Kentucky Praxis Requirements: Tests & Passing Scores
Kentucky Praxis Requirements: Tests, Passing Scores & Teacher Certification
If you are planning to become a teacher in Kentucky, understanding the Kentucky Praxis Requirements should be one of your first steps. Kentucky uses Praxis assessments to evaluate the academic skills, subject knowledge, and professional teaching knowledge of many educator-certification candidates.
However, there is no single Praxis exam that every Kentucky teacher takes. Your required test depends on your certification area, grade level, preparation program, and whether you were trained inside or outside Kentucky.
The Kentucky Education Professional Standards Board, commonly called EPSB, establishes certification standards and selects assessments used for educators in the Commonwealth.
This guide explains the Kentucky Praxis Requirements, including Praxis Core, Elementary Education 5001 and 7001, Teaching Reading 5205, Principles of Learning and Teaching exams, middle-school and secondary assessments, special education testing, score reporting, and rules for out-of-state educators.
Candidates who need structured exam preparation can explore AIProctoredExams Praxis preparation courses or browse the complete AIProctoredExams course catalog.
What Are the Kentucky Praxis Requirements?
The Kentucky Praxis Requirements depend on the certificate or endorsement you intend to obtain.
For traditional initial certification, candidates generally complete an approved educator preparation program and pass the Praxis assessments required for their certification area. Alternative-route candidates can have different testing timelines and should verify their specific pathway with Kentucky EPSB.
Kentucky currently uses Praxis assessments for areas including:
- Elementary Education
- Middle School Education
- Secondary Education
- Special Education
- World Languages
- English as a Second Language
- Music
- Physical Education
- School Psychology
- Communication Disorders
- Reading and literacy endorsements
- Numerous other P–12 teaching fields
The safest approach is to identify your exact certification field before registering.
Candidates should verify their current test codes and qualifying scores using the official ETS Kentucky Praxis requirements page and the Kentucky Education Professional Standards Board certification resources.
Who Needs to Take Praxis in Kentucky?
Most candidates seeking Kentucky educator certification encounter Praxis assessments somewhere in their preparation or certification process.
Typical situations include:
| Candidate | Typical Testing Situation |
|---|---|
| Kentucky educator-preparation candidate | Praxis entry and certification assessments may apply |
| Elementary Education candidate | Elementary content, reading and PLT requirements |
| Middle-school candidate | Subject assessment plus PLT 5623 |
| Secondary candidate | Subject assessment plus PLT 5624 |
| Special Education candidate | Assessment depends on specialization |
| Out-of-state candidate with under two years’ qualifying experience | Kentucky Praxis requirements may apply |
| Out-of-state candidate with qualifying two years’ experience | Testing can be waived |
| Interstate Teacher Mobility Compact candidate | May qualify without Kentucky Praxis testing |
Kentucky’s current out-of-state guidance states that testing requirements can be waived for applicants who provide verification of at least two years of appropriate full-time teaching experience. Certain applicants eligible under the Interstate Teacher Mobility Compact may also avoid additional Kentucky Praxis testing.
Kentucky Praxis Core Requirements
Praxis Core is an important part of the Kentucky Praxis Requirements for entry into many educator preparation programs.
ETS currently lists the following Kentucky qualifying scores:
| Praxis Core Assessment | Test Code | Kentucky Qualifying Score |
|---|---|---|
| Core Academic Skills for Educators: Reading | 5713 | 150 |
| Core Academic Skills for Educators: Writing | 5723 | 158 |
| Core Academic Skills for Educators: Mathematics | 5733 | 144 |
Candidates can take the three assessments individually or register for the combined Praxis Core 5752.
Graduate-level candidates may have another option. ETS states that an educator preparation provider may accept specified GRE scores instead of Praxis Core for admission to an initial graduate certification program. The listed GRE benchmarks are 150 in Verbal Reasoning, 143 in Quantitative Reasoning, and 4.0 in Analytical Writing, although the preparation provider determines its admission policy.
Before paying for Praxis Core, confirm the admission requirements directly with your Kentucky college or educator preparation provider.
Students who want broader Praxis review can also explore the Praxis 5511 Fundamental Subjects preparation course as an additional content-building resource.
Kentucky Praxis Requirements for Elementary Education P–5
Elementary Education is one of the most important areas within the Kentucky Praxis Requirements because candidates now have multiple assessment options.
