Content Competency Resources
Content Competency Resources
Content Competency for Licensure
The Colorado Department of Education (CDE) requires that teachers demonstrate their content-specific knowledge through Praxis exam(s) or Multiple Measures of Content Competency (MMCC). UCCS teacher, principal, and school counselor candidates must meet these requirements to be recommended for licensure in the state of Colorado regardless of any other aspect of their preparation program.
HB22-1220 Removing Barriers to Educator Preparation
The UCCS College of Education has received funds for student educator exam stipends through the Removing Barriers to Educator Preparation Act (HB22-1220). This legislation, signed into law on May 26, 2022, provides for exam stipends to reduce the financial burdens of taking Praxis exams for eligible student educators.
Criteria for eligibility are:
- Enrollment in an eligible program (early childhood education, elementary education, special education, school counseling). Secondary education programs are not eligible for this funding.
- Demonstrated financial need (less than 250% of the maximum federal Pell-eligible expected family contribution [EFC]) as reported on the FAFSA for the current academic year.
Eligible students may request this funding in the form of a reimbursement or as a payment voucher by clicking on the form linked below.
- If you are requesting a reimbursement, you must provide a copy of your score report and your receipt of payment (showing the method of payment). If approved, you will receive reimbursement through the Financial Aid Office. To receive your reimbursement quickly, we recommend that you set up direct deposit through Student Financials on your myUCCS Portal: Set Up Direct Deposit.pdf (uccs.edu). Otherwise, a check will be sent to you in the mail.
- If you are approved for a payment voucher, you will receive a voucher code to use when you register for your exam. Vouchers will be processed weekly.
Questions? Contact Dr. Anderson-Pence (kander19@uccs.edu)
Content Competency Requirements
The sections below specify the exams and/or content areas required for demonstration of content competency for different programs at UCCS.
Inclusive Early Childhood Education (IECE) - Undergraduate
Undergraduate-level IECE teacher candidates are required to take the following Praxis exams or submit for the corresponding MMCC by May 1 prior to their Professional Year.
- 5024: Education of Young Children
- 5692: Special Education: Preschool/Early Childhood
Candidates who have not passed these Praxis exams or secured approval for MMCC by August 1 of their Professional Year will have a formal conference with their Faculty Director and document a plan to meet content competency requirements.
Undergraduate-level IECE teacher candidates are also required to take the following Praxis exam by August 1 of their Professional Year. Note: MMCC are not accepted for reading.
- 5205: Teaching Reading: Elementary
Candidates who have not passed Praxis 5205 by January 1 of their Professional Year will have a formal conference with their Faculty Director and document a plan to meet content competency requirements.
Inclusive Early Childhood Education (IECE) - Graduate
Graduate-level IECE teacher candidates are required to take the following Praxis exams or submit for the corresponding MMCC by May 1 prior to their student teaching semester.
- 5024: Education of Young Children
- 5692: Special Education: Preschool/Early Childhood
Graduate-level IECE teacher candidates are also required to take the following Praxis exam prior to their student teaching semester. Note: MMCC are not accepted for reading.
- 5205: Teaching Reading: Elementary
Candidates who have not passed these exams or secured approval for MMCC before their student teaching semester will have a formal conference with their Faculty Director and document a plan to meet content competency requirements.
Elementary Education
Elementary education teacher candidates are required to take the following Praxis exams or submit for the corresponding MMCC by May 1 prior to their Professional Year.
- 5903: Elementary Education: Three Subject Bundle - Mathematics
- 5904: Elementary Education: Three Subject Bundle - Social Studies
- 5905: Elementary Education: Three Subject Bundle - Science
5903, 5904, and 5905 exams can be taken in a bundled single session by registering for Praxis 5901.
Candidates who have not passed these Praxis exams or secured approval for MMCC by August 1 of their Professional Year will have a formal conference with their Faculty Director and document a plan to meet content competency requirements.
Elementary education teacher candidates are also required to take the following Praxis exam by August 1 of their Professional Year. Note: MMCC are not accepted for reading.
- 5205: Teaching Reading: Elementary
Candidates who have not passed Praxis 5205 by January 1 of their Professional Year will have a formal conference with their Faculty Director and document a plan to meet content competency requirements.
Secondary Education
Secondary education teacher candidates are required to pass their content-area Praxis exam prior to their student teaching semester.
- Secondary Mathematics - 5165: Mathematics
- Secondary Science - 5435: General Science: Content Knowledge
- Secondary English - 5038: English Language Arts: Content Knowledge
- Secondary Social Studies - 5081: Social Studies: Content Knowledge
- World Language (K-12_ - 5195: Spanish World Languages OR 5174: French: World Languages
Candidates who have not passed these Praxis exams prior to their student teaching semester will have a formal conference with their Faculty Director and document a plan to meet content competency requirements.
Special Education
Special education teacher candidates are required to take the following Praxis exams or submit for the corresponding MMCC by May 1 prior to their student teaching semester. Note: MMCC are not accepted for reading.
- 5205: Teaching Reading: Elementary
- 5355: Special Education: Core Knowledge and Applications
- 5903: Elementary Education: Three Subject Bundle - Mathematics
- 5904: Elementary Education: Three Subject Bundle - Social Studies
- 5905: Elementary Education: Three Subject Bundle - Science
5903, 5904, and 5905 exams can be taken in a bundled single session by registering for Praxis 5901.
School Counseling
School counselor candidates are required to take the following Praxis exam upon program completion.
- 5422: Professional School Counselor
Gifted Education
Gifted education endorsement candidates are required to take the following Praxis exam upon program completion.
- 5358: Gifted Education
Principal Licensure
Principal licensure candidates are required to take the following Praxis exam upon program completion.
- 5412: Educational Leadership: Administration and Supervision