AEPA & NES · ~45 Subtests
The AEPA is the testing program the Arizona Department of Education requires for educator certification, built and scored by the Evaluation Systems group of Pearson. Whether you need an Elementary Education credential, a single-subject endorsement, the Constitutions requirement, or a reading endorsement, a passing AEPA or NES subtest is a hard gate between you and an Arizona teaching certificate. Miss the cut score and the Arizona Department of Education will not finalize your certificate — this page breaks down exactly which subtests exist, how they're scored, and how to clear them the first time.
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How the AEPA program is built — at a glance
45
AEPA is not one exam — it's a program of roughly 45 standalone tests (about 19 Arizona-custom AEPA tests plus around 28 NES subjects). You register for and pass only the specific subtest(s) your Arizona certificate requires, each priced and scheduled independently.
2
Most subtests are selected-response (multiple choice). Several subjects also include a performance assignment (constructed-response) that is scored by trained raters and combined into your total scaled score.
240
Arizona custom AEPA tests require a scaled 240 to pass; the National Evaluation Series (NES) subjects used in Arizona pass at 220. Each subtest is graded pass/fail on its own — there is no averaging across subtests.
Each subtest has its own appointment, typically around three to four hours of seat time depending on whether it carries a written performance assignment. Multi-subtest subjects like Elementary Education (Subtests I and II) and Essential Academic Skills (Subtests I, II, and III) can be booked together or split across separate appointments — useful if you want to clear them one at a time.
Your raw score — multiple-choice questions answered correctly plus any performance-assignment points — is converted to a scaled score from 100 to 300. For tests with a performance section, the selected-response and constructed-response scores are combined into one total. You either meet the cut score or you don't; results are reported to the Arizona Department of Education automatically.
A sample of the ~45 AEPA & NES subtests with their official test codes — pick the one your certificate requires
| Subtest | Code | Use |
|---|---|---|
| Elementary Education Subtest I | NT102 | K–8 elementary |
| Elementary Education Subtest II | NT103 | K–8 elementary |
| Essential Academic Skills (Subtests I, II, III) | NT001 / NT002 / NT003 | Basic skills |
| English Language Arts | NT301 | Secondary subject |
| Mathematics | NT304 | Secondary subject |
| General Science | NT311 | Secondary subject |
| History | NT302 | Secondary subject |
| Early Childhood Education | AZ036 | Arizona custom |
| Constitutions of the United States and Arizona | AZ033 | Arizona requirement |
| Reading Endorsement K–8 | AZ046 | Endorsement |
| Spanish | NT401 | World language |
| Middle Grades Mathematics | NT203 | Middle grades |
This is a representative slice, not the full catalog — AEPA and NES also cover Art, Biology, Business Education, Chemistry, world languages, Physical Education, Music, School Library Media Specialist, special education, and administrator tests like the Principal assessment. Always confirm the exact subtest codes against your Arizona Department of Education certificate requirements before you register.
Approximate domain weighting on the Elementary Education subtests — the most common AEPA path
Foundations of literacy, reading comprehension, writing instruction, and language conventions — the bulk of Subtest I. Heavy on how children learn to read, not just the content itself.
Number sense, operations, algebra, geometry, measurement, and data — pitched at the elementary classroom but tested for the depth a teacher needs to explain it, not just solve it.
Life, physical, and earth/space science plus health and safety on Subtest II — testing breadth across disciplines many candidates haven't touched since their own schooling.
U.S. and world history, geography, civics, economics, plus visual and performing arts and physical education concepts taught in elementary classrooms.
Weightings are approximate and vary by subtest version — single-subject tests like Mathematics (NT304) or Spanish (NT401) instead drill deep into one field. The hard part of AEPA is rarely any single topic; it's the breadth. A strong reading teacher can still fail Subtest II on the science and social-studies range, which is exactly where a focused, subtest-specific plan pays off.
Two ways to sit an AEPA subtest — and what OnVUE expects on test day
You sit the subtest in a quiet, monitored Pearson VUE testing room. Staff verify your government-issued ID, store your belongings, and watch the room on camera. You're given on-screen tools and scratch material as permitted for that subtest. Centers operate across Arizona and nationwide for out-of-state candidates seeking Arizona certification.
Most AEPA and NES subtests can be taken from a private room at home through Pearson VUE's OnVUE platform, monitored by a live proctor. You'll need Windows 10 or macOS 14 or later, a working webcam and microphone, and a passed system test on the same device and network you'll use on exam day. Check in about 30 minutes early.
A valid, unexpired government photo ID whose name exactly matches your AEPA booking. During OnVUE check-in the proctor captures a photo of you and your ID before the subtest unlocks.
A clear desk with only your computer and an unmarked beverage, no second monitor, and a full webcam scan of the room. No bathrooms or public spaces, and you must remain alone at all times.
Stay in frame and on-camera throughout. Break availability varies by subtest, so confirm yours in advance. Talking aloud, leaving the seat, or losing connection can flag or void the session.
The AEPA gates Arizona educator certification
Few formal prerequisites — but breadth and pass/fail stakes bite
Difficulty: AEPA's content sits at a reasonable level, but the breadth on elementary subtests and the 30-day retake wait turn a near-miss into months of delay — and a delayed certificate can mean a delayed job offer. That cost of a single failed subtest is exactly the pressure point our help is built to remove.
An AEPA subtest is a hard pass/fail gate sitting between you and an Arizona teaching certificate — and a failed attempt costs a fee and a 30-day wait. Exam Assist pairs you with a vetted specialist for your exact subtest and works on a pay-after-you-pass model, so the risk sits with us, not you. No upfront fee, guaranteed results: Exam Assist handles the sitting end to end, and you settle only after the verified result.
Share which AEPA or NES subtest and code you need (e.g. NT102/NT103 Elementary), your delivery method, and your test date. A couple of minutes over WhatsApp, Telegram, or Discord.
We review your subtest, cut score (240 or 220), and timeline and tell you plainly whether it's realistic — before any money is discussed. If it isn't a fit, we say so.
Exam Assist handles the sitting end to end. You're matched with a specialist who maps the work around your subtest's domains, any performance assignment, and the OnVUE environment — discreetly and confidentially.
You only pay once your passing scaled score is confirmed on your official AEPA report. No verified result, nothing owed.
AEPA online runs on OnVUE. See how we work discreetly within proctored online testing.
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Straight answers about the AEPA & NES Arizona educator subtests
Sibling teacher-licensure exams and your AEPA service
Pair with a vetted specialist for your exact AEPA or NES subtest on a results-first arrangement. No upfront fee.
Start your request NESThe Pearson NES tests that underpin many AEPA subjects, used for licensure across multiple states.
View exam PraxisETS's multi-subject elementary licensure test — the Praxis equivalent of AEPA's Elementary subtests in most states.
View exam CSETCalifornia's subject-matter educator tests — the Pearson-built counterpart for candidates certifying across the state line.
View exam MTELMassachusetts's educator licensure tests, also delivered by the Evaluation Systems group of Pearson on the same 100–300 scale.
View exam Praxis CoreThe basic-skills reading, writing, and math gateway many programs require — analogous to AEPA's Essential Academic Skills subtests.
View examGet expert AEPA help with no upfront fee — you settle only after your verified passing score. Honest feasibility answer first, results-first arrangement always.