ETS currently lists both the newer Praxis 7001 Elementary Education: Multiple Subjects series and the Praxis 5001 Elementary Education: Multiple Subjects series for Kentucky Elementary Education P–5 certification. Candidates also need the appropriate pedagogical and reading components.
Kentucky Praxis 7001 Passing Scores
Praxis 7001 consists of four subtests:
| Praxis 7001 Subtest | Code | Kentucky Qualifying Score |
|---|---|---|
| Elementary Education: Teaching Reading | 7002 | 136 |
| Elementary Education: Mathematics | 7003 | 148 |
| Elementary Education: Social Studies | 7004 | 148 |
| Elementary Education: Science | 7005 | 152 |
The combined series is Praxis 7001.
Kentucky’s adoption of the 7000-series is especially important because the 7002 component directly assesses teaching reading. ETS currently notes that 7002 can be taken in place of Praxis 5205 within the state’s elementary requirements.
Kentucky Praxis 5001 Passing Scores
Kentucky also currently lists the Praxis 5001 series.
| Praxis 5001 Subtest | Code | Kentucky Qualifying Score |
|---|---|---|
| Reading and Language Arts | 5002 | 151 |
| Mathematics | 5003 | 148 |
| Social Studies | 5004 | 148 |
| Science | 5005 | 152 |
These Kentucky scores differ from the qualifying scores used by several other states. Candidates should therefore avoid relying on a generic Praxis passing-score chart when preparing for Kentucky certification.
If Praxis 5001 applies to your pathway, use the Praxis 5001 Elementary Education exam preparation course to review Reading and Language Arts, Mathematics, Social Studies, and Science.
Praxis 5205 Teaching Reading in Kentucky
Reading instruction has become an important component of Kentucky teacher preparation.
Kentucky approved Praxis 5205 Teaching Reading: Elementary as an assessment of candidates’ knowledge of effective reading instruction. The requirement developed in response to Kentucky’s early-literacy legislation, which called for approved teacher-preparation assessments addressing reading instruction.
The current ETS Kentucky requirements page lists Praxis 5205 alongside the Elementary Education requirements and states that Praxis 7002 may be taken instead of 5205.
Praxis 5205 covers areas such as:
- Phonological and phonemic awareness
- Phonics and decoding
- Fluency
- Vocabulary
- Reading comprehension
- Writing development
- Literacy assessment
- Differentiated reading instruction
- Evidence-based instructional decisions
Candidates following a route that requires 5205 can prepare using the Praxis 5205 Teaching Reading: Elementary Exam Preparation course.
Because Kentucky’s elementary testing options have changed over time, verify whether your program expects 7002, 5205, or another approved combination before registering.
Kentucky Praxis PLT Requirements
Pedagogical knowledge is another major component of the Kentucky Praxis Requirements.
Kentucky uses Praxis Principles of Learning and Teaching assessments for many certification areas.
Current ETS requirements show a qualifying score of 155 for each of these major Kentucky PLT assessments:
| Certification Level | Praxis PLT | Kentucky Qualifying Score |
|---|---|---|
| Grades K–6 | 5622 | 155 |
| Grades 5–9 | 5623 | 155 |
| Grades 7–12 | 5624 | 155 |
The correct PLT depends on your certification grade range.
Elementary candidates can prepare with the Praxis 5622 Principles of Learning and Teaching Grades K–6 course.
Candidates entering middle school can use the Praxis 5623 Principles of Learning and Teaching Grades 5–9 preparation course.
Secondary candidates can review the Praxis 5624 Principles of Learning and Teaching Grades 7–12 course.
Kentucky Middle School Praxis Requirements
Kentucky middle-school candidates generally need the appropriate subject assessment together with Praxis PLT Grades 5–9, code 5623.
Current examples include:
| Kentucky Middle-School Area | Subject Test | Score | PLT |
|---|---|---|---|
| English and Communications | 5047 | 159 | 5623 – 155 |
| Mathematics | 5164 | 150 | 5623 – 155 |
| Science | 5442 | 146 | 5623 – 155 |
| Social Studies | 5089 or 5589 | 143 | 5623 – 155 |
These scores come from ETS’s current Kentucky certification table.
This combination matters because passing only the content assessment may not satisfy the full certification testing requirement. Candidates should review both the subject test and pedagogy requirement for their field.
Kentucky Secondary Education Praxis Requirements
Secondary certification follows a similar model.
Teachers seeking certification in grades 8–12 generally complete the appropriate content assessment and Praxis PLT 5624.
