Maine Praxis Tests & Passing Scores Guide
Maine Praxis Requirements: Tests, Passing Scores and Teacher Certification
Understanding the Maine Praxis requirements can be confusing because Praxis testing is no longer the only way to demonstrate subject-matter competency for a Maine teaching certificate. Praxis remains an accepted and widely used option, but eligible applicants may also qualify through their grades in required coursework or an approved portfolio.
This guide explains Maine’s competency options, certification pathways, Praxis passing scores, registration process, score reporting and available preparation resources. Candidates can also explore the complete selection of published Praxis preparation courses from AIProctoredExams.
Quick answer: Maine does not require every teacher applicant to take Praxis. Depending on the endorsement and certification pathway, an applicant may demonstrate competency through an accepted Praxis score, a 3.0 GPA in the required coursework or an approved standards-based portfolio.
Are Praxis tests required in Maine?
Praxis is an option for meeting Maine’s content-competency requirement, but it is not the only available option.
The Maine Department of Education’s teacher workforce guidance identifies three possible methods of demonstrating competency:
- Earn the required Praxis passing score.
- Maintain at least a 3.0 GPA in the required coursework.
- Obtain approval for a portfolio based on Maine’s Initial Teaching Certification Standards.
The method available to an applicant depends on the endorsement, completed coursework, educator-preparation pathway and Maine DOE’s evaluation.
The Maine DOE Teacher Rubric and certification resources contain an important clarification. An approved portfolio can satisfy the Praxis portion of the requirement, but it does not replace the coursework required for the endorsement.
Candidates should not register for an examination based only on a general table of Maine Praxis requirements. First, identify the endorsement code being requested and review its requirements under Chapter 115 Part II.
Maine teacher-certification pathways
The Maine DOE initial-certification page describes three principal pathways to educator certification.
Pathway 1: Approved teacher-preparation program
This pathway applies to candidates who completed a Maine-approved educator-preparation program.
Applicants should provide an official transcript showing completion of the approved program. If the transcript does not clearly identify the program, Maine DOE may require an approved-program verification form completed by the college or university.
Candidates should follow any examination or competency instructions provided by their preparation program and Maine DOE.
Pathway 2: Transcript analysis
Applicants who did not complete a formal educator-preparation program can be evaluated through transcript analysis.
Maine DOE reviews the applicant’s bachelor’s degree, completed coursework, previously earned Praxis scores and supporting documents. Candidates using this pathway should submit official transcripts showing that the degree was awarded.
Maine describes this as a transcript-analysis pathway rather than a formally approved alternative-route preparation program.
Pathway 3: Out-of-state applicant
An educator who holds a certificate from another state, the District of Columbia, a United States territory or another country may be considered for a reciprocal professional certificate.
Out-of-state applicants should submit:
- A valid and comparable teaching certificate
- Official college transcripts
- Praxis or other test scores already earned
- Criminal-history background-check documentation
- Any additional documents requested by Maine DOE
Reciprocity does not automatically guarantee that every endorsement requirement will be waived. Maine DOE evaluates the applicant’s certificate, experience and requested endorsement.
How to identify your correct Maine endorsement
Maine offers more than 150 endorsements for teachers, career and technical educators, administrators and education specialists. Each endorsement has its own academic, testing and experience requirements.
Use the Maine certification requirements page to search Chapter 115 Part II by endorsement name or code. If Maine DOE has already evaluated your application, follow the instructions in the evaluation letter.
Before registering for a Praxis examination:
- Confirm the exact endorsement name and code.
- Determine whether the 3.0 GPA option applies.
- Check whether the portfolio option is available.
- Review the Praxis examinations listed for the endorsement.
- Verify the examination code, not just the test title.
- Confirm the passing score on the official ETS Maine test page.
The passing scores below reflect the current ETS Maine listings available at the time of publication. Candidates should verify their examination code and score before paying a registration fee.
Praxis Core passing scores for Maine
Praxis Core may be required by an educator-preparation program. ETS also lists the individual Core examinations for certain Maine certification areas, including initial career and technical education.
| Praxis examination | Test code | Maine qualifying score |
|---|---|---|
| Core Academic Skills for Educators: Reading | 5713 | 156 |
| Core Academic Skills for Educators: Mathematics | 5733 | 150 |
| Core Academic Skills for Educators: Writing | 5723 | 156 |
Candidates preparing for one or more Core sections can use the Praxis Core 5713, 5723, 5733 and 5752 preparation course.
Early-childhood and elementary Praxis passing scores
Maine’s ETS requirements distinguish between early childhood, early elementary and general elementary education.
| Certification area or examination | Test code | Maine qualifying score |
|---|---|---|
| Education of Young Children | 5024 | 160 |
| PLT: Early Childhood | 5621 | 157 |
| PLT: Grades K–6 | 5622 | 160 |
| Elementary Education: Reading and Language Arts | 5002 | 157 |
| Elementary Education: Mathematics | 5003 | 157 |
| Elementary Education: Social Studies | 5004 | 155 |
| Elementary Education: Science | 5005 | 159 |
For Early Elementary K–3, ETS lists Education of Young Children 5024 and Principles of Learning and Teaching: Early Childhood 5621. Candidates can prepare for the pedagogy examination with the Praxis 5621 PLT Early Childhood course.
