PLACE Exam

In 1991, the Colorado General Assembly approved the Educator Licensing Act, which called for changes in the professional standards of educational personnel in Colorado. Part of this change involved the implementation of a testing program to determine which candidates would be eligible for a license. Thus began the Program for Licensing Assessments for Colorado Educators (PLACE).

While some people may be able to take the PLACE Exam test and succeed with minimal preparation, most test takers will benefit from allocating time to study beforehand and reading through a PLACE Test Study Guide or practicing with a set of PLACE Exam Flashcards. Regardless of your studying techniques, be sure that you plan ahead and leave yourself enough time in advance of the test day to become adequately prepared. Last minute studying is likely to be rushed and does not maximize your chances of being successful.

The PLACE exams are criterion-referenced, which means that they are designed to measure the skills and knowledge of a candidate in relation to an established standard rather than in relation to other candidates' performances. These exams are also objective-based, which means that all questions are keyed to objectives aligned with Colorado licensing standards, curriculum materials, and the content of teacher preparation programs.

PLACE Exam Study Guide | PLACE Test Flashcards

Most PLACE exams are comprised of only multiple-choice questions. Exceptions to this include the exams for languages other than English, which typically also include written and oral performance assignments. Another exception is the Special Education Specialist: Visually Impaired (23) test; this test requires demonstration of competence in Braille.

The Basic Skills (90) exam is not a requirement for certification or licensing; however, it may be recommended by the candidate's college or university. The Basic Skills PLACE exam covers reading, mathematics, and writing. All these sections have multiple-choice questions. The writing section also includes a writing assignment.