TMI

Alternate Route Required Tests

To enter TMI 1, all candidates must submit passing scores on the Praxis Core (or replacement) and provide a passing Praxis Subject Assessment from this document. Below is general information about these exams, including where to go to sign up, score recipient codes you enter during registration, and substitutions allowed by MDE (for Praxis Core).

Praxis Core

Praxis Core (or ACT/SAT replacement) is required of all candidates for licensure. To take all three sections in one sitting, use Test Code 5752. Click the “Content Area” name to access the ETS Preparation page dedicated to that exam.

Subject Area	Test Code	Min. Score
Reading	5713	156
Writing	5723	162
Mathematics	5733	130

 

PraxisSubject Assessment—Preferred Exams for Licensure

A passing score on one of the Praxis Subject Assessments required for licensure is needed for admission. The exams in this first grouping are tied to endorsements that provide access to a wide range of job opportunities.  The endorsement names give you a general idea of which courses an educator holding the endorsement can teach.  However, some courses may list multiple acceptable endorsements (for example, the English 7-12 endorsement can be used to teach English, speech, journalism, and theatre).  Also, if there is a 5th or 6th grade version of the subject, the 7-12 endorsement can be used on it (using the English 7-12 endorsement again as an example, it CAN be used to teach the 5th or 6th grade English/Language Arts courses).

Subject Area	Test Code	Min. Score
Art (K-12)	5134	158
Biology (7-12)	5236	148
Chemistry (7-12)	5246	140
English (7-12)	5038	167
French (K-12)	5174	153
Health (K-12)	5551	149
Mathematics (7-12)	5165	152
Music (K-12)	5113	161
Physical Education (K-12)	5091	145
Physics (7-12)	5266	140
Social Studies (7-12)	5581	147
Spanish (K-12)	5195	160
Speech Communications (7-12)	5221	143

 

PraxisSubject Assessment—Additional Options for Licensure

TMI can use the exams in this group for admission and licensure. However, the associated endorsements cover few courses (0-4), limiting employment opportunities.

Subject Area	Test Code	Min. Score
Business Education (7-12)	5101	153
Chinese (K-12)	5665	164
Economics (7-12)	5911	150
Family & Consumer Science (7-12)	5123	144
German (K-12)	5183	154
Latin (K-12)	5601	152
Library/Media (K-12)	5312	149
Marketing Education (7-12)	5561	151

 

Adding Additional Endorsements Using Praxis Exams

Praxis Core (or ACT/SAT replacement) is required of all candidates for licensure. To take all three sections in one sitting, use Test Code 5752. Click the “Content Area” name to access the ETS Preparation page dedicated to that exam.

Subject Area	Test Code	Min. Score
155 - Algebra I (7-12)	5162	148
177 - English as a Second Language (K-12)	5362	149
156 - Geometry (7-12)	5163	139
902 - Language Arts (7-8)	5047	164
901 - Mathematics (7-8)	5164	150
904 - Science (7-8)	5442	147
903 - Social Studies (7-8)	5089	149
224 - Special Education (7-12)	5355	139
221 - Special Education (K-12)	MS Foundations of Reading & 5355	233 (MFR) 139 (Praxis)

 

Praxis Overview

To enter TMI 1, all candidates must submit passing scores on the Praxis Core (or 3.0 GPA or ACT/SAT replacement) and provide a passing Praxis Subject Assessment from this document. Below is general information about these exams, including where to go to sign up, score recipient codes you enter during registration, and substitutions allowed by MDE (for Praxis Core).

Replacements for the Praxis Core Exam

If you have a 21 composite score on the ACT (or SAT equivalent), you are exempt from taking the Praxis Core. If you do not have the ACT/SAT score, but your overall undergraduate GPA is above 3.0, you can be exempted from the Praxis Core.

TMI can accept scores listed on an official high school transcript (sent directly from the school) or official electronic scores sent directly to TMI (ACT Code 1432). Your college transcripts will NOT provide ACT/SAT scores.  Though TMI cannot load Praxis scores into MECCA (the MDE application system), TMI can load your ACT/SAT score into MECCA so you do not have to send additional to MDE for the ACT/SAT.

Candidates may take or re-take the ACT instead of the Praxis Core. ACT is more cost-effective, but more difficult for most candidates. Candidate must take the ACT on a national test date and does not need to sign up for the Writing section (just the standard ACT: English, Math, Reading, and Science sections).

Praxis: General Information

The Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators (referred to as Praxis Core) and the Praxis Subject Assessment (previously know as Praxis II) exams are offered through ETS (Educational Testing Services). The primary website for Praxis is: www.ets.org/praxis The page dedicated to exams approved by the Mississippi Department of Education is: THIS LINK (Please note that list includes exams used for undergraduate program completion, as well as exams used for supplemental endorsements; not all exams lead to licensure.) Alternate route candidates must take one of the Praxis Subject Assessments specifically approved for licensure. A list of the exams that can be used by TMI is on our website and in this document.

Praxis: Attending Institution and Designated Score Recipients

When registering for any Praxis exam, you will be prompted to provide an attending institution (where training is being done) and designated score recipients (where your Praxis score report is sent). Enter the TMI institutional code 1806, into these sections. If you are taking a Praxis exam outside of Mississippi (or online using the “Praxis at Home” testing option), you should include the MDE institutional code 7599, in the score recipient section. You may enter up to four institutional codes during Praxis registration for free. Failure to enter the institutional codes during registration leads to spending additional funds sending score reports at a later time.

Your score report will be posted to your “My Praxis Account” section of the Praxis website. The score report is made available to you in the form of a locked PDF. Be sure to save the locked PDF score report before it is removed from the ETS portal (about a year after testing). TMI can accept the emailed PDF as an official score report.

Praxis: Testing Windows and Additional Attempts

The Praxis Core is given on a continuous basis. That means if the testing center is open, it is offering Praxis Core testing (though COVID protocols may be affecting the number of seats available for each time slot). Many Praxis Subject Assessments are also offered on a continuous basis. However, some are offered in testing windows. This means there are only certain dates available to sign up for an exam. Visit THIS LINK to find out when an exam is available.  The Praxis Core, or individual sections of the Praxis Core, can only be taken once every 21 days. The Praxis Subject Assessment can be taken only once in any single testing window.

Praxis: Testing Locations

With few exceptions, Praxis exams are offered as computerized exams at testing centers –OR– if candidate meets certain equipment qualifications, he/she may be able to register to take the exam with an online proctor from home computer. Click THIS LINK to find out more about the testing at home option or to find the closest testing center.

Praxis Scores

Test results become available 10-16 business days after a testing window closes (not 10-16 business days after taking the exam). Score reports are posted to candidates’ ETS account first, normally about a week before any institution (such as the MDE or TMI) is permitted access. The score report can be saved from the candidate’s ETS account as a “locked PDF.” This score report is both the candidate’s copy, and if emailed as a “locked PDF,” can be used as an official score report. Candidates should be sure they save the file as it will disappear from their ETS account page after one year.

Supplemental Endorsement Page

The Mississippi Department of Education maintains a list of supplemental endorsements (additional endorsements added after initial licensure) that can be added to a valid license through additional testing, college hours, or program completion. Visit this page of the MDE website to access the documents.