Praxis Resources
Praxis Resources
Content Competency
The Praxis exams measure the academic skills and subject-specific knowledge needed as an educator. Students must pass the state-approved licensure exams for their endorsement area to be recommended for licensure. See below for program-specific deadlines for passing these exams.
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 300% 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)
Praxis Exam Requirements
| Program | Required Exam | Passing Score | Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Inclusive Early Childhood Education | Education of Young Children (5024) | 160 | May 1 prior to Professional Year |
| Teaching Reading: Elementary (5205) | 159 | May 1 prior to Professional Year | |
| Special Education: Preschool/Early Childhood (5692) | 159 | May 1 prior to Professional Year |
ECE/IECE: You are required to take three Praxis tests (5024, 5205, and 5692) by May 1st. Be sure your official scores are sent to UCCS (4874) and the Colorado Department of Education (7040). You may re-take any Praxis multiple times, but you must wait at least 28 days between attempts. If you have not passed either 5024 or 5691 before August 1, you must submit an application for multiple measures of content competency to CDE by that date. You are required to have passed 5205 by August 1.
| Program | Required Exam | Passing Score | Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary Education | Teaching Reading: Elementary (5205) | 159 | Jan 1 prior to student teaching semester |
| Elementary Education: Three Subject Bundle--Mathematics (5903) | 157 | May 1 prior to Professional Year | |
| Elementary Education: Three Subject Bundle--Social Studies (5904) | 155 | May 1 prior to Professional Year | |
| Elementary Education: Three Subject Bundle--Science (5905) | 159 | May1 prior to Professional Year | |
| Special Education: Core Knowledge and Applications (5354)* option for IELM majors | 151 | upon program completion |
Three Subject Bundle exam requirements may also be met by passing Elementary Education: Three Subject Bundle (5901).
ELM/IELM: You are required to take three Praxis tests (5903, 5904, and 5905 are offered as a 'bundle' and are taken at the same time; separately, these tests are 5003, 5004, and 5005) by May 1. Be sure your official scores are sent to UCCS (4874) and the Colorado Department of Education (7040). You may re-take any Praxis multiple times, but you must wait at least 28 days between attempts. For tests you have not passed before August 1 (5903, 5904, 5905 / 5003, 5004, 5005), you must submit an application for multiple measures of content competency to CDE by that date. Candidates are required to have passed 5205 by January 1 prior to student teaching semester.
Praxis 5205 meets the READ Act Teacher Training requirement and the Reading Standards for Licensure requirement. For more information, refer to the FAQ document from the Colorado Department of Education.
| Program | Required Exam | Passing Score | Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Secondary Mathematics Education | Mathematics (5165) | 159 | prior to Apprentice Teaching |
| Secondary Science Education | General Science: Content Knowledge (5435) | 152 | prior to Apprentice Teaching |
| Secondary English Education | English Language Arts: Content Knowledge (5038) | 167 | May 1 prior to Professional Year |
| Secondary Social Studies Education | Social Studies: Content Knowledge (5081) | 150 | May 1 prior to Professional Year |
| World Language Education (K-12) | French: World Language (5174) or Spanish: World Language (5195) | 162 163 | May 1 prior to Professional Year |
SECONDARY: You are required to pass the Praxis test in your content area OR have CDE approval for multiple measures of content competency by May 1.
| Program | Required Exam | Passing Score | Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Special Education | Teaching Reading: Elementary (5205) | 159 | prior to student teaching |
| Elementary Education: Three Subject Bundle--Mathematics (5903) | 157 | prior to student teaching | |
| Elementary Education: Three Subject Bundle--Social Studies (5904) | 155 | prior to student teaching | |
| Elementary Education: Three Subject Bundle--Science (5905) | 159 | prior to student teaching | |
| Special Education: Core Knowledge and Applications (5354) | 151 | prior to student teaching | |
| School Counseling | Professional School Counselor (5422) | 156 | prior to internship |
| Gifted and Talented Education | Gifted Education (5358) | 157 | upon program completion |
| Principal Licensure | Educational Leadership: Administration and Supervision (5412) | 146 | upon program completion |