Certification in Teaching English as a Second Language

Students interested in teacher certification in English to Speakers of Other Languages must successfully complete six credits of EDUC 750: Graduate Teaching Internship in one or two semesters during the second year in the program.

Students who earn ACT or SAT scores at or above the following levels established by the State of Delaware are exempt from taking the Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators tests in reading and mathematics.

• ACT English score at or above 24 – exemption from the Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators test in reading.
• ACT mathematics score at or above 24 – exemption from the Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators test in mathematics.
• SAT verbal score at or above 560 – exemption from the Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators test in reading.
• SAT mathematics score at or above 540 – exemption from the Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators test in mathematics.
• GRE mathematics score at or above 145 – exemption from the Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators test in mathematics.
• GRE verbal score at or above 152  – exemption from the Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators test in reading.

All students must pass the Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators test in writing; there is no exemption for this test. Students who are  not exempt from any test would initially register for the Combined Test (reading, mathematics, and writing). Students who are exempt from the reading test and/or mathematics test would register for the Individual Test(s) that they need to pass.

All students planning to become ESL teachers must also pass the Praxis Subject Assessment – English to Speakers of Other Languages (ETS Test # 5362). This test is required by the state of Delaware and the passing score for MA TESL candidates specifically is 150.

Additional Certification Requirements

Candidates for K-12 public school certification must meet the Delaware requirements:

• Early field placement in EDUC 741
• Graduate Student Internship: 6 credits of EDUC 750
• Teacher of English Learners: a score of 149 or higher on the Praxis Subject Test (5362:
  English to Speakers of Other Languages)
• Bilingual Teacher: proficiency in the non-English language (contact the Delaware
  Department of Education for details)