Testing Requirements
For individuals applying for initial licensure with endorsements in Elementary Education or Social Studies Composite for the very first time, a Praxis II exam is required. Out-of-state applicants will need to complete testing requirements for the state where their educator preparation program is located and not the Praxis II exams for Wyoming. Testing may also be required for veteran Wyoming teachers needing to meet Wyoming licensure requirements in content areas identified and for Special Education teachers needing to meet requirements in a specific content area to be “Teacher of Record”.
Elementary Education
Applicants who are seeking endorsement in Elementary Education must take the Praxis II 5001 Elementary Education: Multiple Subjects exam effective 09/01/2014. As of 08/31/2014, the Praxis II 0011/5011 Elementary Education: Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment exam will no longer be available to test takers. To pass the Elementary Education: Multiple Subjects exam applicants must receive a passing score on each subtest. Applicants may take all four subtests (5002, 5003, 5004, 5005) at the same time by selecting 5001 Elementary Education: Multiple Subjects when registering. If applicants wish to take or retake an individual subtest, they may register to take just that subtest. Please click on the Praxis Exam Chart link below to see the passing scores for each subtest. Please note that PTSB will still accept the Praxis II exam for Elementary Education: Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment exam if you have taken and passed the exam with a passing score of 160.
Social Studies Composite
Applicants seeking a Social Studies Composite for Grades 6 through 12 must take the Praxis II exam 5081/0081 “Social Studies: Content Knowledge and receive a passing score of 158 or better. For Social Studies Composite for Grades 5 through 8, applicants must have taken Praxis II exam 5089/0089 “Middle School Social Studies” and received a passing score of 153 or better.
There are two ways to Add Endorsements to your Wyoming Teachers License. The preferred method of adding an endorsement to a current License is via an Institutional Recommendation. This method will insure that your area(s) of endorsement are recognized in any state, while the second method (Demonstration of Competency) has no such guarantee. The options are listed below:
Institutional Recommendation
You may add an endorsement through an Institutional Recommendation. No test is required. There is no additional fee to add endorsements to a Wyoming Educator License through an Institutional Recommendation if it is done at the same time you are applying for an Initial, Reinstatement, or Renewal license.
Demonstration of Competency
All applicants who are seeking to add an endorsement through a Demonstration of Competency is required to take and pass a Praxis II exam for the specific endorsement area. This is a standard requirement for the Demonstration of Competency
Visiting Foreign Teacher Permit
This permit is available to educators temporarily visiting the United States. Please contact PTSB for specific application requirements. Applicants are also required to take and pass the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) test. The TOEFL test is offered as a Paper-Based Test (PBT) and an Internet-Based Test (iBT). The passing score for the Paper-Based Test is 540 and the passing score for the Internet-Based Test is 76.
World Language Teachers
The PTSB Board adopted the Oral Proficiency Interview (OPI) exam on 8/30/07. The OPI may be used to add a world language endorsement through the Demonstration of Competency (DOC) route or it may be required in other non-traditional licensure/endorsement routes. To receive these endorsement areas, a minimum proficiency level of “Advanced Low” is required.
Information on the OPI, how to register, costs, test dates, etc.
To add American Sign Language (ASL) as a Foreign Language via DOC, applicants must also pass a test – either the American Sign Language Proficiency Interview (ASLPI) with a passing score of Level 3 or the Sign Language Proficiency Interview (SLPI): American Sign Language (ASL) with a passing score of “Advanced”.
Middle School
Secondary teachers (6-12) who are currently licensed may add an endorsement to teach Math, English, Science, or Social Studies by adding a Middle School endorsement in that same content area by taking the Praxis II exam and applying for the endorsement.
Requirements for Middle School Endorsement:
- Hold a current and valid Wyoming Educator License in Math, English, Science or Social Studies, grades 6-12.
- Take the Praxis II exam in the same content area(s) AND submit verification of meeting the minimum passing score.