Students in the Physical Education Teacher Education program continue to excel in a nationally required teaching exam in their first attempt. PETE students have posted a 97 percent first-time passing rate during the past five years on the Praxis II exam. During that time, students averaged a score of 159, with more than 160 students taking the test. Students have an overall 100 percent passing rate, along with the 97 percent first-time passing rate.
The Praxis II subject-specific teaching exam is an important part of the licensing and certification process for students who aspire to teach, according to Valerie Wayda, associate professor and department chair, Coaching and Teaching Studies at CPASS. This process is required by more than 40 states as well as many professional licensing agencies.
“Students are not eligible to apply for a teaching license without passing Praxis II exam. Teaching licenses are required to instruct in the public schools,” explained Wayda.
Wayda complimented the PETE program’s preparation for these successful results. “Students are well equipped to take the Praxis II after completing a variety of courses covering physical education content knowledge and professional content knowledge.”
“We’ve embedded it as a requirement to be eligible to student teach. Student teaching is the culminating activity in the PETE major,” Wayda added.
Each state determines its passing score. West Virginia’s cut off score is 150 which is ranked as the seventh highest cut off score in the United States. Additionally, each licensing organization may set its own passing score requirements.