Tennessee Praxis Requirements: Tests & Passing Scores
Tennessee Praxis Requirements: Tests, Passing Scores & Teacher Licensure
Understanding the Tennessee Praxis Requirements is an important step for anyone preparing for teacher licensure or an additional endorsement in Tennessee. The exact examination you need depends on your endorsement area, educator preparation pathway, academic background, and whether you already hold a teaching license from another state.
Tennessee uses assessments from ETS Praxis, the National Evaluation Series, and other approved providers to verify educator content knowledge. However, not every applicant follows the same testing pathway. Some candidates may qualify for an exemption from a specialty-area content assessment, while certain literacy and pedagogical assessments remain important for specific endorsements and pathways.
This guide explains the Tennessee Praxis Requirements, current passing-score rules, Praxis 5001, Praxis 5205, Principles of Learning and Teaching tests, Praxis Core, score reporting, out-of-state licensure, and practical preparation strategies.
Candidates preparing for teacher certification can explore the AIProctoredExams Praxis preparation courses for structured study resources and exam-style practice.
What Are the Tennessee Praxis Requirements?
The Tennessee Praxis Requirements vary according to the endorsement and licensure pathway being pursued.
Tennessee states that applicants seeking initial licensure or additional endorsements may need qualifying scores on required content assessments. These may be administered by ETS, the National Evaluation Series, or another approved provider.
A major exception took effect in June 2023. Candidates who hold a degree in a qualifying endorsement area and complete a Tennessee State Board-approved educator preparation program, or enroll in an approved job-embedded program, may be exempt from the specialty-area content assessment. However, Tennessee specifically states that this exemption does not apply to Praxis 5205 Teaching Reading: Elementary or the applicable early-childhood assessment.
This means candidates should avoid assuming that every Praxis test listed for an endorsement automatically applies to their individual pathway.
Before registering, verify your requirements through the Tennessee Department of Education Candidate Assessment page and the ETS Tennessee Praxis requirements page.
Who Needs to Take Praxis in Tennessee?
Several categories of candidates may encounter Praxis requirements.
| Candidate Type | Typical Testing Situation |
|---|---|
| Tennessee EPP candidate | May need content, literacy, or pedagogical assessments depending on pathway |
| Candidate with qualifying degree | May qualify for specialty-area content-test exemption |
| Elementary Education candidate | Reading assessment remains especially important |
| Out-of-state EPP completer | May need content assessments and either PLT or edTPA |
| Active out-of-state license holder | Assessment may not be required for initial Tennessee licensure |
| Licensed Tennessee teacher adding an endorsement | May need the appropriate content and literacy assessments |
| Occupational licensure candidate | May need an appropriate PLT assessment |
| Service-field candidate | PLT may not be required in specified fields |
The state’s rules make it especially important to identify your exact endorsement before purchasing an exam or study course.
Candidates can browse the complete AIProctoredExams course catalog once they have confirmed the correct exam code.
Tennessee Praxis Requirements for Elementary Education
Elementary Education is one of the most important areas within the Tennessee Praxis Requirements because both content knowledge and reading instruction can be relevant.
Tennessee’s professional-assessment policy lists Praxis 5001 Elementary Education: Multiple Subjects for the Elementary Education K–5 endorsement. Praxis 5001 contains four separately scored subtests.
Tennessee Praxis 5001 Passing Scores
| Praxis 5001 Subtest | Code | Tennessee Qualifying Score |
|---|---|---|
| Reading and Language Arts | 5002 | 157 |
| Mathematics | 5003 | 157 |
| Social Studies | 5004 | 155 |
| Science | 5005 | 159 |
These scores are listed in Tennessee’s professional-assessment policy for Elementary Education K–5.
Candidates should remember that the specialty-content assessment exemption may apply to some applicants who hold a qualifying degree and meet approved program requirements. Therefore, confirm whether Praxis 5001 is required for your particular pathway before registering.
Those who need the examination can use the Praxis 5001 Elementary Education: Multiple Subjects Exam Preparation course to prepare for Reading and Language Arts, Mathematics, Social Studies, and Science. The AIProctoredExams course covers all four Praxis 5001 subtests.
Praxis 5205 Teaching Reading Requirement in Tennessee
Praxis 5205 deserves particular attention when reviewing the Tennessee Praxis Requirements.
For Elementary Education K–5, Tennessee lists Praxis 5205 Teaching Reading: Elementary with a qualifying score of 159.
Unlike many specialty-area content assessments, the reading assessment is specifically excluded from Tennessee’s qualifying-degree content-test exemption. In other words, a candidate who qualifies for an exemption from another subject assessment may still need to meet the applicable reading requirement.
Praxis 5205 assesses topics such as phonemic awareness, phonics, decoding, fluency, vocabulary, comprehension, literacy assessment, writing, differentiation, and evidence-based reading instruction.
