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Home Academics Schools Teacher Education Program Licensure Assessments and Preparation

Licensure Assessments and Preparation

Praxis, VCLA, & Licensure Requirements

The information below describes the tests that are required of Bridgewater College Teacher Education Program candidates. For more information, including how to register, test dates, etc., visit:

Teacher Education Program Assessments need for obtaining licensure: Before applying to the teacher education program, take the VCLA. If you wish to be an elementary educator, take the Praxis Elementary and Teaching Reading: Elementary before graduation. If you wish to teach middle school students, take the Praxis Middle School: All Content Knowledge before graduation to obtain licensure. If you want to teach secondary education, take the Praxis Secondary before graduation to obtain licensure. If you wish to teach all grades, take the Praxis: All Grades before graduation to obtain licensure.

Assessments

Virginia Communication and Literacy Assessment (VCLA)

When to take?– Teacher Candidates should take the VCLA before applying for admission to the Teacher Education Program.

Who should take it? – All candidates to the Teacher Education Program.

The VCLA consists of two parts: the Reading and Writing subtests. Students can take the subtests individually or together in the same testing session.

  • Test # – Reading subtest (091); Writing subtest (092)
  • Cost – Reading subtest = $40; Writing subtest = $40; Registration Fee = $50
  • Cumulative Min. Passing ScoreCombined score of 470 or higher

Praxis Elementary Education: Multiple Subjects

When to take? – Students should complete the required assessments prior to graduation to obtain your teaching license in Elementary Education (PreK-6).

Who should take it? – interested in obtaining licensure to teach grades PreK through 6 should take the following test:

Elementary Education: Multiple Subjects

  • Test #5001
  • Cost$180

You must obtain a passing score on each subtest. See below for the individualized passing scores for each subtest. Students can take the multi-subject test all at once or they may take each subtest individually. If you would prefer to take the different subject tests individually, see the testing information below.

1. (Individual) Reading

  • Test #5002
  • Min. Passing Score157
  • Cost$64

2. (Individual) Math

  • Test #5003
  • Min. Passing Score157
  • Cost$6

3. (Individual) Social Studies

  • Test #5004
  • Min. Passing Score155
  • Cost$64

4. (Individual) Science

  • Test #5005
  • Min. Passing Score159
  • Cost$64

 

Teaching Reading: Elementary

When to take? – Students should complete the Teaching Reading: Elementary assessment during the same time as their Elementary Education: Multiple Subjects assessment.

  • Test #5205
  • Cost $156
  • Min. Passing Score159

Praxis Middle School Content Knowledge

Who should take it? – Students interested in obtaining an endorsement for Middle School education should contact the Teacher Education Program’s Coordinator for Test Support, Dr. Jenny Martin (jmmartin@bridgewater.edu), for more information.

Praxis Secondary Content Knowledge

When to take?Students should complete the required assessments prior to graduation to obtain your teaching license in Secondary Education (6-12).

Who should take it? – Students interested in obtaining licensure to teach grades 6 through 12 should take the following tests:

Secondary Education Assessments:

1. Biology 

  • Test #5235
  • Cost$130
  • Min. Passing Score155

2. Chemistry

  • Test #5245
  • Cost$130
  • Min. Passing Score153

3. English

  • Test #5038
  • Cost$130
  • Min. Passing Score167

4. Family and Consumer Sciences

  • Test #5122
  • Cost$130
  • Min. Passing Score153

5. History and Social Studies

  • Test # 5081
  • Cost – $130
  • Min. Passing Score161

6. Physics

  • Test #5265
  • Cost$130
  • Min. Passing Score147

 

Praxis All-Grades Content Knowledge

When to take? Students should complete the required assessments prior to graduation to obtain your teaching license in All-Grades Education (PreK-12).

Who should take it? – Students interested in obtaining licensure to teach grades PreK through 12 should take the following tests:

All-Grades Education Assessments:

1. Health and Physical Education

  • Test #  5857
  • Cost$130
  • Min. Passing Score160

2. Music (Vocal and Instrumental)

  • Test #5113
  • Cost$130
  • Min. Passing Score 160

3. Spanish

  • Test #5195
  • Cost$170
  • Min. Passing Score 168

4. Theatre Arts

  • Test #5641
  • Cost$130

5. Visual Arts

  • Test #5134
  • Cost $130
  • Min. Passing Score158

Test Preparation and Support

Bridgewater College’s Teacher Education Program supports you in the following ways for test preparation:

Dr. Jenny Martin (jmmartin@bridgewater.edu), Coordinator for Test Support, is in Flory 315 and offers a variety of support with registration and test preparation to suit individual student needs including:

  • One-on-one study sessions for the VCLA
  • Summer testing preparation session are available via video conferencing or face-to-face
  • Access to personalized diagnostic testing and  targeted skill-building modules for test preparation

For additional, online help to prepare for your licensure exams, check out this resource: https://www.240tutoring.com/