Licensure Testing Requirements
WSSU Educator Preparation Program (EPP) candidates are encouraged to complete all required licensure content assessments before the Clinical Internship semester.
This excludes the edTPA, which is taken during the candidate’s final semester.
To view the exams required for specific licensure areas, please visit the WSSU EPP NC State Board of Education Approved Testing Requirements webpage.
When registering for any licensure exams (Praxis Subject Assessments, NC Foundations of Reading, or edTPA), please designate the following score recipients:
- Winston-Salem State University – Code 5909
- North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (NCDPI) – Test Center Code 7846
This ensures that your official scores are sent directly to both WSSU and the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction for timely licensure processing.
The Praxis Subject Assessments (formerly known as Praxis II) measure candidates’ knowledge of the specific subject area(s) they plan to teach, as well as subject-specific teaching skills.
Note for Elementary and Special Education Program Candidates:
- Candidates must take the Praxis II Elementary Education: Content Knowledge for Teaching Mathematics (7813) exam to meet the mathematics requirement for both Elementary Education (K–6) and Special Education licenses.
NC Foundations of Reading (890)
The NC Foundations of Reading exam measures candidates’ understanding of reading and writing development and aligns with the North Carolina Common Core State Standards.
- Candidates in Elementary Education and Special Education programs are required to take the NC Foundations of Reading (890) exam.
The edTPA is a national, subject-specific, portfolio-based assessment of teaching performance used by more than 600 Educator Preparation Programs (EPPs) across the country.
It is designed to ensure that teacher candidates:
- Understand educational theory and subject matter content, and
- Demonstrate the classroom teaching skills needed to positively impact student learning.
WSSU edTPA Requirements
All WSSU teacher candidates seeking initial licensure must complete and submit the edTPA Portfolio during their yearlong internship.
Candidates will receive ongoing support throughout the process from:
- The WSSU EPP edTPA Coordinator
- The Program Coordinator of the candidate’s licensure area
- The University Supervisor of the candidate’s licensure area
- Clinical Educators assigned to the candidate
All edTPA handbooks and supporting documents are available through the Professional Seminar Canvas page for each program and from Program Coordinators.
Completion and submission of the edTPA Portfolio is a requirement of the EDU 4333 Seminar Course during the internship semester.
The WSSU Educator Preparation Program (EPP) provides current undergraduate and graduate students with access to 240 Tutoring, aligned with their course syllabus.
Students are also encouraged to visit the Education Learning Lab to check out test preparation books for their specific licensure subject area.
The WSSU EPP also hosts virtual and in-person workshops for the edTPA and licensure subject assessments. For information regarding availability, dates, and times, please contact the Licensure Officer.
