Students looking to get in the College of Education’s Teacher Education Program will now have to take the Pre-Professional Skills test, or Praxis 1.

“The Iowa Legislature has required this test to be part of the Teacher Education Program in all universities,” said Jackie Blount, associate professor of curriculum and instruction.

In the past, a student’s ACT scores were used to determine whether they would be accepted into the program.

“In the past, the ACTs were a good indicator of a student’s preparation, and since they had already taken the test to get into Iowa State, it would not have cost them any more money,” Blount said.

“The Legislature felt that additional testing was needed to truly measure the quality of our students.”

There are two Praxis tests. The Praxis 1 is required in applying for the Teacher Education Program and the material is similar to the ACT. The Praxis 1 measures skills such as reading, writing and mathematics.

The Praxis 2 is taken in students’ area of specialization. An FBI background check, which costs $87, is run while the student is taking the test.

Blount said Praxis 1 is similar to the ACT with one main difference – the Praxis 1 involves a writing component and the ACT does not.

She said the state government will cover the cost of the Praxis 2, which costs $185.

Students will have to pay $130 to take the Praxis 1 in the Testing Center on a computer, or $110 if taken on a Saturday with pencil and paper.

Since the state Legislature required the test this year, the College of Education has had to work quickly to get everything in order.

“We have hired additional staff to help implement the test,” Blount said.

“We have also been working with the Iowa State testing center. They have been very accommodating and cooperative.”

Lindsay Hammerseng, junior in elementary education, has taken the Praxis 1.

“At first I was nervous, because I had heard that it was really hard,” she said, “but I had also heard that it was easy. I was afraid that I wouldn’t do well.”

Blount said the Iowa Legislature has not set any minimum standards for scores yet.

“Iowa will give the test for a few years, then establish minimum standards,” she said.