Louisiana Administrative Code
Title 28 - EDUCATION
Part CXXXI - Bulletin 746-Louisiana Standards for State Certification of School Personnel
Chapter 3 - Initial Teacher Certification
Subchapter A - Teacher Certification Areas and Required Competencies
Section CXXXI-303 - Certification Exam and Scores

Universal Citation: LA Admin Code CXXXI-303

Current through Register Vol. 50, No. 9, September 20, 2024

A. A teacher applicant for certification must successfully complete the appropriate written or computer-delivered assessment identified in this Section prior to issuance of a Louisiana educator credential. Praxis scores, for certification purposes, must be received by the LDOE via the electronic ETS Praxis score report forwarded directly from ETS, or the original official Praxis score report issued by ETS submitted with the certification application.

B. Pedagogy Exams

1. Principles of Learning and Teaching (PLT) Exams:

a. Principles of Learning and Teaching: Early Childhood (0621 or 5621), effective 1/1/12, score 157;

b. Principles of Learning and Teaching: K-6 (0622 or 5622), effective 1/1/12, score 160;

c. Principles of Learning and Teaching: 5-9 (0623 or 5623), effective 1/1/12, score 160; or

d. Principles of Learning and Teaching: 7-12 (0624 or 5624), effective 1/1/12, score 157.

2. Early Intervention Pedagogy Exams:

a. Special Education: Core Knowledge and Applications (0354 or 5354), effective 1/1/12 to 12/31/13, score 145;

b. Special Education: Early Childhood (0691 or 5691), effective 1/1/14 to 8/31/23, score 159; or

c. Special Education: Early Childhood/Early Intervention (5692), effective 9/1/22, score 159.

3. Deaf and Hard of Hearing Pedagogy Exams:

a. Special Education: Core Knowledge and Applications (0354 or 5354), score 145; and Education of Deaf and Hard of Hearing Students (0271), effective 11/1/11 to 12/31/13, score 160; or

b. Special Education: Core Knowledge and Applications (0354 or 5354), score 145; and Special Education: Education of Deaf and Hard of Hearing Students (0272 or 5272), effective 1/1/14 to 8/31/24, score 160; or

c. Special Education: Foundational Knowledge (5355), score 145; and Special Education: Education of Deaf and Hard of Hearing Students (0272 or 5272), effective 9/1/23, score 160.

4. Mild to Moderate Pedagogy Exams:

a. Special Education: Core Knowledge and Mild to Moderate Applications (0543 or 5543), effective 9/1/11 to 8/31/24, score 153; and PLT specific to grade level (K-6, 5-9, or 7-12); or

b. Special Education: Foundational Knowledge (5355), effective 9/1/23, score 145.

5. Significant Disabilities Pedagogy Exams:

a. Special Education: Core Knowledge and Severe to Profound Applications (0545 or 5545), effective 9/1/11 to 8/31/24, score 153; or

b. Special Education: Severe to Profound (5547), effective 9/1/23, score 156.

6. Visual Impairments/Blind Pedagogy Exams:

a. Special Education: Core Content Knowledge and Applications (0354 or 5354), effective 11/1/11to 12/31/13, score 145; or

b. Special Education: Core Content Knowledge and Applications (0354 or 5354), effective 1/1/14 to 8/31/24, score 145 and Special Education: Teaching Students with Visual Impairments (0282), effective 1/1/14 to 8/31/24, score 163;

c. Special Education: Foundational Knowledge (5355), effective 9/1/23, score 145; and Special Education: Teaching Students with Visual Impairments (0282 or 5282), effective 9/1/23, score 163.

C. Birth to Kindergarten

1. Content Requirements:

a. Early Childhood Content Knowledge (5022) prior to 9/1/15, score 160;

b. Early Childhood Education (5025), effective 9/1/15, score 156;

c. Education of Young Children (5024), effective 9/1/15, score 160; or

d. Pre-Kindergarten Education (5531), effective 9/1/15, score 155.

2. Principles of Learning and Teaching: Early Childhood in accordance with §303.B

D. Early Childhood PK-3

1. Content Requirements:

a. Elementary Education: Content Knowledge (0014 or 5014) prior to 9/1/15, score 150;

b. Elementary Education: Content Knowledge (5018), effective 9/1/15 to 8/31/17, score 163; or

c. Elementary Multiple Subjects (5001), effective 9/1/15, or Louisiana Elementary Multiple Subjects (7001), effective 6/1/24, consisting of four separately timed subjects. Subtests from either series (5001 or 7001) may be combined to meet all four subtest requirements:

i. Reading Language Arts (5002), score 157, or Reading Language Arts (7002), for scores as outlined in Paragraph 2 of this Subsection; and

ii. Mathematics (5003), score 157, or Mathematics (7003), effective 6/1/24, score 157; and

iii. Social Studies (5004), score 155, or Social Studies (7004), effective 6/1/24, score 155; and

iv. Science (5005), score 159, or Science (7005), effective 6/1/24, score 159.