For General Elementary K–8, ETS lists PLT: Grades K–6 and Elementary Education: Multiple Subjects. Matching preparation resources include:
- Praxis 5622 PLT Grades K–6 preparation course
- Praxis 5001 Elementary Education: Multiple Subjects preparation course
Praxis 5001 contains subtests 5002, 5003, 5004 and 5005. Each subtest has a separate passing score. Strong performance on one section does not compensate for failing another required subtest.
Middle-school and secondary Praxis passing scores
| Certification area or examination | Test code | Maine qualifying score |
|---|---|---|
| Middle School English Language Arts | 5047 | 164 |
| Middle School Mathematics | 5164 | 157 |
| Middle School Science | 5442 | 150 |
| Middle School Social Studies | 5089 | 153 |
| PLT: Grades 7–12 | 5624 | 157 |
| English Language Arts: Content Knowledge | 5038 | 167 |
| Mathematics | 5165 | 159 |
Published courses that match these Maine Praxis requirements include:
- Praxis 5047 Middle School English Language Arts
- Praxis 5164 Middle School Mathematics
- Praxis 5442 Middle School Science
- Praxis 5624 PLT Grades 7–12
- Praxis 5038 English Language Arts: Content Knowledge
- Praxis 5165 Mathematics
Maine currently lists Middle School Social Studies 5089. Candidates should not substitute an examination or preparation course that has a similar title but a different test code.
All-grades Praxis passing scores
The following scores apply to selected K–12 and all-grades endorsements appearing in the ETS Maine listing.
| Certification area | Praxis test code | Maine qualifying score |
|---|---|---|
| Art: Content Knowledge | 5134 | 158 |
| Business Education: Content Knowledge | 5101 | 154 |
| English to Speakers of Other Languages | 5362 | 155 |
| Gifted Education | 5358 | 157 |
| Health Education | 5551 | 156 |
| Music: Content Knowledge | 5113 | 151 |
| Physical Education: Content Knowledge | 5091 | 149 |
| Theatre | 5641 | 146 |
Candidates seeking an English as a Second Language endorsement can use the Praxis 5362 English to Speakers of Other Languages preparation course.
Career, literacy and special-education passing scores
| Certification area | Praxis test code | Maine qualifying score |
|---|---|---|
| Fundamental Subjects: Content Knowledge | 5511 | 150 |
| Reading Specialist | 5302 | 164 |
| Teaching Students with Visual Impairments | 5282 | 163 |
| Education of Deaf and Hard of Hearing Students | 5272 | 160 |
| Teaching Speech to Students with Language Impairments | 5881 | 152 |
Career and technical education candidates can prepare with the Praxis 5511 Fundamental Subjects: Content Knowledge course.
Special-education endorsements have highly specific assessment and coursework requirements. Applicants should confirm their endorsement code before selecting a special-education examination.
World-language Praxis passing scores
| World-language examination | Test code | Maine qualifying score |
|---|---|---|
| Chinese Mandarin: World Language | 5665 | 164 |
| French: World Language | 5174 | 162 |
| German: World Language | 5183 | 163 |
| Latin | 5601 | 152 |
| Spanish: World Language | 5195 | 168 |
These examinations may assess listening, reading, writing, speaking and instructional knowledge. Candidates should review the official ETS test structure before creating a preparation schedule.
Maine school-leadership passing scores
ETS lists two School Leadership Series examinations for Maine administrator credentials.
| Leadership examination | Test code | Maine qualifying score |
|---|---|---|
| School Leaders Licensure Assessment | 6990 | 151 |
| School Superintendent Assessment | 6991 | 162 |
The SLLA 6990 appears for several Maine roles, including building administrator, assistant building administrator, curriculum coordinator and special-education administration positions.
Candidates can prepare with the Praxis 6990 School Leaders Licensure Assessment course.
Superintendent and assistant superintendent applicants should verify the separate 6991 requirement.
Speech-language pathology and other Maine programs
ETS separately lists the following examinations for Maine’s Board of Speech, Audiology and Hearing.
| Professional examination | Test code | Qualifying score |
|---|---|---|
| Audiology | 5343 | 162 |
| Speech-Language Pathology | 5331 | 162 |
Speech-language pathology candidates can review the Praxis 5331 Speech-Language Pathology preparation course.
Professional-board licensure is separate from Maine DOE teacher certification. Applicants should confirm the requirements directly with the relevant professional board.
