Woodrow Wilson Indiana Teaching Fellowship
Teacher Certification Testing Requirements
All Woodrow Wilson Indiana Teaching Fellows must take and pass the Praxis I, administered by Educational Testing Service (ETS), or provide documentation that the requirements of one of the listed alternative assessments are met. Documentation must be provided by accepted Fellows to the enrolling partner university during or before the first semester of coursework. Proof of passing the Praxis I or meeting the requirements of one of the listed alternate assessments is not a program admissions requirement.
Praxis I is a pre-professional skills test that is used by most states as a minimum standard for teacher certification and licensure. The test measures very basic skills in reading, writing, and mathematics, but does not require any knowledge of teaching, pedagogy, K-12 education systems, or curriculum standards. Because states require the test for teacher certification and licensure, many schools of education also rely on it when considering admissions to teacher education programs. There is a fee to take Praxis I.
The exam is available in both a computer-based version (flexible scheduling at multiple locations) and a paper-based version (available on a set schedule at limited locations). The computer-based version (CBT) is strongly recommended for applicants to the Woodrow Wilson Indiana Teaching Fellowship. More information can be found at the website of the Educational Testing Service (ETS). In planning to take the Praxis I test, please bear in mind that ETS typically requires at least 30 days to process test results and provide score reports.
While the master's degree program will include all the necessary coursework for obtaining an Indiana teaching license, licensure candidates must pass the Praxis I exam and the Praxis II Specialty Area Tests.
Passing Scores
Teaching Fellows who choose to take Praxis I are required to submit qualifying scores for all three individual portions of the exam. The Indiana Division of Professional Standards requires teacher licensure candidates to attain a Praxis I reading score of 176, a writing score of 172, and a mathematics score of 175. Test-takers may repeat exams to improve scores.
Submitting Score Reports
Official score reports can be ordered at the time of registration or on the test date for up to three institutions. In all cases, please be sure to include the WW Teaching Fellowship code — 2521.
It is also recommended that you send score reports to your preferred partner universities by selecting the appropriate code during the registration process or on the test date.
Partner University Codes:
- Ball State University — code 1051
- IUPUI — code 1325
- Purdue University — code 1631
- University of Indianapolis — 1321
Once you complete the exam, you can access and download your official score report online for 45 days after the score release date via your My Praxis account. It is recommended that you print a copy of the report and store it in a secure location for future reference.
Praxis I Alternatives
The following additional assessments/routes are acceptable to document basic skills competency, in lieu of taking the Praxis I exam:
- ACT with a score of at least 24
- SAT with a composite score of at least 1100
- GRE with a composite score of at least 301 (1100 for GRE tests taken prior to August 1, 2011 - see note below)
NOTE: The scoring scale for the GRE has been revised. Scores for this test are no longer reported from 200-800 but now range from 130-170. For any GRE tests taken after August 1, 2011, the new Praxis I GRE alternative combined score requirement is 301. Candidates who receive at least this combined score, based off verbal and quantitative only, are exempt from taking the Praxis I. - Anyone with a Master's Degree from a regionally accredited institution is exempt (except at Ball State University)
- Praxis 1 composite score of 527
ACT, SAT and GRE scores do not include writing. ACT score includes Math, Reading, Grammar and Science Reading. SAT score reflects Critical Reading and Math. GRE reflects Verbal and Quantitative