Pre-Professional Skills Test (PPST)

The Minnesota Board of Teaching (BOT) requires all teacher candidates to show evidence of taking the PPST before enrolling in upper division Education courses.  All students applying for acceptance into a Teacher Education Program must take the PRAXIS I Pre-Professional Skills Test (PPST) before taking EDUC 310.  Registration booklets for the test are available in the Education Department.  While there are no minimum scores on the PPST required for acceptance into teacher education programs, passing scores on these tests must be achieved before applying for teacher licensure in Minnesota.  Students considering Teacher Education should take the PPST as a first-year student or during the summer prior to their sophomore year.

More information about the test can be obtained from the brochure, "Minnesota: The Praxis Series: Professional Assessments for Beginning Teachers," printed by the state of Minnesota, and the "The Praxis Series: Professional Assessments for Beginning Teachers Registration Bulletin" from the Educational Testing Service (ETS).  Both of these publications can be picked up in the Education Department Office at CSB.  If, after looking over the sample questions in the Bulletin, you feel that you need to review for the tests, there are two study guides available in the CSB Bookstore: The PPST Guide and The PPST Essay Guide, both published by ETS.  They show what is covered in a typical test.  Resource books are also available in the Education Department Curriculum Library (HAB 125) upon request.

The Praxis Series and ETS also has a computer version of the PPST which is available to students at several sites in the state.  This computer exam is taken by appointment only.

Registration for the PPST must be done on-line (credit card required).

The minimum passing scores established by the State of Minnesota are as follows:

WRITTEN EXAM                             

Reading           173
Writing            172
Mathematics     171                      

These scores were established by the Minnesota Board of Teaching as minimum passing scores and are subject to change.  The brochure from the Board of Teaching lists these scores and is available at the Education Department desk.

If you should fail one or more portions of the test, you may seek help for the deficiency via different programs in the Academic Skills Center at CSB.   Following is a list of programs and directors that may be of help to you:

• Writing                   Writing Center, Jane Opitz (Quad 149, HAB 109
• Mathematics           Math Skills Center, Marilyn Creed (Quad 151)