Requirements/Tennessee
Elementary Teacher in Tennessee.
Four content subtests plus a separate reading test.
- Exams
- 5
- Passing scores
- 157 · 155 · 159
- Certificate
- Elementary Education K-5
The exams you have to pass
In the order most candidates take them.
01
Praxis Elementary Education Multiple Subjects: Reading and Language Arts5002
Pass157
02
Praxis Elementary Education Multiple Subjects: Mathematics5003
Pass157
03
Praxis Elementary Education Multiple Subjects: Social Studies5004
Pass155
04
Praxis Elementary Education Multiple Subjects: Science5005
Pass159
05
Praxis Teaching Reading: Elementary5205
NES Foundations of Reading (NT 890) at 240 is also accepted.
Pass159
What people get wrong
Each of these costs a candidate either money or a test date.
- Tennessee decides your testing by how you were prepared, not only by what you teach. Complete a state-approved program with student teaching and you owe edTPA. Enter through a job-embedded program and you owe no pedagogy test at all. Come from an out-of-state program while already holding an out-of-state initial license and you owe neither.
- Elementary Education: Multiple Subjects (5001) is four separately scored subtests with four different cut scores: 157, 157, 155 and 159. Passing three of four does not pass the test.
- The degree-major waiver does NOT reach elementary. It applies to qualifying middle and secondary core academic and world language endorsements, so an elementary candidate still tests.
- The reading assessment and the Tennessee Literacy Success Act training are separate requirements. Passing one does not satisfy the other, and Tennessee states that explicitly.
Required, but not an exam
- A bachelor’s degree
- A State Board-approved educator preparation program, or a job-embedded program
- edTPA, if you completed a program with student teaching or an internship
- Application through TNCompass, with scores sent using Tennessee code 8190
Now go pass them.
Knowing the list is the easy part. Built To Pass teaches the strategy layer that works on any of these, aimed at the domains where you are actually losing points.
Start with your examVerified 2026-08-06 against Tennessee SBE Policy 5.105, Professional Assessments for Tennessee Educators (revised 27 February 2026), and TDOE licensure assessment guidance. Certification rules change by state board vote. Confirm with the state before you register for a test.