Since I am almost done with the play, I have decided to get the ball rolling and start looking for a full-time job now, since I can start as early as May (probably won’t happen, but the sooner I start the sooner I find a full-time job hopefully)
Anyway, I have been searching for jobs in the educational field that don’t require a Teacher’s Certification. I found a few good leads, but was puzzled to see that some of these places want the applicant to have taken the PRAXIS I and II test.
What is this test, exactly? Is it the test that allows someone to substitute teach (with just a bachelor’s degree)?
The Praxis tests are teacher competency exams. In most states, it’s pretty difficult to get a job in education w/o some kind of certificate. Some states, PA for example, have provision for emergency certification. In that set up, you can begin teaching w/o a certificate, but must complete the course work to get a certificate within a specified time.
So is there any point to taking it if I don’t have a certification?
Because I’ve seen some job ads that don’t require a certification but do require a copy of your PRAXIS I and II test results. Which is kind of confusing.
I live in CA, by the way.
I was certified before there was such a thing as Praxis exams (1985) but I understand from my younger coworkers that passing the Praxis is a requirement for certification in PA and some other states. If you think you can pass it now, I guess there is no reason not to take it since you might have to do so at a later date anyway.
Praxis 1 is basic information: Can you read, write, and do arithmetic? and such. It’s on about an eighth grade level.
Praxis 2 is a content knowledge test - 8th grade level knowledge in social studies, science, literature, and math.
Both in my opinion were shockingly easy- It’s the Praxis 3 that really has more to do with actual teaching techniques and that one actually requires knowledge in the area of educational methods. You can set up to take all of them on the asme test date, and there is probably a test center within your area. It will cost you about 200 dollars to take all of them at once.
That is, you can take the 1 and 2 on the same date. The 1 is three separate tests (one for each area) with 1 hour given for each and the 2 is a two-hour test. They’re given in 2-hour testing blocks.
Since the OP is asking for fact and not opinion, I’m moving this thread from IMHO to General Questions.