2. Effective 1/1/24, Teaching of Reading: Elementary (5205), score 159, or Reading Language Arts (7002) is required, in accordance with §303.O of this Part. Candidates already enrolled in the year-long residency and holding either the PL or R credential prior to 1/1/25 are not subject to this provision.

3. Principles of Learning and Teaching: Early Childhood in accordance with §303.B

E. Elementary Grades 1-5

1. Content Requirements:

a. Elementary Education: Content Knowledge (0014 or 5014) prior to 9/1/15, score 150;

b. Elementary Education: Content Knowledge (5018), effective 9/1/15 to 8/31/17, score 163; or

c. Elementary Multiple Subjects (5001), effective 9/1/15, or Louisiana Elementary Multiple Subjects (7001), effective 6/1/24, consisting of four separately timed subtests. Subtests from either series (5001 or 7001) may be combined to meet all four subtest requirements:

i. Reading Language Arts (5002), score 157, or Reading Language Arts (7002), for scores as outlined in Paragraph 2 of this Subsection; and

ii. Mathematics (5003), score 157, or Mathematics (7003), effective 6/1/24, score 157; and

iii. Social Studies (5004), score 155, or Social Studies (7004), effective 6/1/24, score 155; and

iv. Science (5005), score 159, or Science (7005), effective 6/1/24, score 159.

2. Teaching of Reading: Elementary (5205), effective 1/1/24, score 159, or Reading Language Arts (7002) is required, in accordance with §303.O of this part. Candidates already enrolled in the year-long residency and holding either the PL or R credential prior to 1/1/25 are not subject to this provision.

3. Principles of Learning and Teaching: K-6 in accordance with §303.B

F. Middle School Grades 4-8 Certification Areas

1. Content Requirements

a. Mathematics 4-8:

i. Middle School Mathematics (0069) prior to 1/1/14, score 148;

ii. Middle School Mathematics (5169) effective 1/1/14 to 8/31/22, score 165; or

iii. Middle School Mathematics (5164), effective 9/1/21, score 157.

b. Science 4-8:

i. Middle School Science (0439), prior to 6/8/14, score 150;

ii. Middle School Science (5440), effective 6/8/14 to 3/31/22, score 150; or

iii. Middle School Science (5442), effective 4/1/21, score 152.

c. Social Studies 4-8:

i. Middle School Social Studies (0089 or 5089), score 149.

d. English/Language Arts 4-8:

i. Middle School English/Language Arts (0049 or 5049), prior to 1/1/14, score 160; or

ii. Middle School English (5047), effective 1/1/14, score 164.

2. Principles of Learning and Teaching: 5-9 in accordance with §303.B

G. Grades 6-12 Core Certification Areas

1. Content Requirements

a. Biology:

i. Biology: Content Knowledge (0235 or 5235), effective 9/1/12 to 8/31/23, score 150; or

ii. Biology: Content Knowledge (5236), effective 9/1/22, score 154.

b. Chemistry:

i. Chemistry: Content Knowledge (0245 or 5245), effective 9/1/12 to 8/31/23, score 151; or

ii. Chemistry: Content Knowledge (5246), effective 9/1/22, score 146.

c. Earth Science or Environmental Science:

i. At this time, a content area exam is not required for certification in Louisiana. For initial teacher certification, 30 semester hours in the content area is required in lieu of an exam.

d. English:

i. English Language, Literature, and Composition: Content Knowledge (0041 or 5041), effective 5/8/12 to 7/20/13, score 160; and English Language, Literature, and Composition: Pedagogy (0043), effective 5/8/12 to 7/20/13, score 130;

ii. English Language, Literature and Composition: Content Knowledge (0041 or 5041), effective 7/20/13 to 8/31/14, score 160; or

iii. English Language Arts: Content and Analysis (503), effective 1/1/14, score 168.

e. General Science:

i. General Science: Content Knowledge (0435 or 5435), effective 9/1/12 to 8/31/23, score 156; or

ii. General Science: Content Knowledge (5436), effective 9/1/22, score 141.

