Resources & Support

• Make use of the study plans, practice tests, and testing strategies on the official ETS Praxis website. ETS’s Study Companion lists topics covered by each exam. 
• Explore testing preparation materials at the UNCW Library and the Learning Express Library. 

The WCE SSC has Praxis Core resources. These opportunities are for current UNCW students (main campus & extension) and non-UNCW students.  

• Praxis Core Prep Study Sessions are offered in a hybrid-flex format (face-to-face and Zoom). 
• Our Optional Study Resources Hub is available for anyone interested. We have a Canvas Module for non-UNCW students and for current UNCW students.  
  • Links to free study materials such as Khan Academy, Library Resources, etc. 
  • Links to paid subscriptions and services such as ALEK, tutoring, etc. 
  • Tips for registration, study timelines, and testing anxiety 

Required Core passing scores, if taken separately: 

• Reading 156  
• Math 150  
• Writing 162 

Combined Minimum Score - 468. 

• NOTE: If taking all three sections of the Praxis Core, you must make a minimum combined score of 468, regardless of individual test scores. 

Watson College of Education will retain your Praxis scores for ten (10) years from the score reporting date. After ten years, your scores will no longer be available. When you take a test through Educational Testing Services (ETS), you will receive an email when your scores have been posted. We recommend saving a copy of your score report for future reference. 

*The Watson College of Education (WCE) is piloting a new admission process for the academic year ’23-’24, as approved by the WCE Admission Task Force and faculty.

All students should take and pass the Praxis Core right away, freshman or sophomore year, unless exempt.

Students seeking to be admitted in the end of the Spring semester:

• Application Deadline: May 1st
• Praxis Core Deadline: March 15th

Students seeking to be admitted in the end of Summer II semester:

• Application Deadline: August 1st
• Praxis Core Deadline: June 15th

Students seeking to be admitted in the end of Fall semester:

• Application Deadline: December 1st
• Praxis Core Deadline: October 15th

• Scores take approximately 4-6 weeks to arrive in our office. If students take and pass the Praxis Core tests on or before the deadline, Praxis scores will have enough time to arrive in our office by the time admission decisions are made at the end of the term.
• Students must list UNCW as a score recipient for us to receive your scores.
• Admission decisions are made the day after grades are posted. All admission materials, including Praxis Core scores, must be in our office when your application is evaluated.
• Photocopies of score reports that do not list UNCW as a score recipient, WILL NOT be accepted.
• Students who did not code UNCW as a score recipient must contact ETS and request official scores to be sent.
• Students admitted at the end of Spring will be eligible for upper-level education courses during the summer semester.
• Students admitted at the end of Summer II will be eligible for upper-level education courses during the fall semester.
• Students admitted at the end of the Fall semester will be eligible for upper-level education courses in the spring semester.
• Students who are not admitted into the WCE will need to reapply for future consideration.
• The WCE does not play a role in score deliveries and receipts. Praxis scores are sent from ETS, not UNCW or the Watson College of Education
• All admission decisions are final and are not subject to change. Students can reapply for admission in a subsequent semester when all requirements have been met.

Administered year-round, the Praxis tests are computer delivered in thousands of test centers throughout the country and at home for over 100 test titles.  

The Praxis exams are offered at the UNCW Testing Center in DePaolo Hall using testing site code APCN-1747. Registration is completed through ETS, regardless of your chosen testing location. Be sure to list UNCW as a test score recipient during registration with code 5907.  

ETS's exam codes:

• Praxis Core Reading - 5713
  
• Praxis Core Math - 5733
  
• Praxis Core Writing - 5723
  
• Praxis Core Combined (three in one) - 5752

Know the following important information: 

We advise that students take and pass the Praxis Core while in their math and English courses for WCE admission. For most students, this means taking the Praxis Core in their first or second year in college unless exempt.   

Praxis scores take approximately 4-6 weeks to arrive in our office. If students take the Praxis Core tests on or before the posted deadline, Praxis scores will have enough time to arrive in our office by the time admission decisions are made.   

• June 15th for the August 1st application deadline.   
• October 15th for the December 1st application deadline.  
• March 15th for the May 1st application deadline.  

The WCE does not play a role in score deliveries and receipts. Praxis scores are sent from ETS, not UNCW or the Watson College of Education.  Students must list UNCW as a score recipient for WCE to receive their scores. Students who did not code UNCW as a score recipient must contact ETS and request official scores to be sent. Photocopies of score reports that do not list UNCW as a score recipient will not be accepted.  

An examinee may take each exam of the Praxis Core once every 35 consecutive days. This is for each subject area and is not cumulative between exams.  Students are encouraged to check with their WCE SSC Advisor about their super-combined scoring before registering for a retake exam.   

ACT Scores  

• Exempt from all 3 Praxis Core exams with an ACT composite score of 24 or higher 
• Exempt from Reading and Writing exams with a minimum score of 24 on the English test  
• Exempt from Math exam with a minimum score of 24 on the Math test  

New SAT (taken March 2016 or later) 

• Exempt from all 3 Praxis Core exams with SAT total score of 1170 or higher on EBRW (Evidence-Based Reading and Writing) + Math.  (Other sections cannot be added to reach the 1170 score.)  
• Exempt from Reading and Writing exams with a minimum score of 600 on EBRW 
• Exempt from Math exam with a minimum score of 570 on the Math test 

Old SAT (taken prior to March 2016) 

• Exempt from all 3 Praxis Core exams with SAT total score of 1100 or higher (Math + Verbal). (The Writing SAT score is not counted in the total of 1100 needed for exemption.) 
• Exempt from Reading and Writing exams with a minimum score of 550 on Verbal. 
• Exempt from Math exam with a minimum score of 550 on Math.  

Previous degree 

• Students who earned a Bachelor's degree with a cumulative GPA of 2.70 or higher are exempt from Praxis Core. 
• Students with a master's degree are exempt from Praxis Core. 
• Students are required to provide the Watson College of Education Associate Dean's Office with the corresponding official documentation from the granting institution (University or College Board) to receive exemptions for Praxis Core. 

Students accepted to UNCW can check if their SAT or ACT scores are on file at UNCW by following these steps: 

• From the UNCW homepage, click on Quicklinks and select SEANET from the drop-down menu 
• Click on Secure Login for Faculty, Staff, and Students – enter student ID# and PIN 
• Click on Student Services & Financial Aid 
• Select Student Records 
• Select Student Information 
• Click "submit" for the current term 
• Scroll to the bottom - Test Score Information 

If you believe your scores qualify you for an exemption but are not on file with UNCW, official scores must be sent to the university from the test provider.  

Our unique on-campus Education Lab is a distinguishing feature of WCE's teacher education programs. Here, students have an opportunity to practice strategies and skills, teaching a child in a one-on-one setting even before field placements begin.

Visit the Ed Lab

The Office of Professional Experiences is here to assist you with your application for a North Carolina teaching license. At the completion of your program, we provide instructions for applying for your initial license as well as adding or upgrading your current license. 

Visit the PET Office

The Watson College of Education is pleased to announce scholarships available to qualified students. A committee of Watson College of Education faculty will recommend recipients for each scholarship by the early part of May - each academic year. Scholarships are awarded for the following fall and spring semesters

Learn more about Scholarships