Tests for Licensure

Teachers in NC are required to take all exams in the first year of licensure and pass by the end of the third. Candidates are STRONGLY ENCOURAGED to take all required licensure tests before their student teaching internship when (1) knowledge from their coursework is recent; (2) they have the support of UNC Charlotte faculty, staff, and resources; and (3) they are not simultaneously completing edTPA. Candidates with a lateral entry, residency, or any other type of alternative license must pass all required exams before their license can be cleared. This testing chart contains information on the required licensure tests for all content areas: UNC Charlotte Licensure Assessments.

All students should request that their licensure test scores, including edTPA, be sent to the NC Department of Public Instruction and UNC Charlotte during the registration process.

Testing Notes for Elementary Education and Special Education – General Curriculum:

  • Elementary Education and Special Education – General Curriculum candidates can elect to take either the Praxis Elementary Education CKT Mathematics test (7813) or the Pearson General Curriculum Mathematics subtest or to satisfy the mathematics component of their licensure testing requirements. A brief description of each assessment is provided below to help with selection:

The Praxis Elementary CKT Mathematics subtest (7813) assesses knowledge of mathematics content, mathematics teaching strategies, and common student misconceptions and errors in mathematics. It is a timed test. The alignment of test items indicates that it includes mathematics concepts covered in kindergarten through 6th grade. There are multiple-choice and open-ended questions, all focusing on teaching strategies, student errors, and ways to solve problems. Most Elementary and Special Education – General Curriculum candidates at UNC Charlotte choose this option.

The Pearson General Curriculum Mathematics subtest assesses the mathematics content knowledge that teachers know. It is a timed test. The alignment of test items indicates that it includes mathematics concepts largely covered in 7th grade, 8th grade, and Math I. There is one free-response question (10% of the test) focusing on student errors and teaching strategies.

Test Preparation Materials

UNC Charlotte provides current students access to 240 Tutoring, an online test preparation program that offers content review, study materials, and a series of practice exams. 240 Tutoring is actively expanding its offerings and currently includes resources for the following assessments: Foundations of Reading, Elementary Education: Content Knowledge for Teaching Mathematics (7813). Education of Young Children, Principles of Learning & Teaching Early Childhood, Principles of Learning and Teaching Prek-12, English as a Second Language (5362), Gifted Education (5358), Middle Grades English Language Arts (5047), Middle Grades Math (5164), Middle Grades Science (5442), Middle Grades Social Studies (5089), Secondary English (5038), Secondary Math (5156), Secondary Science (5436), Secondary Social Studies (5081/5081)  Special Education: Severe to Profound (5547), and Fundamental Subjects: Content Knowledge (5511).

To request your access free of charge, email teal@charlotte.edu with your name, ID number, content area, and include “240 Tutoring Access Request” in the subject line. Individual student access is limited to four weeks, so submit a request only when you are ready to immediately begin test preparation.

Also available free of charge from UNC Charlotte are exam preparation books that can be checked out in the TEAL Office (Mebane Hall, Suite 119) between 8 am-5 pm on weekdays.

Praxis Subject Assessments

NC Foundations of Reading and General Curriculum

edTPA

Per legislative action and NC State Board of Education policy, beginning September 1, 2019, all candidates seeking an NC professional educator’s license must have an official passing score on edTPA. A passing score on edTPA is required of all UNC Charlotte initial licensure candidates in order to successfully complete the student teaching internship and receive a licensure recommendation. edTPA products must be submitted to Pearson for official external scoring and completed in the area of licensure for which the candidate is recommended (NOTE: undergraduate middle grades candidates must take the Praxis Subject Assessment and edTPA in the same content area). As of September 1, 2019, passing scores as follows:

  • For 15-rubric handbooks, a score of 38
  • For 13-rubric handbooks, a score of 32
  • For 18-rubric handbooks, a score of 45

NOTE: Effective August 1, 2020, all student teachers will be individually responsible for the cost of edTPA submission and scoring ($300 for the initial submission plus fees for resubmissions if needed). Voucher codes will no longer be distributed by the Cato College of Education after this date.

For information about edTPA or access to edTPA materials, visit the COED Office of Assessment and Accreditation website at https://edassessment.charlotte.edu/edtpa-information. For information about the NC HQ pay increase for higher edTPA scores, visit the edTPA FAQs.

*Per NCDPI policy, the NC HQ pay increase is available only to qualified undergraduate candidates. Students pursuing licensure through the Graduate Certificate in Teaching are not eligible.