Wisconsin Educator Testing Requirements

The Department of Public Instruction (DPI) requires educators to demonstrate a minimum level of competency in the Basic Skills of Reading, Writing, and Mathematics and demonstrate competency in the content knowledge of their specific licensed area using standardized Subject Area Tests. The information on this page will assist you in learning more about the testing requirements for initial educators completing programs in Wisconsin, professional educators, and out-of-state educators.

Testing Requirements For Initial Educators Completing Programs In Wisconsin

Basic Skills Testing

The Wisconsin Administrative Code PI 34.14(1)(a)1 requires that students applying for admission to a Wisconsin educator preparation program pass competency tests in communication skills prior to admission. The Wisconsin tests selected for this purpose are the Praxis I: Pre-Professional Skills Tests (PPST) in Reading, Writing and Mathematics. To learn more about the Praxis I: PPST, including registration information and test locations, go to the ETS website. Substitutions by passing scores on graduate school admissions examinations, ACT, or SAT tests are not allowable.

Qualifying scores for the PPST are:

- PPST Reading (0710) or PPST Reading (5710)	Passing score:175
- PPST Writing (0720) or PPST Writing (5720)	Passing Score:174
- PPST Mathematics (0730) or PPST Mathematics (5730)	Passing Score:173

Subject Area Testing

Wisconsin requires students who complete their professional education programs after August 31, 2004 to complete and pass subject assessments in order to qualify for a state education license. All state approved professional education preparation programs in Wisconsin require student assessments of content knowledge that are determined by passing scores established by the State Superintendent. Time of completion of this assessment within the educational program sequence is determined by policy established by the professional education program. Wisconsin uses Educational Testing Service (ETS) Praxis II: Subject Area Tests for all licenses except world languages. Wisconsin uses Language Testing International (LTI) for World Language Tests. Candidates enrolled in a Wisconsin Educator Preparation Program should contact their respective program for all testing requirements pertinent to the licensure endorsement they are seeking.

Praxis II: Subject Area Tests are for all teacher and pupil services candidates enrolled in Wisconsin educator preparation programs, in a subject except world languages (see link below).

Go to the ETS website for registration information, for preparation materials, and to learn of Wisconsin’s selected tests and passing scores. The DPI does not have direct involvement in the ETS assessment process itself and all questions should be directed to: www.ets.org/praxis/ or call 1-800-772-9476.

Language Testing International: World Language Tests

1. Go to www.languagetesting.com
2. Click on “Apply for an Academic Test”
3. Click on “WI Applicants Only”
4. Click to “Apply Online” or click to “Download Application”
5. If you have questions, please contact: admin@languagetesting.com

Note: Wisconsin requires both the Oral Proficiency interview (OPI-OPIc) and Writing Proficiency Test (WPT). The qualifying score for licensure in Wisconsin on both tests is Intermediate High.

Testing Requirements For Educators Adding A Second License

All educators seeking to add a license after August 31, 2004 must take a subject area test to demonstrate content knowledge. There are two paths in which educators may select from when seeking to add a license; both require passing a subject assessment in order to qualify. 1) Take and pass a subject area test approved by the State Superintendent in a related area to the current license, or 2) complete a Wisconsin educator preparation program.

Pathway 1. License Based on a Content Test

As of December 2010, Wisconsin educators who hold a valid Professional Educator license in world language (excluding ESL); social studies; science; English language arts; and mathematics/computer science are eligible to add on licensure in a related area based on passing a content test approved by the State Superintendent.

To apply for a license in this pathway, a Professional Educator must:

1) Hold a valid Wisconsin Professional Educator License (License Type: 30, 31, 32, 33, 36, 40, 41, 42, or 43), Master Educator License (License Type: 50, 51, or 52), or Life License (License Type: 08) in the related subject area (see below).

2) Verify your eligibility on the license look-up page, dpi.wi.gov/tepdl/lisearch.html.

3) Choose the test you will take. Register directly with the test vendor to take the test. Follow the charts below.

4) Take the test, and obtain an original score report from the test vendor. Verify minimum passing score. Do not request score reports to be sent directly to the department.

5) Apply for the new license using application form PI-1602-TST . Attach original score report from the test vendor. An applicant may add more than one related area license at a time based on a passing score. Only original score reports reflecting passing scores submitted with the PI-1602-TST application form will be considered. Do not submit an application without an original score report attached.

Pathway 2. Complete a Wisconsin Educator Preparation Program

Initial or professional educators may enroll in an approved Wisconsin educator preparation program.

1) Seek out an approved program: dpi.wi.gov/tepdl/indexed.html.
2) Complete the requirements of the program including the testing requirements;
3) Wisconsin uses Educational Testing Service (ETS) Praxis II: Subject Area Tests for all licenses except world languages. Wisconsin uses Language Testing International (LTI) for World Language Tests. Candidates enrolled in a Wisconsin Educator Preparation Program should contact their respective program for all testing requirements pertinent to the licensure endorsement they are seeking.

•Praxis II: Subject Area Tests are for all teacher and pupil services candidates enrolled in Wisconsin educator preparation programs, in a subject except world languages (see link below).

•Language Testing International: World Language Tests are for all world language teacher candidates enrolled in Wisconsin educator preparation programs beginning September, 2011. Note: Any candidate enrolled in a Wisconsin approved World Language Program that has met passing scores established by the State Superintendent in Praxis II: Subject Assessments French (0173), German (0181), and Spanish (0191), prior to September, 2011, may use those scores.

To learn more about Wisconsin World Languages Assessments follow these basic instructions:

1. Go to www.languagetesting
2. Click on “Apply for an Academic Test”
3. Click on “WI Applicants Only”
4. Click to “Apply Online” or click to “Download Application”
5. If you have questions, please contact: admin@languagetesting.com

Note: Wisconsin requires both the Oral Proficiency Interview (OPI/OPIc) and Writing Proficiency Test (WPT). The qualifying score for licensure in Wisconsin on both tests is Intermediate High.

For questions about this information, contact Tammy G. Huth (608) 266-1788

Last updated on 12/29/2011 10:27:13 AM