Praxis Test Alabama

Which Tests Alabama Actually Requires

Alabama's testing requirements fall under the Alabama Educator Certification Assessment Program (AECAP), and the Praxis Subject Assessments are the core component. Every candidate for an initial Professional Educator Certificate must pass the Praxis content-knowledge exam for their specific teaching field.

A few things that trip people up early: Alabama eliminated the Praxis Core basic skills test requirement in 2022 — you do not need to take the Praxis Core reading, writing, and math exams. Only the subject-specific content assessments are required. And the older "Praxis II" branding has been retired; they're now just called Praxis Subject Assessments.

Beyond the Praxis content test, you may also need:

• edTPA portfolio assessment ($300) — required for most traditional and alternative route candidates with fewer than three years of experience
• Praxis Principles of Learning and Teaching (PLT) ($156) — used when no edTPA handbook exists for your field (computer science, gifted education, health science, technical education), or when alternative-route candidates with 3+ years of experience choose it over the edTPA
• Foundations of Reading (test 890) ($139) — mandatory for Early Childhood P–3, Elementary K–6, and Collaborative Special Education K–6 certifications

This post focuses on the Praxis Subject Assessments specifically.

Registration and Fees

All Praxis Subject Assessments are administered by the Educational Testing Service (ETS). Register through ets.org/praxis. Tests are computer-based and available at physical testing centers or through secure remote proctoring.

Registration fees range from $120 to $170 depending on the specific subject test code. Payment is by credit card, PayPal, or authorized e-check through the ETS portal.

Critical step during registration: When you register, you must designate the Alabama State Department of Education (ALSDE) as an automatic electronic score recipient. The ALSDE's ETS institution code is 7020. If you skip this step, you'll need to order additional score reports after the fact, which adds cost and delays.

The ALSDE does not accept score reports that you download from your ETS account and upload manually. Scores must come directly from ETS through the electronic transmission system.

Passing Scores

Passing score thresholds are set by standard-setting panels of Alabama educators and vary by subject field. There is no single universal passing score — each Praxis test code has its own minimum. The ALSDE publishes the current list of required tests and minimum scores, which gets updated as the state board makes changes.

A few examples of commonly taken tests: the Praxis PLT (used as a pedagogical assessment alternative) requires a passing score of 160 for K–6 (test 5622) and 157 for grades 7–12 (test 5624). Content-area minimums vary widely by subject.

Before registering, confirm the exact test code and minimum score for your target teaching field. The ALSDE's certification section and the ETS Alabama requirements page both publish current lists. Test codes do get sunsetted and replaced — taking a retired code wastes your registration fee and testing window.

Retake Rules and Timing

If you don't pass, ETS enforces a 28-day waiting period before you can retake the same test. Official scores are delivered electronically to the ALSDE within 10 to 14 calendar days after your test date.

Here's where the ALSDE's own deadlines create pressure: once the Certification Section sends you an eligibility letter telling you which tests you need, you have exactly six months to submit official passing scores. Miss that window and your application closes, the $38 application fee is forfeited, and you restart the process under whatever rules apply at that point. If you need a retake, factor in the 28-day wait plus 10–14 days for score delivery — that's roughly six weeks per attempt.

Testing Waivers

There is one major testing exemption in Alabama's system: out-of-state reciprocity candidates with three or more years of verified full-time professional teaching experience in their certified subject area can have the Praxis content test waived. Experience must be documented using the ALSDE's Supplement EXP form, completed and signed by the out-of-state employer.

Candidates with a GPA between 2.00 and 2.49 on the alternative route don't get a waiver, but they do face a higher bar: they must score 5% above the standard minimum passing score to compensate for the lower GPA.

Don't Register Until You've Confirmed Your Path

One of the most expensive mistakes new applicants make is paying for Praxis exams before confirming their certification route. Test codes change. Passing scores shift. Subject field requirements get updated. If you register for the wrong code or a retired test, that $120–$170 is gone with nothing to show for it.

Before registering, get a formal transcript evaluation from your university's certification officer (traditional route) or a testing directive from your employing district's HR department (alternative route). This confirms exactly which test code applies to your specific credential path.

The Alabama Teacher Certification Guide includes a complete testing logistics section covering every required AECAP assessment, registration steps, and score reporting timelines organized by certification route.

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