Requirements/Virginia
Elementary Teacher in Virginia.
Four content subtests plus a separate reading test.
- Exams
- 5
- Passing scores
- 157 · 155 · 159
- Certificate
- Elementary Education preK-6
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
Required since 1 September 2022. RVE 5306 is accepted only for scores earned before 31 August 2022.
Pass159
What people get wrong
Each of these costs a candidate either money or a test date.
- The VCLA is gone. House Bill 731, approved 8 April 2024, eliminated the Virginia Communication and Literacy Assessment as an initial licensure requirement from 1 July 2024. If you were previously cited for the VCLA and have completed everything else, you can ask VDOE to update your evaluation and issue a full renewable license.
- 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 reading test is separate from the reading subtest inside the battery. Passing 5002 does not satisfy it.
Required, but not an exam
- A bachelor’s degree
- An approved educator preparation program, or an approved alternative route
- Application through the VDOE licensure system
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 2026-08-05 against Virginia Department of Education, Assessments Required for Initial Licensure. Certification rules change by state board vote. Confirm with the state before you register for a test.