Teacher certification exams and skills tests
Teacher tests come in two kinds. A basic skills test checks your own reading, writing and maths, and a subject test checks that you know what you'll teach. In the US the state that certifies you picks the tests, so the right one depends on where you want to teach. Australia has one national literacy and numeracy test for student teachers.
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Teaching in the United States
Who decides which test you take
In the US, teaching licences are a state matter, and each state has its own requirements. Many use ETS's Praxis tests: Praxis Core for reading, writing and maths, and subject tests such as Elementary Education: Multiple Subjects. Some states write their own instead. Texas uses the TExES, Florida the FTCE, and California's Commission on Teacher Credentialing accepts the CBEST or the CSET for its basic skills rule.
In Australia, ACER runs LANTITE, the Literacy and Numeracy Test for Initial Teacher Education. Students on accredited teaching degrees must meet its standard before they graduate, and as of October 2026 they have to make a first attempt in their first year. Some universities ask for it to get in, and some states want a pass before your final placement or registration.
How these tests work
They're computer tests, and you can often choose where to sit them. Praxis offers at-home testing as well as test centres, and LANTITE can be taken at a centre or with remote proctoring. Each test has its own score scale, and the passing score isn't always the same from state to state. ETS publishes passing scores by state for Praxis.
Some states give you another way through. California, for example, lets you meet its basic skills requirement with college courses in reading, writing and maths passed at B or better, instead of a test.
Questions people ask
FAQ
Which teacher certification exam do I need?
The one your state or certifying body asks for. Start with the education department or licensing board where you plan to teach, then register for the exact test code it lists. ETS warns that each state has its own requirements, so a Praxis test that counts in one state may not be the one another state wants.
What is a basic skills test for teachers?
It tests your own reading, writing and maths rather than teaching methods. Praxis Core Combined has three subtests for those skills. California's CBEST covers the same three areas, and you need a scaled score of at least 41 in each, or 37 in one if your total reaches 123.
Can I take a teaching exam at home?
Often, yes. Praxis has an at-home option alongside test centres, and LANTITE offers remote proctoring. ETS has its own guide to testing at home, and it's worth reading before you pick that option over a centre.
Do teacher test scores expire?
It depends on the test and the state. California says passing CBEST scores stay valid indefinitely. For other tests, check with the body that will use your score.
What is the literacy and numeracy test for initial teacher education?
That's LANTITE, run by ACER for Australian teaching students. It's an online test of your personal literacy and numeracy, and you need to meet its standard before you graduate. As of October 2026 ACER runs it in test windows through the year, with the fourth window in October and November.
Sources: ETS, California Commission on Teacher Credentialing, ACER. Checked October 2026.
- ETS: Praxis ↗
- California Commission on Teacher Credentialing: Basic skills requirement ↗
- ACER: Literacy and Numeracy Test for Initial Teacher Education ↗
Rules and fees can change, so check the official site before your test.