Required Culminating Examinations for Each Certification Area
The table below lists the specific exams (along with their codes) that are required by Pennsylvania for each of the certification programs offered at Messiah College. It is important to note that these are the exams that are currently required by Pennsylvania. If you are seeking certification in a state other than Pennsylvania, you may find that the required exams are different. When you register, don’t forget to list Messiah College and the Pennsylvania Department of Education as score recipients. Most are Praxis exams administered by ETS. Exams administered by Pearson are bolded.
NOTE: When you register online for Praxis exams, the results are posted one month after your test date. You can access these for a period of thirty days online. If you want a copy of the results, you must print them during the 30 day window.
For test preparation material, choose your tests from the drop down menu at: Praxis II Tests at a Glance
| Art Education K-12 |
0134 (paper) or 5134 (computer, after 2/13) Art: Content Knowledge
0511 (paper) or 5511 (computer) Fundamental Subjects: Content Knowledge |
Biology 7-12
|
0235 (paper) or 5235 (computer) Biology: Content Knowledge
|
Chemistry 7-12
|
0245 (paper) or 5245 (computer) Chemistry: Content Knowledge (2 hr) |
English 7-12
|
0041 (paper) or 5041 (computer) English Language, Literature, & Composition: Content Knowledge |
Environmental Education K-12 (dual cert w/Biology)
|
0830 Environmental Education
*After 9/12, 0831 Environmental Education replaces 0830 Environmental Education
0511 (paper) or 5511 (computer) Fundamental Subjects: Content Knowledge |
Family & Consumer Sciences K-12
|
0121 (paper) or 5121 (computer, after 12/12) Family & Consumer Sciences
0511 (paper) or 5511 (computer) Fundamental Subjects: Content Knowledge |
| French K-12 |
0511 (paper) or 5511 (computer) Fundamental Subjects: Content Knowledge
5174 World Languages: French
Special Note: Foreign Language French candidates have the option of taking either the PRAXIS or the ACTFL test. Candidates may take the ACTFL test, which includes a written (when available) and oral exam that is graded on a proficiency scale rather than a point scale. Both the written and oral exams must be taken when available. The minimum proficiency to qualify is Intermediate High - Code 120. Candidates may contact the ACTFL Language Testing office at http://www.languagetesting.com/ or at 914-963-7110 for further information. |
| German K-12 |
0511 (paper) or 5511 (computer) Fundamental Subjects: Content Knowledge
5183 World Languages: German
Special Note: Foreign Language German candidates have the option of taking either the PRAXIS or the ACTFL test. Candidates may take the ACTFL test, which includes a written (when available) and oral exam that is graded on a proficiency scale rather than a point scale. Both the written and oral exams must be taken when available. The minimum proficiency to qualify is Intermediate High - Code 120. Candidates may contact the ACTFL Language Testing office at http://www.languagetesting.com/ or at 914-963-7110 for further information. |
| Grades PreK-4 |
Pre K-4 Pennsylvania Educator Certification Tests (PECT) administered by Pearson Evaluation Systems - 3 modules |
| Grades 4-8 |
5152 Pennsylvania Grades 4-8 Core Assessment (3 subtests) - Subtests (5153, 5154, 5155) are available so that students can retake one portion of 5152 instead of the whole thing if a passing score is not received on the first attempt.
AND exam(s) for your one or two concentration areas:
5156 Pennsylvania Grades 4-8 Subject Concentration: English Lang. Arts
5157 Pennsylvania Grades 4-8 Subject Concentration: Social Studies
5158 Pennsylvania Grades 4-8 Subject Concentration: Mathematics
5159 Pennsylvania Grades 4-8 Subject Concentration: Science
DO NOT take 7-9 Middle Level Praxis Tests: 0049, 0069, 0089, 0439, 5049, 5089 |
Health & Physical Education K-12
|
0856 (paper) or 5856 (computer) Health & Physical Education: Content Knowledge
0511 (paper) or 5511 (computer) Fundamental Subjects: Content Knowledge |
Mathematics 7-12
|
0061 (paper) or 5061 (computer) Mathematics: Content Knowledge (graphing calculator required) |
| Music Education K-12 |
0113 (paper) or 5113 (computer, after 2/13)Music: Content Knowledge (contains listening section)
0511 (paper) or 5511 (computer) Fundamental Subjects: Content Knowledge
|
| Physics K-12 |
0265 (paper) or 5265 (computer)Physics: Content Knowledge
|
School Counselor: Elementary K–6 OR Secondary 7–12
|
0420 School Guidance and Counseling
*After 9/12, 0421 (paper) or 5421 (computer, after 2/13) Professional School Counselor replaces 0420 School Guidance and Counseling |
Social Studies 7-12
|
0081 (paper) or 5081 (computer) Social Studies: Content Knowledge |
| Spanish K-12 |
0511 (paper) or 5511 (computer) Fundamental Subjects: Content Knowledge
5195 World Languages: Spanish
Special Note: Foreign Language Spanish candidates have the option of taking either the PRAXIS or the ACTFL test. Candidates may take the ACTFL test, which includes a written (when available) and oral exam that is graded on a proficiency scale rather than a point scale. Both the written and oral exams must be taken when available. The minimum proficiency to qualify is Intermediate High - Code 120. Candidates may contact the ACTFL Language Testing office at http://www.languagetesting.com/ or at 914-963-7110 for further information. |
Special Education PreK-8 (dual cert w/ Grades PK-4) |
Special Education PreK-8 Pennsylvania Educator Certification Tests (PECT) administered by Pearson Evaluation Systems - 2 modules |