Candidates preparing for this requirement can use the Praxis 5205 Teaching Reading: Elementary Exam Preparation course. AIProctoredExams provides review of the science of reading and both selected-response and constructed-response preparation.
Tennessee Praxis PLT Requirements
Pedagogical assessment requirements are another important part of the Tennessee Praxis Requirements.
Candidates completing an approved Tennessee educator preparation program with traditional student teaching or internship generally follow Tennessee’s edTPA requirements. Candidates who completed an out-of-state educator preparation program and do not hold an applicable out-of-state license may be able to use either edTPA or the appropriate Praxis Principles of Learning and Teaching examination.
Tennessee’s established PLT qualifying scores are:
| Praxis PLT | Test Code | Qualifying Score |
|---|---|---|
| Early Childhood | 5621 | 157 |
| Grades K–6 | 5622 | 160 |
| Grades 5–9 | 5623 | 160 |
| Grades 7–12 | 5624 | 157 |
These scores are established in Tennessee’s professional-assessment policy.
Elementary candidates who need PLT can prepare using the Praxis 5622 Principles of Learning and Teaching Grades K–6 course.
Middle-grades candidates can review the Praxis 5623 Principles of Learning and Teaching Grades 5–9 course.
Secondary candidates can use the Praxis 5624 Principles of Learning and Teaching Grades 7–12 preparation course.
Is Praxis Core Required in Tennessee?
Praxis Core has a more limited role in Tennessee than many candidates initially expect.
The Tennessee Department of Education states that Praxis Core academic skills assessments may be required for admission to an educator preparation program, but Praxis Core is not itself required for Tennessee teacher licensure. Candidates should check directly with their educator preparation provider to determine whether they need Praxis Core for admission.
This distinction matters for SEO and for candidates because searches such as “Does Tennessee require Praxis Core?” may otherwise lead to confusion.
Before paying for Praxis Core, confirm the admission requirements of your college or educator preparation program.
Tennessee Content Assessment Exemption
One of the most important features of the Tennessee Praxis Requirements is the specialty-area assessment exemption introduced in 2023.
A candidate may be exempt from a specialty-area content assessment when the candidate has a degree in a qualifying endorsement area and either completes an approved Tennessee educator preparation program or enrolls in an approved job-embedded program.
The exemption does not eliminate every testing requirement. Praxis 5205 Teaching Reading: Elementary and the applicable early-childhood assessment remain outside this exemption.
Therefore, candidates should distinguish among three different assessment categories: subject-content assessments, literacy assessments, and pedagogical assessments.
Each category may be treated differently under Tennessee policy.
Other Praxis Tests Used in Tennessee
Tennessee lists Praxis assessments across a wide range of endorsement areas.
Examples include Praxis 5038 English Language Arts: Content Knowledge, which carries a qualifying score of 167, and Praxis 5362 English to Speakers of Other Languages, which has a qualifying score of 155 under the state’s published assessment table. Tennessee also uses assessments in biology, earth science, economics, geography, gifted education, special education, and other teaching fields.
Because exam codes are occasionally replaced, candidates should verify the current assessment rather than relying on an old study guide or score report. Tennessee publishes phase-in and phase-out dates for older examinations.
Candidates preparing for special education content can also explore the Praxis 5355 Special Education: Foundational Knowledge preparation resources where that exam aligns with their certification goal.
For broader subject review, the Praxis 5511 Fundamental Subjects: Content Knowledge preparation course can support candidates preparing across multiple academic domains.
Tennessee Praxis Requirements for Out-of-State Teachers
Out-of-state educators have different rules.
Tennessee states that an educator applying for a Practitioner License based on an active initial-level out-of-state license generally does not have to submit assessments with the initial application. However, the educator may later need the applicable content assessment or evidence of an active professional-level out-of-state license for renewal or advancement.
An applicant who completed an out-of-state educator preparation program but does not hold an appropriate active license may need qualifying content scores and a pedagogical assessment. Tennessee permits such applicants to use either the applicable Praxis PLT or edTPA for the pedagogical requirement.
Candidates entering Tennessee from another state should therefore allow the Department of Education to evaluate their credentials instead of registering for additional examinations prematurely.
Tennessee Praxis Score Validity
ETS states that Praxis scores used to satisfy Tennessee licensure requirements generally must be no more than five years old, and the assessment code must correspond to the assessment currently required by Tennessee.
This is especially important for educators returning to teaching or attempting to reactivate an expired license.
Some older examinations remain temporarily acceptable during published transition periods. For example, Tennessee continues to recognize certain replaced tests when they were taken by specified dates.
Always compare your previous exam code against Tennessee’s current testing table before assuming that an old passing score will satisfy a new application.
How to Send Praxis Scores to Tennessee
Correct score reporting is a critical part of the Tennessee Praxis Requirements.
