As of 2022, the Colorado Department of Education requires 2 exams for Early Childhood Teacher Licensure, and 1 for Early Childhood SPED. CMU dual-licensure, EC & EC SPED, students are required to complete 3 exams:
- Education of Young Children
- Test code 5024
- Passing score 160
- Cost: $156.00
- Take prior to start of pre-internship
- Teaching Reading: Elementary
- Test code 5205**
- Passing score 159
- Cost: $156.00
- Take 2 months before end pre-internship
- Special Education: Preschool/Early Childhood
**All K-3 teachers must meet the READ Act requirements within their first years of teaching. Passing the 5205 exam meets this requirement. Learn more at http://www.cde.state.co.us/coloradoliteracy.
Elementary students must take and pass all 3 subject exams and a teaching reading exam. FOUR total exams are required.
- Mathematics Subtest
- Test code 5903 (previously 5003)
- Passing score 157
- Cost: $64.00
- Take prior to start of pre-internship
- Social Studies Subtest
- Test code 5904 (previously 5004)
- Passing score 155
- Cost: $64.00
- Take prior to the start of pre-internship
- Science Subtest
- Test code 5905
- Passing score 159
- Cost: $64.00
- Take prior to start of pre-internship
- Teaching Reading: Elementary
- Test code 5205
- Passing score 159
- Cost: $156.00
- Take 2 months before the end of pre-internship
For the 3-subject bundle, use the test code of 5901. (Save $42 by registering for the bundle rather than individual tests)
**All K-3 teachers must meet the READ Act requirements within their first years of teaching. Passing the 5205 exam meets this requirement. Learn more at http://www.cde.state.co.us/coloradoliteracy.
Elementary Praxis Preparation Materials
- Khan Academy resources for the Elementary Social Studies Exam:
- Khan Academy site for the Math Praxis Core can also help with preparation, as the Math CORE covers similar topics.
- Elementary Math content resources at MathHelp.com
- Praxis study tools are also available at the CMU Library
Secondary students must take and pass the exam that matches their content area. Typically ONE exam is required.
English Language Arts - Secondary
- ELA test code: 5038
- Required score: 167
- Cost: $130.00
- ELA 5038 Exam Study Guide
- Take prior to start of pre-internship
- Math test code: 5165
- Required score: 159
- Cost: $130.00
- 5165 Math Study Guide
- 5161 with a score of 152 accepted if taken between 09.01.2016 and 08.31.2022
- Take prior to start of pre-internship
- Science test code: 5436
- Required score: 141
- Cost: $130.00
- 5436 Science Study Guide
- 5435 (152) also accepted if taken before 08.31.2023; accepted through 08.31.2028
- Take prior to start of pre-internship
- Social Studies test code: 5081
- Required score: 150
- Cost: $130.00
- Social Studies Study Guide
- Take prior to start of pre-internship
- Spanish test code: 5195
- Required score: 163
- Cost: $170.00
- Spanish Study Guide
- Take prior to start of pre-internship
- Art test code: 5135
- Required score: 158
- Cost: $156.00
- Take prior to start of pre-internship
Music: Content Knowledge Grades K-12
- Music test Code: 5113
- Required score: 161
- Cost: $130.00
- Take prior to applying for student teaching
Physical Education: Content Knowledge Grades K-12
- PE test code: 5091
- Required score: 148
- Cost: $130.00
- Take prior to applying for student teaching
The PLACE exam was replaced by Praxis content testing in 2017. Applicants who completed the PLACE exam prior to May 6, 2017 may have used PLACE scores towards licensure through May 6, 2022. The passing score for all PLACE exams was 220.
Praxis Subject Exam Registration
- Register through the ETS website
- Colorado's agency code: 7040
- Recipient code for CMU: 4484
- The code for the test center located at Colorado Mesa University: 5307
- Praxis Testing Offered at-Home, at CMU, or Offsite
- At-home testing is also available. You do have to create a proctored environment at home. More information can be found at https://www.ets.org/s/cv/praxis/at-home/faq
Help Paying for Praxis
Exam Fee Waiver
- Exam fee waivers are available for qualifying candidates based a candidate's FAFSA Student Aid Report (SAR) that shows an Expected Family Contribution (EFC) of $3,000 or less.
- To apply for an exam fee waiver, see https://www.ets.org/praxis/site/test-takers/register/fee-waivers.html
Scholarship
- Study.com Praxis Scholarship: https://study.com/academy/popular/studycom-praxis-scholarship-application-form-information.html
Colorado Department of Education Licensure Information
- CDE Endorsement Exam Requirements: http://www.cde.state.co.us/cdeprof/endorsementrequirements
- CDE Initial Licensure Checklist: http://www.cde.state.co.us/cdeprof/checklist-initialteacher
Praxis CORE
(Undergraduate Students ONLY)
If you are applying to the Teacher Education program after taking EDUC 115/215, you must take the Praxis CORE and be admitted to teacher education prior to taking 300-level or higher EDUC classes. To learn more about taking Praxis Core see our CTE Admission Testing page. To learn more about applying to Teacher Ed, see How to Apply.