Beginning this month (September, 2015) any candidate seeking to obtain an initial Nebraska teaching certificate or add an endorsement must pass a content area test with a passing score identified by the state. English/Language Arts candidates must earn a score of at least 168 on the Praxis II test for English/Language Arts: Content and Analysis. According to Praxis, this test measures whether or not a teacher candidate possesses the relevant knowledge, skills, and abilities in the areas of teaching reading, the study of literature, the study of informational texts, and conventions of the English language.