Licensure | Indiana Content Exams

Secondary ELA Content Exam (5038) & Principles of Learning & Teaching Exam (5624)

Corps members assigned to teach Secondary English Language Arts take the English Language Arts (5038) content exam and the Principles of Learning & Teaching exam (5624). The 5038 exam covers the the subject matter of ELA. The Principles of Learning & Teaching exam (5624) covers your understanding of teaching methodology. Both exams are a computer-based test that you can take at a testing location near you (you don't need to be in Chicago or Indiana). Most corps members assigned to this content area express some nervousness about this exam because it may include content and information in which you have very limited knowledge. However, with dedicated study time (and proactive outreach for support) we see approximately 98% of corps members pass this exam.

Logistics

Both exams are computer-based (you can take it from a testing center anywhere in the US and some international locations).
The 5038 exam costs $130 and the Principles of Learning & Teaching 5624 exam costs $156.
If you fail, you can retake these exams. However, you must wait 30 days before re-testing.

Register for the Exams

Study Tips

Carve out time to study and honor that time on your calendar. What does this mean? Make sure you are dedicating real time to studying - if you put a 2 hour block on your calendar then prioritize that commitment (don't schedule over it). On average 98% of folks that studied for at least 5 hours passed this exam.

Work together, you are a team! Reach out to each other (and the Onboarding Team) via Slack if you need support or have questions!
Have compassion for yourself and for others. Sometimes even our best-laid plans have to change because life happens and testing cannot always be a priority. We understand that and are here for you. If you need to change your test date or ask for an extension just reach out to Steven Grosso via a direct message in Slack.
Test Taking Strategies (and tips for test anxiety) Check out these strategies on preparing for your exam, taking the exam, and your own wellness. This is especially helpful if you have test anxiety.

Content Specific Resources

Praxis Test Prep (#1 Recommended)

ELA Content Exam Study Companion
Study.com memberships provided by TFA
- You can find full instructions to access your free Study.com account in this PDF.
- Please use your TFA email address (firstname.lastname.25@tfacorps.org) when signing up.
- Please use the access code for our region only, which you can find in the PDF.