Tennessee requires educators to provide their full Social Security number to ETS and ensure that it matches the information in their TNCompass account. Tennessee warns that if the number is omitted or does not match, scores may not appear in TNCompass.
The Tennessee Department of Education score-recipient code is 8190.
ETS states that candidates testing in Tennessee whose Praxis profile address is also in Tennessee may have scores sent automatically. Candidates testing outside Tennessee, or whose profile address is outside the state, should designate the Tennessee Department of Education using code 8190.
Score reports submitted personally by educators are not accepted by Tennessee; they must come directly from the testing organization.
Candidates can review the official Tennessee Praxis score-reporting requirements through ETS.
How to Apply for Tennessee Teacher Licensure
Praxis is only one component of Tennessee educator licensure.
Applicants generally need to satisfy education and educator-preparation requirements, submit required transcripts and program documentation, meet applicable assessment requirements, and complete the appropriate transaction through Tennessee’s educator licensing system. Tennessee uses TNCompass for educator licensure transactions.
Candidates should review the Tennessee Department of Education educator licensure information before submitting an application.
How to Prepare for the Tennessee Praxis
Once you have confirmed that a particular examination is required, build your study plan around the official test code rather than simply searching for general Praxis material.
A practical preparation sequence is:
- Verify your endorsement and required test code with Tennessee or ETS.
- Download the official test framework or study companion.
- Take a diagnostic practice test.
- Identify weak content domains.
- Review concepts systematically.
- Complete topic-based Praxis practice questions.
- Study every incorrect answer and its explanation.
- Complete timed full-length practice.
- Review weak areas again before test day.
- Confirm your ETS profile and Tennessee score-recipient information.
Candidates can use the AIProctoredExams Study Guides section for additional exam preparation resources.
You can also review How AIProctoredExams Works for information about the site’s preparation process, or browse the AIProctoredExams Praxis category for available teacher-certification courses.
Frequently Asked Questions About Tennessee Praxis Requirements
Does Tennessee require Praxis for teachers?
The Tennessee Praxis Requirements depend on the candidate’s endorsement and pathway. Many endorsement areas use Praxis or another approved content assessment, but some candidates can qualify for a specialty-area content-test exemption based on their degree and educator preparation pathway.
Is Praxis Core required for Tennessee teacher licensure?
No. Tennessee states that Praxis Core may be required for admission to an educator preparation program, but it is not a state teacher-licensure requirement. Candidates should verify program-admission rules with their preparation provider.
What is the Tennessee passing score for Praxis 5205?
Tennessee lists 159 as the qualifying score for Praxis 5205 Teaching Reading: Elementary for Elementary Education K–5.
What are the Tennessee Praxis 5001 passing scores?
Tennessee currently lists 157 for Praxis 5002 Reading and Language Arts, 157 for 5003 Mathematics, 155 for 5004 Social Studies, and 159 for 5005 Science. Candidates should first determine whether their pathway requires the content assessment.
Does Tennessee require Praxis PLT?
Not every applicant needs PLT. Out-of-state educator preparation program completers who do not hold an appropriate out-of-state license may use the applicable Praxis PLT or edTPA. Some other pathways have different pedagogical-assessment rules.
What are the Tennessee PLT passing scores?
Tennessee lists 157 for PLT 5621 Early Childhood, 160 for PLT 5622 Grades K–6, 160 for PLT 5623 Grades 5–9, and 157 for PLT 5624 Grades 7–12.
What is Tennessee’s ETS score-recipient code?
The Tennessee Department of Education ETS score-recipient code is 8190. Candidates should also provide the full Social Security number that matches their TNCompass account.
Can an out-of-state teacher avoid taking Praxis in Tennessee?
Possibly. Candidates applying on the basis of an active out-of-state license may not need assessments for initial Tennessee licensure, although testing or professional-level license evidence may later be needed for renewal or advancement.
Start Preparing for Your Tennessee Praxis Exam
Understanding the Tennessee Praxis Requirements can prevent unnecessary testing and help you focus on the assessment that actually applies to your endorsement.
Begin by identifying your endorsement area and licensure pathway. Next, determine whether you qualify for a content-assessment exemption, whether a reading assessment such as Praxis 5205 applies, and whether your pathway requires a pedagogical assessment such as PLT or edTPA.
Once you have confirmed the correct exam, use focused study, repeated practice, realistic exam questions, and detailed answer review to strengthen your preparation.
Visit AIProctoredExams to explore Praxis preparation courses, practice tests, study materials, and teacher-certification resources.
Disclaimer: AIProctoredExams is an independent exam-preparation provider and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by ETS, the Tennessee Department of Education, or any other examination provider. Praxis is a trademark of ETS. Testing policies, exam codes, passing scores, and licensure requirements may change. Candidates should confirm current requirements with the Tennessee Department of Education and ETS before registering.
