontinued CSPG 21 for information
153 about replaced
151 tests 150 149 146
PK-12

Page 4 of 11 2-Instructional Updated:8/29/2019

 Pennsylvania Department of Education
Certification Test and Score Requirements

Is Fundamental Qualifying Qualifying Qualifying Qualifying Qualifying Test

Instructional Certification INSTRUCTIONAL CONTENT TEST
Subjects Score Passing Score Score Score Score Score Registration
Subject Area NAME & CODE
Required?† 2.80-2.99 GPA 3.01-3.25 GPA 3.26-3.50 GPA 3.51-3.75 GPA 3.76-4.0 GPA Link

Family & Consumer Science Family & Consumer Sciences (5123) Yes ETS
158 151 150 148 146 144
PK-12 Available 9/1/24

General Science 7-12 General Science (5436) 149 141 140 138 137 135 ETS

Grades 4-8: Modules 1, 2 and 3 plus at least one Subject Concentration are required for certification ETS

Pennsylvania Grades 4-8: Module 1-

Grades 4-8 168 162 161 159 158 156
Pedagogy (5153)

Pennsylvania Grades 4-8: Module 2-

Grades 4-8 English Language Arts & Social Studies 160 152 150 148 146 144
(5154)

Pennsylvania Grades 4-8: Module 3-

Grades 4-8 172 164 162 160 158 156
Mathematics & Science (5155)

Page 5 of 11 2-Instructional Updated:8/29/2019

 Pennsylvania Department of Education
Certification Test and Score Requirements

Is Fundamental Qualifying Qualifying Qualifying Qualifying Qualifying Test

Instructional Certification INSTRUCTIONAL CONTENT TEST
Subjects Score Passing Score Score Score Score Score Registration
Subject Area NAME & CODE
Required?† 2.80-2.99 GPA 3.01-3.25 GPA 3.26-3.50 GPA 3.51-3.75 GPA 3.76-4.0 GPA Link

Pennsylvania Grades 4-8: Subject

Grades 4-8 English Concentration - English Language 163 156 154 153 151 149
Arts (5156)

Pennsylvania Grades 4-8: Subject

Grades 4-8 Science 163 156 154 153 151 149
Concentration - Science (5159)

Pennsylvania Grades 4-8: Subject

Grades 4-8 Social Studies 157 150 148 147 145 143
Concentration - Social Studies (5157)

Pennsylvania Grades 4-8: Subject

Grades 4-8 Mathematics 182 173 171 169 166 164
Concentration -Mathematics (5158)

Grades PreK-4: Modules 1, 2 and 3 are required for certification ES Pearson

Pre-K-4 Module 1: Child Dev,

Grades PreK-4 227 197 190 182 175 168
Assessment, Professionalism (8006)

Pre-K-4 Module 2: Lang, Social Stud,

Grades PreK-4 219 193 187 180 174 167
Arts (8007)

Pre-K-4 Module 3: Math, Science,

Grades PreK-4 219 193 187 180 174 167
Health (8008)

Grades 5-6 may only be added to a Pennsylvania Instructional Grades PK-4 certificate. Modules 2 and 3 are required. GPA does not apply. ETS

Pennsylvania Grades 4-8: Module 2-

Grades 5-6 Add-on to
English Language Arts & Social Studies N/A 152 N/A N/A N/A N/A
Grades PreK-4
(5154)

Grades 5-6 Add-on to Pennsylvania Grades 4-8: Module 3-

N/A 164 N/A N/A N/A N/A
Grades PreK-4 Mathematics & Science (5155)

Health & Physical Education Health & Physical Education Yes ETS
167 160 159 158 156 155
PK-12 Content Knowledge (5857)

Health Education PK-12 Health Education (5551) Yes 164 158 157 155 154 152 ETS

Library Science PK-12 School Librarian (5312) Yes 161 154 153 152 151 149 ETS

Marketing Education PK-12 Marketing Education (5561) Yes 150 144 143 141 140 138 ETS

Page 6 of 11 2-Instructional Updated:8/29/2019

 Pennsylvania Department of Education
Certification Test and Score Requirements

Is Fundamental Qualifying Qualifying Qualifying Qualifying Qualifying Test

Instructional Certification INSTRUCTIONAL CONTENT TEST
Subjects Score Passing Score Score Score Score Score Registration
Subject Area NAME & CODE
Required?† 2.80-2.99 GPA 3.01-3.25 GPA 3.26-3.50 GPA 3.51-3.75 GPA 3.76-4.0 GPA Link

Mathematics 7-12 Mathematics (5165) 168 159 158 156 154 152 ETS

Music Education PK-12 Music: Content Knowledge (5113) Yes 163 158 157 156 154 153 ETS

Physics 7-12 Physics (5266) 152 145 144 143 142 140 ETS

Reading Specialist PK-12 Reading Specialist (5302) † 170 164 163 161 160 158 ETS

Safety/Driver Education 7- PDE

Safety/Driver Education (0861) 559 520 510 501 491 481
12

Social Studies 7-12 Social Studies: Content Knowledge (5081) Discontinued 8/31/24 - See 162
CSPG 21 for information
157 about replaced
156tests 155 153 152 ETS

Social Studies 7-12 Social Studies (5581) Available 9/1/24 160 153 152 150 149 147 ETS

Technology Education Technology Education (5051) Discontinued 8/31/24Yes

- See CSPG 21 for information about 159
replaced tests ETS
164 158 157 155 154
PK-12

Technology Education Technology and Engineering Education Yes ETS

164 157 156 154 153 151
PK-12 (5053) Available 9/1/24

Special Education PK-8 and Special Education PK-8 Expansion: Modules 1 and 2 are required for certification ES Pearson