Examples of current Kentucky requirements include:
| Secondary Certification Area | Content Test | Qualifying Score | PLT Requirement |
|---|---|---|---|
| English Language Arts | 5039 | 164 | 5624 – 155 |
| Mathematics | 5165 | 152 | 5624 – 155 |
| Physics | 5266 | 140 | 5624 – 155 |
| Social Studies | 5086 | 148 | 5624 – 155 |
Other secondary areas have their own test codes and scores. Always verify your exact subject before scheduling.
Kentucky Special Education Praxis Requirements
Special Education is another valuable part of the Kentucky Praxis Requirements because the assessment varies by specialization.
For example, ETS currently lists Praxis 5355 Special Education: Foundational Knowledge with a Kentucky qualifying score of 139 for several fields, including Learning and Behavior Disorders.
Other examples include:
- Hearing Impaired: Praxis 5355 plus Praxis 5272
- Learning and Behavior Disorders: Praxis 5355
- Moderate and Severe Disabilities: Praxis 5547
- Visually Impaired: Praxis 5355 plus Praxis 5282
- Communication Disorders: Praxis 5355 plus Praxis 5331
Candidates preparing for a field that uses 5355 can review the Praxis 5355 Special Education: Foundational Knowledge preparation course.
Because special education assessment combinations are highly field-specific, verify your exact certification title rather than assuming all special education teachers take the same Praxis test.
Praxis 5331 Speech-Language Pathology in Kentucky
Kentucky has a particularly interesting Praxis combination for Communication Disorders P–12.
ETS currently lists:
Praxis 5355 Special Education: Foundational Knowledge – 139
and
Praxis 5331 Speech-Language Pathology – 157
for Communication Disorders P–12 certification.
However, ETS specifically states that these tests are not required for Speech-Language Pathology Assistants seeking Kentucky educator certification.
Candidates who need Praxis 5331 can explore the Praxis 5331 Speech-Language Pathology Exam Preparation course.
This distinction is important because the assessment requirement differs between a Communication Disorders certification candidate and an SLPA.
How Long Are Praxis Scores Valid in Kentucky?
One easily overlooked part of the Kentucky Praxis Requirements concerns score validity.
ETS states that a passing Praxis score used for Kentucky certification is valid for five years from the test administration date.
This is different from the period during which ETS may still be able to report some historical Praxis scores.
Therefore, an older score appearing in your ETS records does not automatically mean Kentucky will accept it for a new certification application.
Candidates returning to teaching after several years should verify score validity before relying on an older examination.
How to Send Praxis Scores to Kentucky
Correct score reporting is essential.
Kentucky’s ETS state-recipient code is:
7283 – Kentucky Education Professional Standards Board
If you test in Kentucky and your Praxis profile address is also in Kentucky, ETS states that your scores are normally sent automatically to EPSB.
If you test outside Kentucky or your Praxis profile address is outside Kentucky, select the Kentucky Education Professional Standards Board, code 7283, when registering.
Kentucky also asks candidates to provide identifying information, including their Social Security number, so scores can be matched correctly with certification records. Failing to provide matching information can delay processing.
Kentucky Praxis Requirements for Out-of-State Teachers
Out-of-state teachers should not automatically register for Praxis before Kentucky evaluates their credentials.
Kentucky’s current guidance states that candidates trained outside the state can qualify through different routes.
Applicants from non-Compact states who have completed an approved educator preparation program may provide verification of at least two years of full-time classroom teaching experience at the appropriate grade level. If they have less than two years of qualifying experience, Kentucky may require passing Praxis specialty-area scores as well as the appropriate PLT.
Kentucky also participates in the Interstate Teacher Mobility Compact.
Eligible educators holding a qualifying license from a participating jurisdiction may follow the Compact certification process.
Most importantly, Kentucky’s updated guidance explains that Praxis testing is not required for out-of-state applicants who are either eligible through the Compact or providing the qualifying two years of verified teaching experience.
Candidates should review the official Kentucky guidance for educators trained out of state before scheduling additional exams.
How to Apply for Kentucky Teacher Certification
Praxis is only one part of certification.
The Kentucky Education Professional Standards Board is responsible for establishing and administering educator-certification requirements.
Depending on your pathway, the process may include:
- Completing an approved educator preparation program.
- Meeting academic and GPA requirements.
- Passing the required certification assessments.
- Creating or using your Kentucky educator credentialing account.
- Providing official transcripts and program documentation.
- Completing Kentucky’s Character and Fitness review.
- Paying applicable certification fees.
