Middle School Content Knowledge

The state requires all teachers licensed to teach middle school to pass a single-subject test for every subject they are licensed to teach. An elementary content test is not an option.: AL, AR, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, MI, MN, MO, MS, NC, NJ, NY, OH, PA, RI, SC, TN, TX, VA, VT, WV

The state allows some or all teachers licensed to teach middle school to only take an elementary test : AK, ME, MT, ND, NE, NH, NM, NV, OK, SD, WA

The state does not require any content test.: AZ, CA, CO, HI, IA, OR, UT, WI, WY

Footnotes
AZ: Arizona only requires an elementary content test for candidates who will be licensed to teach through Grade 8 on a generalist license. Tests are optional for middle grades candidates.
CA: Candidates for either the multiple subjects or single-subject credential may demonstrate their subject-matter competence by either completing a state-approved subject-matter preparation program or passing the appropriate subject-matter examination.
CO: In Colorado, a content test is one of three options for demonstrating content knowledge.
DC: The District of Columbia offers single subject licenses for which single-subject tests are required. The District also offers a generalist license which requires a middle grades content test with a composite score for core subject areas.
HI: In Hawaii, passage of a content test is one of five options for demonstrating content knowledge.
IA: In Iowa, candidates have the option of passing a single-subject test or the edTPA. The edTPA is not a content test.
ID: For the K-8 license, Idaho also requires one single-subject test allowing the teaching of that subject through grade 9.
MA: In addition to single-subject licenses, Massachusetts offers two combinations licenses (Math/Science and Humanities) each of which requires a test that combines core content.
MD: Maryland allows elementary teachers to teach in departmentalized middle schools if not less than 50 percent of the teaching assignment is within the elementary grades.
NC: Teachers may have until third year to pass tests, if they attempt to pass them during their first year.
NH: New Hampshire requires K-8 candidates to have a core concentration and to pass a middle school content test in a core area, it's unclear whether this restricts the holder to only teaching that subject at the middle grade level. Teachers with a 5-8 license must pass a Praxis single subject assessment.
NJ: A candidate who fails to earn the passing score by 5 percent or less can still meet the subject matter requirement with a GPA of at least 3.5.
NY: For non-departmentalized classrooms, generalists in middle childhood education must pass middle school assessment with three subtests.
OR: In Oregon, a content test is one of 4 options for demonstrating content knowledge.
SD: In South Dakota, candidates with a content area major do not have to pass a content test.
TN: Tennessee allows teachers to delay passage of content tests if they possess a bachelor's degree in a core content area.
TX: In addition to single-subject licenses, Texas offers two combinations licenses (English Language Arts/Social Studies and Math/Science) each of which requires a test that combines core content.
UT: In Utah, passage of a content test is one of three options for demonstrating content knowledge.
WA: Washington also requires a subject-matter test combining all Humanities subject areas (English language Arts and social studies) into one score.
WI: In Wisconsin, passage of a content test is one of three options for demonstrating content knowledge.
WY: Only middle school social studies teachers in Wyoming must pass a Praxis content test.

Yes. State does not offer a K-8 license. : AL, AR, CO, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, HI, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MS, NC, NJ, NY, OH, PA, RI, SC, TN, TX, VA, WV, WY

No. State has insufficient license structures. : AK, AZ, CA, ID, MT, ND, NE, NH, NM, NV, OK, OR, SD, UT, VT, WA, WI

Footnotes
AK: State offers a K-8 license.
AZ: State permits licensed elementary teachers to teach middle school students in self-contained classrooms.
CA: State permits licensed elementary teachers to teach middle school students in self-contained classrooms.
ID: State offers a K-8 license.
MD: Maryland allows elementary teachers to teach in departmentalized middle schools, if not less than 50% of the teaching assignment is within the elementary education grades.
ME: Effective July 2022, Maine will no longer offer a K-8 license.
MI: Starting Fall 2021, the state will no longer offer a K-8 license, and will begin to phase in a 5-9 middle grades license.
MT: State offers a K-8 license.
ND: State offers a 1-8 license.
NE: State permits licensed elementary teachers to teach middle school students in self-contained classrooms.
NH: State offers a K-8 license.
NM: State offers a K-8 license. New Mexico requires K-8 teachers to demonstrate content knowledge in the applicable middle grades subject area in which they are going to teach.
NV: State offers a K-8 license.
OK: State offers a 1-8 license, with the exception of mathematics.
OR: State permits licensed elementary teachers to teach middle school students in self-contained classrooms.
SD: State offers a K-4 or 5-8 self-contained licenses.
UT: State permits licensed elementary teachers to teach middle school students in self-contained classrooms. And requires generalists wishing to teach grades 7-8 in a secondary setting to obtain the applicable sing-subject endorsement.
VT: State permits licensed elementary teachers to teach middle school students in self-contained classrooms. K-6 licenses can be extended to K-8 upon request for a teacher working in a K-8 school.
WA: State offers a K-8 license.
WI: State offers a K-9 license.