Special Education PK-8 Spec Ed: PreK-8 Module 1 (8011) 243 220 214 208 202 197

Special Education PK-8 Spec Ed: PreK-8 Module 2 (8012) 243 220 214 208 202 197

Special Education 7-12 and Special Education 7-12 Expansion: Modules 1 and 2 are required for certification ES Pearson

Special Education 7-12 Spec Ed: 7-12 Module 1 (8015) 242 220 215 209 204 198

Special Education 7-12 Spec Ed: 7-12 Module 2 (8016) 239 220 215 210 206 201

Page 7 of 11 2-Instructional Updated:8/29/2019

 Pennsylvania Department of Education
Certification Test and Score Requirements

Is Fundamental Qualifying Qualifying Qualifying Qualifying Qualifying Test

Instructional Certification INSTRUCTIONAL CONTENT TEST
Subjects Score Passing Score Score Score Score Score Registration
Subject Area NAME & CODE
Required?† 2.80-2.99 GPA 3.01-3.25 GPA 3.26-3.50 GPA 3.51-3.75 GPA 3.76-4.0 GPA Link

Special Education PK-12 Certificates ETS

Spec Education: Foundational Yes

Special Education PK-12 153 145 144 142 141 139
Knowledge (5355)

Spec Ed: Education of Deaf and Hard of Yes

Hearing Impaired PK-12 166 160 159 157 156 154
Hearing Students (5272)

Spec Ed: Teaching Students with Visual Yes

Visually Impaired PK-12 169 163 162 160 159 157
Impairments (5282)

Page 8 of 11 2-Instructional Updated:8/29/2019

 Pennsylvania Department of Education
Certification Test and Score Requirements

Is Fundamental Qualifying Qualifying Qualifying Qualifying Qualifying Test

Instructional Certification INSTRUCTIONAL CONTENT TEST
Subjects Score Passing Score Score Score Score Score Registration
Subject Area NAME & CODE
Required?† 2.80-2.99 GPA 3.01-3.25 GPA 3.26-3.50 GPA 3.51-3.75 GPA 3.76-4.0 GPA Link

Speech & Language Yes

Speech Language Pathology (5331) 169 162 161 160 158 157
Impaired PK-12

World Languages: When an ETS and LTI test exist for the same language, either test is accepted.

ACTFL OPI/OPIc/ProFluent+ and Yes Intermediate LTI

All Languages* N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A
WPT/iWPT: World Languages High

American Sign Language American Sign Language Proficiency Yes ETS

N/A 160 N/A N/A N/A N/A
PK-12 Interview (0634)

Chinese (Mandarin): World Language Yes ETS

Chinese (Mandarin) PK-12 170 164 163 161 160 159
(5665)

French PK-12 French: World Languages (5174) Yes 167 162 161 160 158 157 ETS

German PK-12 German: World Languages (5183) Yes 168 163 162 161 159 158 ETS

Latin PK-12 Latin (5601) Yes 157 152 151 150 148 147 ETS

Spanish PK-12 Spanish: World Languages (5195) Yes 173 168 167 166 164 163 ETS

* Language availability changes frequently. Please visit the ACTFL (LTI) website for oral and written test availbilty. Certification languages are listed on our website.

† The Fundamental Subjects test is only required for candidates seeking their first Pennsylvania certificate.

Page 9 of 11 2-Instructional Updated:8/29/2019

 Pennsylvania Department of Education
Certification Test and Score Requirements

Qualifying Qualifying Qualifying Qualifying

Educational Specialist Score Score Score Score Qualifying Test
Certification Subject Educational Specialist CONTENT 2.80-2.99 Passing 3.01-3.25 3.26-3.50 3.51-3.75 Score Registration
Area TEST NAME & CODE GPA Score GPA GPA GPA 3.76-4.0 GPA Link

Elementary & Secondary ETS

School Counselor (5422) 166 159 158 156 155 153
School Counselor PK-12

School Psychologist PK-12 School Psychologist (5403) 162 155 154 152 150 148 ETS

School Speech &

Language Pathologist PK- Speech Language Pathology (5331) 169 162 161 160 158 157 ETS
12

No tests are currently required for the following subjects.

PA State Dental Hygienist license is

Dental Hygienist PK-12
required

Home & School Visitor

PK-12
Instructional Technology
PK-12

School Nurse PK-12 PA RN license is required

School Social Worker PK-

PA SW or CSW license is required
12

Page 10 of 11 3-Educational Specialist Updated:8/29/2019

 Pennsylvania Department of Education
Certification Test and Score Requirements

Supervisory,
Administrative and SUPERVISORY, Qualifying Qualifying Qualifying Qualifying
Letter of Eligibility ADMINISTRATIVE AND LETTER Score Score Score Score Qualifying Test
Certification Subject OF ELIGIBILITY TEST NAME & 2.80-2.99 Passing 3.01-3.25 3.26-3.50 3.51-3.75 Score Registration
Area CODE GPA Score GPA GPA GPA 3.76-4.0 GPA Link

School Leadership Licensure

Assessment/SLLA (6990) for ETS
Administrative 157 151 150 149 148 146
Principals and Vocational
Directors

School Superintendent
Assessmentent (6991) for ETS
Letter of Eligibility 167 162 161 160 159 157
Superintendents and Intermediate
Unit Directors

Educational Leadership: Admin &

Supervisory Supervision (5412) for Supervisory 152 146 145 144 142 141 ETS
Certificates

Page 11 of 11 4-Administrative Updated:8/29/2019