Praxis 5001 Requirements in Maryland: Teaching Reading + the CKT Path for Elementary (1–6)

date: "2026-08-24"

Maryland does not use the Praxis 5001 for elementary certification — it never appears on the ETS Maryland page. Instead, elementary (1–6) candidates take Teaching Reading: Elementary (5205) plus the Elementary Education: Content Knowledge for Teaching (CKT) series (7811), a four-subtest exam scored separately per subtest. This page lays out the exact codes, fees, and qualifying scores from ETS's Maryland page, plus when the Praxis Core tests are required at all (only below a 3.0 GPA).[1]

Maryland's Elementary (1–6) Tests at a Glance

All six rows above are taken directly from ETS's Maryland requirements page. Note the structure: like the 5001, the 7811 CKT is four gates, and you must pass each subtest separately — a strong math subtest does not carry a weak social studies one.[1]

Praxis Core: Only Below a 3.0 GPA

Maryland applies the Praxis Core Academic Skills requirement selectively: licensure applicants without a 3.0 GPA on their most recently earned degree must present qualifying scores on Core Reading (5713) and Writing (5723):[1]

Maryland accepts several alternatives in place of the Core tests for these candidates: the PPST (combined 527, taken before September 2014), the SAT (1180 evidence-based reading & writing + math, after January 1, 2019; 1100 combined for April 1995–December 2018; 1000 before April 1995), the ACT composite (24), or the GRE General Test (297 combined verbal + quantitative; 1000 before September 2011).[1]

One "Accepted Through" Date — and It Is Not for Elementary

The only "accepted through" date on ETS's Maryland page is for Middle School Social Studies (5089) — the previous version of that test is accepted through August 31, 2026. It is not an elementary requirement, so do not confuse it with 5205 or 7811, which carry no acceptance deadline in the current listing.[1]

How to Confirm Your Requirement (Do This Before Registering)

1. Open the ETS Maryland requirements page and find Elementary (1–6): 5205 plus the 7811 CKT family.
2. Check your GPA situation — if you are below 3.0, plan for Core Reading (5713) and Writing (5723) or an accepted SAT/ACT/GRE alternative.[1]
3. Confirm with the Maryland State Department of Education (mdcert.org) for your exact certificate and application window.
4. Ask your preparation program which CKT subtests they schedule and their deadlines.
5. Re-check before you register — Maryland's accepted codes and lines can change with MSDE policy.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Maryland require Praxis 5001 for elementary certification?

No. The 5001 does not appear on ETS's Maryland page. Elementary (1–6) candidates take Teaching Reading: Elementary (5205) and the 7811 CKT series.[1]

What are the Maryland CKT qualifying scores?

7812 Reading & Language Arts = 161, 7813 Mathematics = 150, 7814 Science = 154, 7815 Social Studies = 161, with fees $78/$78/$64/$64.[1]

Do I need Praxis Core in Maryland?

Only if your most recently earned degree GPA is below 3.0 — then Core Reading (5713, 156) and Writing (5723, 162), or one of Maryland's accepted SAT/ACT/GRE/PPST alternatives, apply.[1]

Is Maryland switching to the 8000 series?

No adoption is announced on the Maryland page; the current requirement is the 7811 CKT family plus 5205. ETS's 8000-series launch is separate from state adoption — keep an eye on the MSDE page if you plan to test months out.[1]

The Bottom Line

Maryland elementary (1–6) candidates take Praxis 5205 (159) plus the 7811 CKT four-subtest series (161/150/154/161), and Praxis Core only when the GPA is below 3.0. There is no 5001 in the picture, so 5001-specific prep materials cover only part of what Maryland asks. Triumph's free diagnostic and question bank exercise the same content domains Maryland's CKT subtests sample (reading/language arts, math, science, social studies) — a useful baseline, but pair them with CKT-specific practice before test day.

Sources