State Certification Tests

These are exams for degreed academic and some vocational subject areas. These exams measure content area knowledge, usually in a multiple-choice format. Candidates applying for a Professional Certificate and those adding a subject area to a Professional Certificate must pass a subject area exam in the field(s) in which they seek certification. T-MAST students are required to pass either the middle grades science exam or the middle grades mathematics exam. Subject area exams are usually administered in the morning.

Prior to July 1, 2002 , the required basic skills test for teacher certification was the CLAST. Beginning July 1, 2002 , the required basic skills test for teacher certification is the General Knowledge Test for which you can register using the application in the registration bulletin. The General Knowledge Test is a basic skills achievement test containing four subtests: Mathematics (multiple-choice, items), Reading (multiple-choice passage-based items), English Language Skills (multiple-choice items), and Essay.

The General Knowledge Test is administered in the morning.

The General Knowledge test cannot be taken on the same day as a subject area test but can be taken on the same day as the Professional Education test.

• This multiple-choice test assesses general knowledge of pedagogy and professional practices and consists of approximately 120 items.
• A revised, updated version of the Professional Education Test was administered for the first time in July 2003.
• The revised Competencies and Skills, Eighth Edition may be accessed online.

The Professional Education Test is usually administered in the afternoon.