Beginning July 1, 2025, applicants to educator preparation programs and educators in New Hampshire will need to achieve passing scores on Pearson exams or related tests noted below as implemented by the nh department of education - bureau of credentialing.
Students enrolled in an must meet the Basic Academic Skills Assessment (BASA) in reading, writing, and math of the Pearson Exam or an alternative testing option to achieve Educator Preparation Program admission. There are a few ways to meet this requirement:
1. Pearson National Evaluation Series : Applicants must obtain, at a minimum, a qualifying score (as set by the state of New Hampshire at the time of testing) on all three (Reading, Writing, and Mathematics) Pearson exams listed below to be considered for admission. Information on how to take the Pearson exams can be found here.
a. Reading: Essential Academic Skills Subtest I: Reading (First Test Admin 10/31/22) (005). Passing score is 220 (current as of 7/1/2025).
b. Writing: Essential Academic Skills Subtest II: Writing (First Test Admin 10/31/22)
(006). Passing score is 220 (current as of 7/1/2025).
c. Math: Essential Academic Skills Subtest III: Math (First Test Admin 10/31/22)
(007). Passing score is 220 (current as of 7/1/2025).
d. Pearson system requires that applicants select University of New Hampshire as the recipient information - no institution code is used for this testing system.
2. Test Evaluation Request for Comparability: Applicants must submit scores documenting at or above the 50th percentile on a nationally recognized test in the areas of reading, writing, and mathematics, such as, but not limited to, the SAT, GRE, or ACT.
a. Instructions on how to request a test evaluation from the NH Department of Education (NH ED) can be found here.
b. Once the test comparability evaluation has been completed, the NH ED will provide the applicant with an emailed decision. A copy of the decision will also be available in the applicant’s Educator Identification System (EIS) account. Applicants to a UNH program that can lead to licensure are responsible for forwarding the email to grad.school@unh.edu.
c. Applications are not complete without passing test scores or test comparability decisions for each of the three subtests – Reading, Writing, Math.
3. Other testing options may include the Praxis Core - Reading, Writing, Math and the Massachusetts-based MTEL exam.
a. Evaluation of the (ETS) Praxis Core Test scores is only available for students enrolling in, or enrolled in, a NH-approved educator preparation program who are not yet eligible to apply for licensure. Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators (Core) exam scores are another testing option for all applicants to programs leading to initial teacher certification. Applicants must obtain, at a minimum, a qualifying score (as set by the state of New Hampshire at the time of testing) on all three (Reading, Writing, and Mathematics) Core exams in order to be considered for admission. Current NH qualifying scores may be found at the ETS Praxis Website under the “Tests Required by New Hampshire” page. To have scores sent to our office please use our recipient code which is 3922.
b. The State of Massachusetts MTEL exam is also an option, particularly among those students who are likely to seek certification post-graduation in Massachusetts. Successful scores are required on the Literacy and Communications exams, as well as Math as a requirement. More information on the MTEL system is available at: https://www.mtel.nesinc.com/
Use the link below to access a list of free test preparation resources created by the UNH Library to help students prepare for the Praxis Core exams.
