Who Must Meet The Academic Skills Requirement?

Individuals seeking formal admission to a Connecticut college or university teacher preparation program, or seeking certification in Connecticut, must fulfill the academic skills requirement by taking and passing all three PRAXIS I Academic Skill Assessments in reading, writing and mathematics, or by qualifying for and obtaining a Praxis waiver. A waiver is an alternative to taking and passing the academic skills tests required of prospective educators by the State of Connecticut.

How do I know if I am eligible for a Praxis waiver?

You are eligible for a Praxis waiver if you meet one of the following sets of criteria:

• SAT Waiver. A combined score of 1,100 or more on the SAT* (mathematics and critical reading sections only; does NOT include writing section) with neither the mathematics nor the critical reading subtest score below 400; or
• ACT Waiver. Scores no less than 22 on the English subtest and no less than 19 on the mathematics subtest on the American College Testing (ACT) program assessment; or
• PAA Waiver. A total score on the Prueba de Aptitud Academica (PAA) equivalent to a combined score of 1,000 on the SAT with neither the mathematics nor the verbal subtest score below the equivalent of 400 points. In addition, a minimum score of 510 on the English-as-a-Second-Language Achievement Test (ESLAT) or the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL).
• GRE Waiver. For candidates taking the test prior to October 1, 2002: A combined minimum score of 1000 on the GRE quantitative and verbal reasoning tests, with no less than a score of 500 in quantitative reasoning and 450 in verbal reasoning. For candidates taking the test after October 1, 2002: A combined minimum score of 1000 on the GRE quantitative and verbal reasoning tests, with no less than a score of 500 in quantitative reasoning and 450 in verbal reasoning, plus a minimum analytic writing score of 4.5.

If you DO MEET one of the criteria you may apply for a Praxis Waiver.

If you DO NOT MEET one of the criteria listed above, you must take the Praxis Exam.

* If you have taken the SAT on more than one occasion, your highest verbal score and your highest mathematics score will be combined.