The Praxis is a set of required exams to gain your teaching license in the United States. The exam is put in place to ensure teachers are knowledgeable and career-ready. There are three sets of exams: the Core, Principles of Learning and Teaching (PLT), and Content. The Core is a general exam similar to the ACT/SAT. The PLT is an exam that reviews teaching methods that reflect your desired grade levels. The Content exam is specific to your major and certification.

To enter the teaching prep program at WKU, all education majors must pass the Praxis Core or have satisfactory ACT scores. To be a full-time employed teacher at a school in Kentucky, you must pass the PLT and Content exam for your designated position. Other states may have different requirements.

You do not take the actual Praxis exam with us. The Praxis is hosted at ets.org/praxis. You will take all official exams online through proctoring or at a testing center. There are two official testing centers in Bowling Green. Create an account at ETS to find more information.

To graduate with a teaching bachelor’s degree at WKU, all education majors must either pass the Praxis Core or have satisfactory ACT scores. The PLT and Content exams are not required to receive a degree, but taking them during your studies at WKU is strongly recommended. 

Undergraduate students may not have to take the Praxis Core if their ACT scores are satisfactory. To be exempt, you need a 20 Reading score, 19 Math score, and 18 English score (as of November 2023). If you meet these scores or higher, you do not need to take further action for the Praxis Core. Scores that are more than 10 years old do not qualify. Follow the instructions below to determine whether your scores are satisfactory.

1. Log onto TopNet
2. Click on Registration
3. Click on View Test Scores and Course Eligibility

Yes! If you only meet the requirements for one or two exams, you only have to take the remaining portions. The Praxis Core can be divided.

Graduate students do not need to take the Praxis Core. WKU asks new graduate students seeking a teaching degree to take a practice Content exam. This is to demonstrate knowledge in your teaching field. (For example, a future chemistry teacher will take a chemistry Praxis Content exam) Email literacy.center@wku.edu for a practice exam. Please state your desired grade level (early childhood, elementary, middle, high) and content area. Report your practice score to your advisor/connection to your master’s program.

Praxis tutoring is available for the Praxis Core. To begin the Praxis Core preparation program, we ask that you complete a pretest to determine your current skill set. We might find that you are prepared to take the exam immediately. If that is the case, we will register you for your exam. If we find that you need a review before taking the exam, you can attend a weekly Praxis preparation class or possibly self-study to ensure a passing score on our post-test. Either way, if you work with us, we will pay your registration fees. Email literacy.center@wku.edu for access to the pretest. No prior studying is required.

Yes, while funds are available. Whether you struggle with Praxis Core content or immediately pass our pretest, we can pay for the registration fees. To receive funds, we expect students to regularly attend tutoring sessions, communicate with tutors, and work hard to achieve a passing score. Students cannot register by themselves and expect funds later. The director of the Center for Literacy must be present and complete the registration process with the student. This can be done in-person or via Zoom.

We have created a lot of online materials in various formats. Please send an email to literacy.center@wku.edu to ask for specific resources. To have your exam paid for, you must take our pretest and complete the program as suggested by the Praxis tutors.

No, tutors are only working with the Praxis Core content. Because there are so many different PLT and Content exams, it is possible our Praxis tutors have never taken or studied for your specific exams. We do have online resources available to send for the PLT and some Content exams for self-study. Email us at literacy.center@wku.edu asking for materials for your specific content exam.