f. Mathematics:

i. Mathematics: Content Knowledge (0061 or 5061), effective 6/1/10 to 12/31/13, score 135; or

ii. Mathematics: Content Knowledge (5161), effective 1/1/14 to 8/31/22, score 160; or

iii. Mathematics: Content Knowledge (5165), effective 9/1/21, score 159.

g. Physics:

i. Physics: Content Knowledge (0265 or 5265), effective 9/1/12 to 8/31/23, score 141; or

ii. Physics: Content Knowledge (5266), effective 9/1/22, score 145.

h. Social Studies:

i. Social Studies: Content and Interpretation (0086 or 5086), effective 1/2/12 to 12/31/19, score 160; or

ii. Social Studies: Content and Interpretation (0086 or 5086), effective 1/1/20, score 153.

2. Principles of Learning and Teaching: 7-12 in accordance with §303.B

H. Grades 6-12 Core Foreign Language Certification Areas

1. Content Requirements:

a. American Sign Language. American Sign Language Proficiency Interview (ASLPI-0634), score 3+170;

b. Chinese. Chinese (Mandarin): World Language (5665), effective 6/1/13, score 164;

c. French. French: World Language (5174), effective 10/1/10, score 157;

d. German. German: World Language (5183), effective 10/1/10, score 157;

e. Latin. At this time, a content area exam is not required for certification in Louisiana. For initial teacher certification, 30 semester hours in the content area is required in lieu of an exam; or

f. Spanish. Spanish: World Language (5195), effective 10/1/10, score 157.

2. Pedagogy Requirements:

a. Principles of Learning and Teaching: 7-12 (0624 or 5624), effective 1/1/12, score 157 until 6/30/13; or

b. World Languages Pedagogy 0841, effective 7/1/13, score 158.

I. Grades 6-12 Non-Core Content Certification Areas

1. Content Requirements

a. Agriculture:

i. Agriculture (0700), prior to 6/8/14, score 510; or

ii. Agriculture (5701), effective 6/8/14, score 147.

b. Business. Business Education: Content Knowledge (0101 or 5101), effective 11/1/10, score 154.

c. Computer Science

i. Computer Science (5652), effective 6/1/24, score 149; or

ii. 30 semester hours of Computer Science Coursework, for completers of a BESE-approved program effective until 6/1/27.

d. Family and Consumer Sciences:

i. Family and Consumer Sciences (0121 or 5121), prior to 6/8/14, score 141; or

ii. Family and Consumer Sciences (5122), effective 6/8/14, score 153.

e. Journalism or Marketing. At this time, a content area exam is not required for certification in Louisiana. For initial teacher certification, 30 semester hours in the content area is required in lieu of an exam.

f. Speech. Speech Communications (0221 or 5221), effective 9/1/09, score 146.

g. Technology Education. Technology Education (0051 or 5051), effective 1/1/12, score 159.

2. Principles of Learning and Teaching: 7-12 in accordance with §303.B

J. Secondary (6-12) Content Add-on Certification Areas

1. Content Requirements

a. Algebra I. Algebra I (5162), effective 8/14/18, score 157.

b. Geometry. Geometry (5163), effective 6/15/22, score 148.

K. All-Level K-12 Certification Areas

1. Content Requirements

a. Art K-12: Art: Content Knowledge (0134 or 5134), effective 1/1/12, score 159.

b. Dance K-12 or Theater K-12: No exam available. Thirty semester hours in the content area is required in lieu of an exam.

c. Health and Physical Education K-12:

i. Physical Education: Content Knowledge (0091 or 5091), prior to 6/8/14, score 146; or

ii. Health and Physical Education (5857), effective 6/8/14, score 160.

d. Music K-12. Music: Content Knowledge (0113 or 5113), effective 7/1/03, score 151.

2. Pedagogy Requirements:

a. Principles of Learning and Teaching: K-6 in accordance with §303 B;

b. Principles of Learning and Teaching: 5-9 in accordance with §303 B; or

c. Principles of Learning and Teaching: 7-12 in accordance with §303.B

L. All-Level K-12 Foreign Language

1. Content Requirements:

a. American Sign Language. American Sign Language Proficiency Interview (ASLPI-0634), score 3+170;

b. Chinese. Chinese (Mandarin): World Language (5665), effective 6/1/13, score 164;

c. French. French: World Language (5174), effective 10/1/10, score 157;

d. German. German: World Language (5183), effective 10/1/10, score 157;

e. Latin. At this time, a content area exam is not required for certification in Louisiana. For initial teacher certification, 30 semester hours in the content area is required in lieu of an exam; or

f. Spanish. Spanish: World Language (5195), effective 10/1/10, score 157.

