Testing Requirements
To ensure that Fellows enter their teaching careers as highly qualified new educators, ready to earn their teaching license, Fellows must register for, study for, and pass the appropriate Praxis II exam(s) before the start of the summer Training Institute.
The Praxis II is a subject area-specific exam. Candidates invited to interview with the Nashville Teaching Fellows to teach will need to take and pass the Praxis II exam for their subject. Candidates should review the program eligibility requirements, consider their eligibility when stating subject area preferences on the Fellows online application, and then wait for specific, individualized testing directions from our program office before registering for this exam. Candidates invited to interview with the Teaching Fellows program will receive individualized guidance on the appropriate exam for their candidacy with their invitation to interview, and are urged to register at that time for their exam. The appropriate Praxis II exam will vary for each candidate, depending on a candidate’s eligibility and the subject he/she may teach in the fall. The Praxis II is offered both electronically and as a paper-based test depending on subject area, and registration is handled by the Educational Testing Service (ETS). For more information about the Praxis II, visit the ETS website where you can also register for the Praxis II exam once you have received instructions from the Fellows office.
Please identify Nashville Teaching Fellows (ETS Recipient Code 1660) and Tennessee Department of Education (ETS Recipient Code 8190) as Score Recipients in Step 4 of the Praxis Registration.
Candidates Invited to Interview for a Position Teaching: | Must Meet the Following Coursework Requirements: | Must Meet the Following Testing Requirements: |
| Math | 12-24 credit hours or the equivalent in pure mathematics (not economics, statistics, or business math); strong content knowledge in math or relevant content area. | Passing score on Praxis II: Mathematics (#0061) |
| Chemistry | 12-24 credit hours or the equivalent in chemistry; strong content knowledge in chemistry or relevant content area. | Passing score on Praxis II: Chemistry Content Knowledge (#0245) |
| Biology | 12-24 credit hours or the equivalent in biology; strong content knowledge in biology or relevant content area. | Passing score on Praxis II: Biology Content Knowledge (#0235) |
| Physics | 12-24 credit hours or the equivalent in physics; strong content knowledge in physics or relevant content area. | Passing score on Praxis II: Physics Content Knowledge (#0265) |
English | 12-24 credit hours or the equivalent in English, Literature, Creative Writing, or Journalism; strong content knowledge in English grammar, Literature, or relavant work experience in this area. | Passing score on Praxis II: English Language, Literature, and Composition Content Knowledge (#0041) |
| English Language Learners (ELL) | Bachelor’s degree in any area. Candidates interested in Elementary education should consider this route. Content knowledge in linguistics, language acquisition, foreign languages, and/or experience teaching English preferred. | Passing score on Praxis II: English to Speakers of Other Languages (#0361) *Fellows invited to teach Elementary-ELL must ALSO pass Elementary Education: Content Knowledge |
| Middle School (General Content) | Bachelor's degree in any area; no specific coursework required. | Passing score on Praxis II: Middle School Content Knowledge (#0146) |
Additional details about available test dates and registration deadlines can be found on the ETS website.
Test Preparation Resources
Teachers report that the Praxis exams are extremely difficult and require careful preparation. It is not unusual for candidates to take these exams two or three times before achieving passing scores. We therefore encourage candidates to devote serious time and energy to studying for the exams.
You may wish to take advantage of some of the following resources to ensure that you are well-prepared on examination day:
- Visit the Praxis website to access test preparation resources including overviews of exam content and sample test problems.
- Sign up for an Nashville Teaching Fellows test prep session (if offered in your subject area)
- Review your college and high school textbooks covering the relevant subject matter for your Praxis II exam(s).
- Consider purchasing study guides from ETS or other major test prep providers. You may be able to obtain these materials free of charge at your local library.
- Actively search the internet for additional test prep materials and resources.
- Form study groups with other candidates or teachers you may know who are preparing for the exams.