edTPA FAQs
This page provides answers to frequently asked questions about the edTPA. It is organized into four sections: edTPA Overview, edTPA Registration, Preparing for the edTPA, and edTPA Results.
If you have additional questions about our prep programs, please see our general FAQs page and our Info & Help Videos page.
edTPA Overview
What is the edTPA?
edTPA stands for "educative Teacher Performance Assessment." It is administered for 28 different teaching fields and consists of three sections - Planning, Instruction, and Assessment. More information can be found on our edTPA page.
Who takes the edTPA? What does the edTPA qualify you for?
The edTPA is used primarily in teacher preparation programs to assess a teacher’s competency in teaching their specific subject area.
How long is the edTPA good for?
Individuals only need to pass the edTPA once, as part of their teacher preparation program.
edTPA Registration
How do I take the edTPA?
The edTPA is not a traditional exam. Rather, it consists of a portfolio of materials submitted on due dates based on an individual’s preparation program or licensure requirement.
How often is the edTPA offered?
The edTPA can be completed at various times depending on an individual’s preparation program or state.
When should you take the edTPA?
The edTPA is generally completed in the final year of an individual’s training.
How much does the edTPA cost?
The edTPA costs $300. For further details, please see edTPA Registration Info.
Is there a fee waiver for the edTPA?
Vouchers may be obtained by teacher preparation programs and used at their discretion toward registration fees for individuals within the programs. If you are looking for financial assistance for our prep programs to study for the edTPA, please see Financial Assistance.
Do I have to pay to retake the edTPA?
Yes – the fee varies depending on how many tasks you need to retake. For details, please see edTPA Testing Costs.
How long do I have to wait to retake the edTPA?
There is no time limitation on retaking the edTPA. Your teacher preparation program or licensure track may have its own guidelines.
How do I cancel my edTPA?
To cancel an edTPA registration, please contact the official testing service.
Preparing for the edTPA
How long should I prepare for edTPA?
The average amount of time an individual spends preparing is around two months, but that varies widely, depending on several factors, such as your experience in creating lesson plans and video recording.
Which is the best edTPA test prep book?
There may be good edTPA study guides available from major educational publishers like Cliffs, Kaplan and others. If you plan to buy one, we recommend going to a physical bookstore so you can read through the various options and see which is best for you.
Our company doesn’t offer any physical books. Instead, our edTPA prep options let you learn strategies directly from caring, experienced teachers in a self-paced online prep format.
Is your edTPA prep up-to-date?
Yes – whenever the test is updated, we adjust our prep programs accordingly. If you have any questions about specific items, please feel free to Contact Us.
How do I prepare for the different assessments?
Our programs offer strategies to address the edTPA portfolio specifications across all content areas, going into detail about the expectations for each task and how to prepare for the tasks accordingly. This includes understanding the rubrics, what to include in your video, reviewing student samples, and evaluation criteria. While the items included in a portfolio will vary by subject matter, they will still be governed by the same set of guidelines and with a similar process of organization.
Can I take the edTPA tasks separately?
Yes, the edTPA is generally submitted in portions over time. Your teacher preparation program should have more details on due dates and timelines.
What are the different tasks on the edTPA?
The three tasks are "Task 1: Planning for Instruction and Assessment," "Task 2: Instructing and Engaging Students in Learning," and "Task 3: Assessing Student Learning." Some edTPA tests also include a fourth subject-specific task.
edTPA Results
What score do you need to pass edTPA?
A score of 42 points is recommended as the professional performance standard, but this is based on the typical assessment, which includes 15 rubrics. For assessments with fewer rubrics, the score is adjusted accordingly. States may also set their own passing score. For more details, please see the official testing service.
How is edTPA scored?
Per edtpa.org, “The edTPA assessment typically includes 15 rubrics, each of which is scored on a scale of five points, which sum to a total maximum possible score of 75...The design of edTPA includes the goal of evaluating the “totality of the evidence” submitted in each portfolio in order to understand how the teacher engages in a cycle of teaching. A scorer views the entire teaching cycle, so that the integrated teaching and learning experiences are judged in totality, not in separate parts. Having the same scorer evaluate all three tasks of the assessment (planning, instruction, and assessment) allows the scorer to obtain a comprehensive picture of the candidate’s performance, understanding how decisions made in the context of planning around student needs are also relevant to subject-specific instruction and the assessment of student learning, for example.”
How do I get a copy of my edTPA scores?
Your score will be emailed to you, if you requested that option, and it will be available to you through your account with the testing service. You may view or print your edTPA scores up to 2 years after your test through your account with the testing service.
Where do I send my edTPA scores?
Your assessment results are reported to you and to any educator preparation program or state agency that you indicated as a score recipient when you registered. If required by state policy, your results are also reported directly to the state associated with your educator preparation program selection.
How long until I get my edTPA results?
Depending on when you submitted your portfolio, results are generally available within three weeks. For more details, please see edTPA Submission Dates.
What happens if you fail the edTPA?
You may resubmit your assessment (either one, two, or three tasks, depending on your scores) for a new evaluation.
