NES Assessment of Professional Knowledge

Required only for candidates electing the Early Completion Option (Ed Code 44468). No other pathway asks for it.

Ways to avoid taking it

Take the standard two-year intern (or student-teaching) track. The APK exists solely as the Early Completion Option's entry exam.

The exam

Tests	APK: Elementary (051) for Multiple Subject; APK: Secondary (052) for Single Subject
Format	~100 multiple-choice + 2 written responses; 3 hours
Passing score	220 (scale 100-300)
Content	Student development and learning (~24%); instruction and assessment (~50%); the professional environment (~26%), covering human development, learning differences and special needs, English learner access, reading instruction, assessment of student progress, classroom management, and professional ethics
Cost	Approximately $145 (verify at nestest.com)
Registration	Through the National Evaluation Series site (nestest.com), NOT the CTC exams portal
Retakes	Unlimited

Sequencing

Statutory ordering: the APK must be passed BEFORE the candidate is eligible to take the TPA under the ECO. Ed Code 44468(b) requires it. Reach requires APK scores by August 15 for its ECO cohort.

Back to all tests and the candidate profile panel