Testing Requirements
To ensure that you begin your teaching career as a highly qualified new educator, ready to earn your New Jersey teaching certificate, you must register for, study for and pass the Praxis II subject area exam and verify sufficient knowledge of physiology, hygiene and substance abuse issues, including the effects of narcotics and alcohol through passage of an exam offered at county offices or through previous college level coursework in biology, health or nutrition or through basic military training. Passing score reports for all required exams must be on file with the TeacherNex office before accepted candidates can finalize enrollment in the TeacherNex hiring pool and is one of the requirements for being eligible to interview with TeacherNex partner principals. Because accepted candidates must provide passing Praxis II score reports before becoming eligible to interview with principals, we strongly encourage all candidates to register and take the required Praxis II exams as early as possible.
Testing Information
Determining the correct Praxis II exam(s) to take
The Praxis II Subject Assessment is a subject area specific exam. If invited to an interview, the TeacherNex office will assign candidates to a subject area and advise on the Praxis II exam(s) that should be taken. All candidates are urged to register at that time for their Praxis II Subject examination(s). Candidates invited to interview will also have access to a TeacherNex Testing Guide, which outlines in detail the test(s) required for the candidate’s subject area. Please note that subject area assignments are based on candidates’ reports of previous college coursework on the online application. Please see the tables below for detailed information about New Jersey Department of Education subject area eligibility and corresponding Praxis II requirements. All candidates should keep these requirements in mind when reporting coursework and stating subject area preferences on the online application.
Before final acceptance into the hiring pool, candidates must submit official transcripts so that course credits and GPA can be verified. Upon further review of official transcripts, TeacherNex may change candidates’ subject area assignments if necessary. In such cases, candidates may need to take additional Praxis II exam(s). Ineligibility for a specific subject does not necessarily remove a candidate from the interview and selection process. Registering for your required Praxis II exams The Praxis II Subject Assessment is offered in a paper-based test administration, and the Educational Testing Service (ETS) handles registration. Candidates are responsible for all Praxis II registration fees. Registrations must be received by ETS by the deadlines listed. Please note that in addition to regular testing fees, there is a late registration fee of $45 and an emergency registration deadline fee of $75 for individuals who are registering after the regular deadline.
Admission to TeacherNex is contingent upon passage of these required tests, and passing scores must be on file with our office before accepted candidate can begin interviewing with TeacherNex partner principals. The deadline to submit passing score reports for all exams is May 31, 2010.
For more information about the Praxis II exam and to register for the exam, please refer to the ETS Praxis website.
Praxis II Registration Deadlines
Test Date* |
Regular Deadline |
Late Deadline |
Emergency Deadline |
Scores Available |
11/14/09 |
10/15/09 |
10/22/09 |
11/6/09 |
12/15/09 |
1/9/10 |
12/10/09 |
12/17/09 |
1/1/10 |
2/9/10 |
3/13/10 |
2/11/10 |
2/18/10 |
3/5/10 |
4/13/10 |
4/24/10** |
3/25/10 |
4/1/10 |
4/16/10 |
5/25/10 |
*Most tests are offered on these dates. Please visit the ETS Praxis Website for a detailed list of tests offered for each date.
**April 24, 2010 is the last opportunity to take required Praxis II exam(s) and meet the TeacherNex testing deadline.
Test Preparation
It is imperative that all candidates STUDY thoroughly for the Praxis II exam(s). Teachers and TeacherNex candidates - even those with deep content knowledge or professional experience - state that it is important to study and prepare well ahead of the exams. The earlier the exams are taken, the more chances are afforded for re-taking the test.
As you prepare, consider the following test preparation resources that TeacherNex candidates have recommended:
- Visit www.ets.org for information. Select the Tests at a Glance feature for the Praxis II to access an overview of the material covered on the exam and download sample test problems. Consider purchasing ETS’ Praxis Study Guides. However, please note that many candidates report that the exams are more rigorous and difficult than these study guides; thus candidates will likely need study materials beyond these ETS resources
- Refer to college and high school textbooks focused on the appropriate subject matter for your Praxis II.
- Consider purchasing study guides from major test preparation providers (e.g., Barrons, Kaplan, Princeton Review, etc.) at a local library or bookstore
- Actively search the internet for additional test prep materials and resources
- Form study groups with other candidates or teachers
Although TeacherNex does not specifically endorse any of these materials, and while individual's test preparation needs will vary, TeacherNex candidates have cited these resources as helpful starting points in studying for these important tests.
Please note: it is common for candidates to take the Praxis II a second time due to failure on the first attempt. Therefore, TeacherNex strongly recommends that candidates invited to interview register as soon as possible for the Praxis II upon receipt of their tentative subject assignment. This allows candidates to maximize their chances to have time to re-take the exam(s) if needed.
