Credentialing Help Desk Knowledge Base

Basic Academic Skills Assessment (BASA) and Subject Area Testing Information

Owned by Christine Zinkand
Nov 05, 2024
6 min read

 

  • Advanced degrees do not meet the BASA or Subject Area Testing requirements.

  • Test comparability determination is made by the Bureau of Credentialing.

  • NH’s Administrative rules do not provide a pathway to certification that only requires testing. In addition to any BASA and Subject Area Testing requirements, candidates for licensure must meet the requirements for one of the pathways to licensure.

 

Upcoming testing implementation for completed applications submitted on or after 7/1/2025:

The NH State Board of Education has adopted:

  • the Pearson Essential Academic Skills test, consisting of reading, writing, and mathematics subtests, as an additional testing option for candidates seeking an initial teacher or instructional specialist license

  • the Pearson content knowledge tests as an additional testing option for endorsements that already require content tests

  • the Pearson content knowledge tests as a testing requirement for endorsements that don’t already require content tests

  • Pearson Foundations of Reading for the Early Childhood Special Education endorsement

  • Pearson Foundations of Reading for the Special Education Teacher endorsement

  • The following tests will no longer be accepted:

    • Praxis: Education of Young Children for the Early Childhood Education endorsement

    • Pearson Foundations of Reading for the Reading and Writing Specialist endorsement

  • Additional information:

    • The passing score for each of these subtests and their subsequent revisions shall be the national cut score as determined by a formal standard setting process for that subtest.

    • Link to Pearson testing site to be posted when available. Pearson test numbers available in document below:

 

What is Basic Academic Skills Assessment?

The Ed 500 Administrative Rule (currently Ed 505.01/Ed 514.01 formerly) requires each candidate seeking initial teacher or instructional specialist licensure to show Basic Academic Skills in Reading, Writing and Mathematics.

How do I meet the BASA requirement?

  1. Submit passing scores on Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators: Reading, Writing, and Mathematics https://praxis.ets.org/state-requirements/newhampshire-tests.html

  2. Submit passing scores on an out of state test comparable to Praxis Core. Comparability will be determined as part of your application review. For students enrolling in a NH state approved educator preparation program and interested in having an out of state test evaluated for comparability: Test Evaluation Request

  3. 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. Evaluation of these tests will be part of your application review. For students enrolling in a NH state approved educator preparation program and interested in having a national test evaluated for comparability: Test Evaluation Request

  4. Hold a NH Beginning Educator or Experienced Educator License or document an initial or higher license from out of state along with your application. Out of state is limited to US States and Territories (the 50 US states, District of Columbia, American Samoa, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands). *Temporary or incomplete licenses issued from other states due to the pandemic cannot be used for this purpose.

  5. For Career and Technical Education (CTE) specialty area applicants only: submit an experience letter documenting 3 years of full time experience in the area for which licensure is sought AND a copy of a current industry-recognized credential appropriate to the CTE specialty area in which licensure is sought. NH Industry Recognized Credential List

Which endorsements do not require BASA?

Educational Specialist and Other endorsements do not require BASA.

What is the subject area test requirement?

The Ed 500 Administrative Rule (currently Ed 505.01/Ed 514.01 formerly) requires each candidate to pass a subject area content knowledge test when seeking teacher licensure in any one of the major areas of concentration in which the NH State Board of Education has established a passing score.

How do I meet the subject area test requirement?

Praxis Testing: https://praxis.ets.org/state-requirements/newhampshire-tests.html Visit the link above for information regarding Praxis Core, a list of endorsements that require Praxis Subject tests, testing accommodations, test preparation, obtaining previous score reports, test center locations/dates and registration. You can also submit out of state/national testing reports for evaluation as a comparable test.

Pearson’s Foundations of Reading Test: http://www.nh.nesinc.com/ Effective 7/1/2014 Foundations of Reading is required for Early Childhood Education, Elementary Education (K-6/K-8), Reading and Writing Teacher, Reading and Writing Specialist endorsements. You can also submit out of state/national testing reports for evaluation as a comparable test.

Elementary Education K-8 requires (in addition to the requirements for Elementary Education K-6) a 15 credit concentration on your transcript in one of the following areas: English, Math, Science, or Social Studies. You must also submit passing scores on the corresponding Middle School content test. https://praxis.ets.org/state-requirements/newhampshire-tests.html You can also submit out of state/national testing reports for evaluation as a comparable test.

For students enrolling in a NH state approved educator preparation program and interested in having an out of state/national subject test evaluated for comparability: Test Evaluation Request

What is the ParaPro Assessment?

How do I submit documentation or see if documentation has been received?

I did not pass a test on my first attempt. What should I do before my next test date?

 

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