Catalog 2007-2008
Graduate School of Education and Counseling

Please Note: This is the 2007-2008 catalog. It is now out of date, and included here only for archival purposes. Please use the current edition. Thank you.

Testing Required for the Oregon Initial Teaching License

Oregon uses a system of multiple measures to determine whether a candidate is a teacher licensure "program completer." Educators who wish to be recommended for an Oregon Initial Teaching License (or a teaching license in any state) are required to pass both a basic skills test and a battery of subject-matter tests.

For basic skills testing, the candidate may choose to take the Praxis I: Pre-Professional Skills Tests (PPST) or the California Basic Educational Skills Tests (C-BEST), or the Washington Educator Skills Test – Basic (WEST-B).

Authorizations in early childhood, elementary, and middle-level teaching (with the exception of art and music) also require passing scores on the ORELA: Multiple Subject Examination (MSE). The MSE is criterion-referenced and objective-based, meaning that it is designed to measure a candidate's knowledge and skills in relation to an established standard rather than in relation to the performance of other candidates. In order to pass the MSE, candidates must pass two subtests. The subtest selection depends on whether the candidate has received preparation at an approved Oregon institution (Subtest I and II) or through an accredited out-of-state program (Subtest II and III).

Secondary educators must pass additional Praxis II tests in their specific subject matter. Generally, there are two or three tests in each subject-matter endorsement area in some combination of multiple-choice and constructed response formats.

Those candidates who do not pass both the basic skills test and the subject-matter tests required for completion of an Oregon teacher education program are not considered program completers and are not eligible for initial licensure recommendation in any state. Please note that other states may also require that licensure candidates pass additional tests.

Program information required by Section 207 of the Title II Higher Education Act may be found at graduate.lclark.edu/dept/lcteach.