- Completing any pathway-specific requirements.
All certification applicants are subject to Kentucky’s Character and Fitness process.
Use the Kentucky EPSB educator certification portal as the final source for current application instructions.
How to Prepare for Your Kentucky Praxis Exam
Once you know which examination applies to you, your preparation should focus on that exact Praxis test code.
A useful study sequence is:
- Confirm your Kentucky certification area.
- Verify the required Praxis test code.
- Check the current Kentucky qualifying score.
- Download the official Praxis test framework.
- Take a diagnostic practice test.
- Identify your weakest content areas.
- Review each content domain systematically.
- Complete topic-based practice questions.
- Review explanations for both correct and incorrect answers.
- Complete timed, full-length practice.
- Revisit weak areas before test day.
- Confirm your ETS profile and Kentucky score-recipient information.
For additional preparation, visit the AIProctoredExams Study Guides section.
Candidates who are new to the platform can review How AIProctoredExams Works or visit the AIProctoredExams Help Center for additional guidance.
You can also follow newly published exam-preparation resources through the AIProctoredExams blog.
Frequently Asked Questions About Kentucky Praxis Requirements
Does Kentucky require Praxis for teachers?
Yes, Praxis assessments are used for many Kentucky teacher-certification areas. The exact tests depend on the certification field, grade range, and pathway. Out-of-state teachers may qualify for testing waivers in certain circumstances.
What Praxis Core scores does Kentucky require?
Kentucky currently lists 150 for Reading 5713, 158 for Writing 5723, and 144 for Mathematics 5733 for educator preparation entry.
What is the Kentucky Praxis 5001 passing score?
Praxis 5001 consists of four individually scored subtests. Kentucky currently lists 151 for 5002 Reading and Language Arts, 148 for 5003 Mathematics, 148 for 5004 Social Studies, and 152 for 5005 Science.
Does Kentucky accept Praxis 7001?
Yes. ETS currently lists Praxis 7001 Elementary Education: Multiple Subjects as an option for Elementary Education P–5. Its Kentucky subtest scores are 136 for 7002, 148 for 7003, 148 for 7004, and 152 for 7005.
Is Praxis 5205 required in Kentucky?
Praxis 5205 Teaching Reading: Elementary appears in Kentucky’s current elementary testing requirements. ETS also states that Praxis 7002 may be taken in place of 5205. Candidates should confirm the appropriate combination with their educator preparation program before registering.
What is the Kentucky Praxis PLT passing score?
Kentucky currently uses a qualifying score of 155 for PLT 5622 Grades K–6, PLT 5623 Grades 5–9, and PLT 5624 Grades 7–12 in the certification areas where those assessments apply.
What is Kentucky’s Praxis score-recipient code?
The Kentucky Education Professional Standards Board score-recipient code is 7283. Candidates testing outside Kentucky should make sure EPSB is selected as a score recipient.
How long are Praxis scores valid in Kentucky?
For Kentucky certification purposes, ETS states that a passing score is valid for five years from the test administration date.
Do out-of-state teachers have to take Praxis in Kentucky?
Not always. Kentucky currently waives the Praxis requirement for qualifying Interstate Teacher Mobility Compact applicants and for out-of-state candidates who provide the required verification of at least two years of appropriate teaching experience. Applicants without that qualifying experience may need Kentucky’s required specialty and PLT assessments.
Start Preparing for Your Kentucky Praxis Exam
Understanding the Kentucky Praxis Requirements helps you avoid registering for the wrong assessment and allows you to focus your study time where it matters most.
Start by identifying your certificate area. Next, verify whether you need Praxis Core, an Elementary Education assessment such as 5001 or 7001, a reading assessment, a subject-specific examination, or an appropriate PLT.
Candidates coming from another state should first determine whether Kentucky’s experience waiver or Interstate Teacher Mobility Compact pathway applies before paying for additional testing.
Once you have confirmed your exam code, create a focused study plan, practice under realistic conditions, review detailed answer explanations, and track weak content areas until your performance improves.
Visit AIProctoredExams to explore Praxis exam preparation courses, practice questions, study resources, and teacher-certification preparation materials.
Disclaimer: AIProctoredExams is an independent exam-preparation provider and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by ETS, the Kentucky Education Professional Standards Board, or the Kentucky Department of Education. Praxis is a trademark of ETS. Examination requirements, test codes, passing scores, and certification rules can change. Candidates should verify current requirements with Kentucky EPSB and ETS before registering for an assessment.