2. Pedagogy Requirements

a. Prior to 6/30/13:

i. Principles of Learning and Teaching: K-6 (0622 or 5622), effective 1/1/12, score 160;

ii. Principles of Learning and Teaching: 5-9 (0623 or 5623), effective 1/1/12, score 160; or

iii. Principles of Learning and Teaching: 7-12 (0624 or 5624), effective 1/1/12, score 157.

b. World Languages Pedagogy 0841, effective 6/30/13, score 158.

M. Special Education Areas

1. Early Interventionist:

a. Content Requirements: Early Childhood Education content exam in accordance with §303.D 1;

b. Principles of Learning and Teaching: Early Childhood in accordance with §303.B 1; or

c. Early Interventionist Pedagogy Exam in accordance with §303.B.2

2. Deaf and Hard of Hearing:

a. Content Requirements: Elementary Content Knowledge exam in accordance with §303 E;

b. Deaf and Hard of Hearing Pedagogy exam in accordance with §303.B.3

3. Mild to Moderate Disabilities:

a. All candidates must pass a content area exam appropriate to the certification level 1-5, 4-8, or 6-12, or core subject-specific exams for middle or secondary grades;

b. Mild to Moderate Pedagogy exam in accordance with §303.B 4;

c. Integrated to Merged program completers: Principles of Learning and Teaching appropriate to grade level K-6, 5-9, or 7-12.

4. Significant Disabilities:

a. Content Requirements: Elementary Content Knowledge exam in accordance with §303 E;

b. Significant Disabilities Pedagogy exam in accordance with §303.B.5

5. Visual Impairments/Blind:

a. Content Requirements: Elementary Content Knowledge exam in accordance with §303 E;

b. Visual Impairments/Blind Pedagogy exams in accordance with §303.B.6

N. Administrative and Instructional Support Areas

1. Educational Leader-Level 1:

a. School Leaders Licensure Assessment (SLLA), (1011 or 6011), effective 9/1/09 to 7/31/20, score 166;

b. School Leaders Licensure Assessment (SLLA) (6990), effective 9/1/19, score 151; or

c. Louisiana Leadership Assessment Series (LLAS), effective 4/1/20, score of 'demonstrated' for at least 9 assessments within the series.

d. A candidate for the educational leader, level 1 certification who earns a passing score on the LLAS during the pilot phase (2019) will be eligible for the educational leader, level 1 certificate if the candidate has met all other requirements for the graduate degree pathway or one of three alternate pathways.

2. Educational Leader-Level 3:

a. School Superintendent Assessment (SSA) (6021), effective 1/1/13 to 7/31/20, score 160; or

b. School Superintendent Assessment (SSA) (6991), effective 9/1/19, score 162.

3. School Counselor (K-12):

a. Professional School Counselor (0421 or 5421), effective 7/1/15 to 8/31/23, score 156; or

b. School Counselor (5422), effective 9/1/22, score 159.

4. School Librarian:

a. Library Media Specialist (0311 or 5311), effective 9/1/12 to 8/31/23, score 136; or

b. School Librarian (5312), effective 9/1/22, score 154.

O. Reading Exams:

1. Teaching of Reading Exam (0204 or 5204), effective 9/1/11 to 7/31/20, score 157;

2. Teaching of Reading: K-12 Exam (0206 or 5206), effective 9/1/19, score 156;

3. Teaching of Reading: Elementary Exam (5205), effective 1/1/23, score 159.

4. Elementary Teaching Reading Language Arts Subtest (7002), effective 6/1/24 to 12/31/26, score 138; or

5. Elementary Teaching Reading Language Arts Subtest (7002), effective 1/1/27 to 12/31/28, score 147; or

6. Elementary Teaching Reading Language Arts Subtest (7002), effective 1/1/29, score 153.

P. Mentor Teacher and Content Leader. The mentor teacher certificate and content leader certificate may be earned by passing the applicable Louisiana assessment series.

1. Mentor Teacher. Louisiana Mentor Teacher Assessment Series-Elementary, Secondary ELA, Secondary Math, or Universal, must pass two coaching-related components.

2. Content Leader:

a. Louisiana Content Leader Assessment Series, must pass four components; or

b. Louisiana Intervention Content Leader Assessment Series, must pass three components.

AUTHORITY NOTE: Promulgated in accordance with R.S. 17:6, 17:7(6), R.S. 17:3902, and R.S. 17:407.81.

Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. Louisiana may have more current or accurate information. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site. Please check official sources.

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