ETS also identifies the ParaPro Assessment as a program used in Maine. Education technicians and classroom assistants should verify the requirement with their employer or credentialing authority before using the ParaPro Assessment 1755 preparation course.
How to register for a Praxis examination
Once you have confirmed the correct examination:
- Create or sign in to your ETS Praxis account.
- Search for the examination using the exact test code.
- Choose an available test-center or at-home appointment.
- Review the appointment time and testing policies.
- Select the correct Maine score recipient.
- Enter the identifying information required for certification.
- Save the confirmation and review the test-day instructions.
Use the official ETS Praxis registration process for current scheduling instructions.
The ETS Maine overview explains that Maine requires a Social Security number to process educator-certification paperwork. Omitting it from the relevant testing record could delay Maine’s ability to match and process the scores.
How to send Praxis scores to Maine
Select the correct Maine agency or professional board when ordering score reports. Sending scores to a college or university does not necessarily mean they have also been sent to Maine DOE.
After testing:
- Download and retain a copy of the score report.
- Confirm that your legal name matches your certification application.
- Check that the intended Maine agency appears as a score recipient.
- Retain the test date, test code and score-report documentation.
- Follow any additional instructions in your Maine DOE evaluation letter.
The official Praxis Information Bulletin provides additional information about registration, testing policies and score reporting.
How to prepare for a Maine Praxis examination
If Praxis is the best competency option for your endorsement, use a structured preparation plan.
Confirm the test code
Similar test titles can represent different examinations. Always match the course, study companion and practice questions to the exact code required for your endorsement.
Complete a diagnostic assessment
Take a timed diagnostic test before beginning broad content review. Separate missed questions by content area and cause, such as unfamiliar material, misreading, calculation errors or time pressure.
Study weak content areas first
Use the ETS study companion and the matching AIProctoredExams course to create a weekly plan. Spend more time on heavily weighted areas where your diagnostic performance is weakest.
Practice under testing conditions
Complete timed question sets without notes or interruptions. For examinations with constructed responses, practice organizing and writing complete answers within the available time.
Track performance by content area
An overall practice score can hide a serious weakness. Record results separately for each examination domain and continue reviewing until performance becomes consistent.
Complete a final simulation
Take a complete practice examination several days before the appointment. Use the result to make focused corrections instead of trying to relearn the entire syllabus immediately before testing.
Frequently asked questions
Is Praxis mandatory for every Maine teacher?
No. Maine DOE states that Praxis remains an option, but eligible applicants may also demonstrate competency through a 3.0 GPA in required coursework or an approved standards-based portfolio.
What are the Maine Praxis requirements for elementary education?
ETS lists PLT: Grades K–6 with a passing score of 160 and the four Elementary Education: Multiple Subjects subtests. The subtest scores are 157 for Reading and Language Arts, 157 for Mathematics, 155 for Social Studies and 159 for Science.
Does a portfolio replace Maine’s coursework requirements?
No. Maine DOE explains that the Teacher Rubric portfolio can satisfy the Praxis portion of the requirement, but it does not replace required coursework.
Do I need Praxis Core in Maine?
Praxis Core may be required by an educator-preparation program. ETS also lists the Core examinations for initial career and technical education certification. Confirm the requirement with your program and Maine DOE.
Can I use Praxis scores earned in another state?
Applicants can submit valid test scores with an out-of-state application. Maine DOE determines whether the examination codes and scores satisfy the requested endorsement.
Can I take Praxis online from home?
Some Praxis examinations offer at-home testing. Availability depends on the examination and current ETS scheduling options. Check the official registration system before planning around an at-home appointment.
What happens if my Praxis test code changes?
Maine DOE and ETS determine whether a discontinued or replaced examination can be accepted. Candidates should not assume that an older test is automatically equivalent to its replacement.
Where do I apply for Maine educator certification?
Candidates apply through the Maine Educator Information System. Begin with the Maine DOE certification requirements and application instructions.
Maine teacher-certification checklist
Before submitting your application, confirm that you have:
- Identified the correct Maine endorsement.
- Reviewed Chapter 115 Part II.
- Determined whether Praxis, a 3.0 GPA or a portfolio is your competency option.
- Passed every required Praxis examination or subtest.
- Sent scores to the correct Maine agency.
- Submitted official transcripts and verification documents.
- Completed the criminal-history background-check requirements.
- Used the same legal name across ETS and the certification application.
- Retained copies of your application, evaluation and score reports.
The most important part of understanding the Maine Praxis requirements is recognizing that the correct pathway is endorsement-specific. Verify the Maine DOE requirements first, confirm the exact ETS examination code and passing score, and then prepare for the assessment that applies to your application.
For assistance selecting a matching preparation course, contact AIProctoredExams.com at +1 (973) 637-6030 or study@aiproctoredexams.com.
Disclaimer: Certification and examination requirements can change. Maine DOE and the applicable professional licensing board are the final authorities for credentialing decisions. Verify all requirements before registering or applying.
