Missouri Educator Gateway Assessments
TRANSITION TO ETS ASSESSMENTS
Beginning July 1, 2024, Educational Testing Services (ETS) will provide required assessments for educator certification, educator preparation program admission, and paraprofessional eligibility in Missouri. Information regarding the transition to the new tests can be found here and will be updated regularly.
Timeline for final Missouri Content Assessment and MoGEA test dates
- March 17, 2024: Last day to take Pearson Chinese, French, and German exams
- May 12, 2024: Last day to take Pearson Spanish exam
- June 23, 2024: Last day on which most Pearson exams will be available. The Elementary Education subtests will only be available to test-takers who previously passed one of them until June 23. Initially, this date was reported as June 30, but the testing window actually ends on June 23, 2024.
The Missouri Educator Gateway Assessments (MEGA) are a part of the Missouri Standards for the Preparation of Educators (MoSPE) Standard 2 – Design and Assessment. MEGA has three objectives in identifying the right educators, evincing knowledge of content, and demonstrating a positive impact on student growth. Students will be required to complete any new assessments that are implemented during the course of their certification program as required by the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE).
Assessment Requirements for Graduation & Certification 2023-2024
General Education Assessment for Admission to the Teacher Education Program
Per Missouri statute, proficiency in general education through performance on an accepted entrance exam is required for admission into the MBU Teacher Education Program for degree-seeking undergraduate students. As of October 2022, DESE has allowed the following exams to satisfy the testing requirement for proficiency in the areas of math, reading, and communication set forth in Missouri State Statute 168.400. MBU minimum required scores are as shown:
| Test | Math | Subtest Score | Reading | Subtest Score | Writing | Subtest Score | Composite Score |
| ACT | 20 | ||||||
| SAT | 1040 | ||||||
| Paraprofessional | 220 | ||||||
| MoGEA subtest | 068 – Mathematics | 200 | 066 – Reading Comprehension & Interpretation | 202 | 067 – Writing | 193 | NA |
Undergraduate degree-seeking students who are pursuing teacher certification and matriculate with an ACT composite score of 20 or higher (or an SAT composite score of 1040 or higher) have met MBU’s qualifying scores. Students who have not met these benchmarks may take either the Missouri Paraprofessional exam or MoGEA to fulfill the testing requirement for proficiency. The Paraprofessional or MoGEA must be taken in the same semester as EDUC 201 Professional Growth and Folio Development I (second semester of the sophomore year or first semester of enrollment for students transferring with a class rank of junior or higher). While the Paraprofessional exam, like the ACT and SAT, has a passing composite score, students must achieve a passing score on each of the MoGEA subtests as listed in the chart above.
For information on preparing for the MoGEA, see the following document: MoGEA Info 2023-2024 with test prep information updated. Please be aware that DESE will be changing vendors for educator candidate assessments to ETS effective July 1, 2024. Therefore the last administration date for the MoGEA will be June 23, 2024.
Missouri Content Assessments (MoCA) are currently the content area exams for all areas of certification. Please be aware that DESE will be changing vendors for educator candidate assessments to ETS effective July 1, 2024. Therefore the last administration date for the MoCA will be June 23, 2024. Candidates who have not passed both subtests of the Elementary Multi-Content MoCA by this deadline will need to pass the new ETS Elementary assessment.
For the list of content assessments required for certification, click here.
For information on preparing for the MoCA click here.
Visit the MEGA website http://www.mo.nesinc.com/ for more information or to register for the MoGEA or MoCA.
MBU will have a limited number of vouchers available for Missouri Content Assessments during the 2023-2024 academic year. Eligibility is dependent on financial need as demonstrated through the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for the 2023-2024 academic year. The primary EFC information listed on your Student Aid Report (SAR) must be $1,200 or less. Email completed forms to kathleen.wendt@mobap.edu.
- Applications will be considered in the order in which they are received.
- Students may receive only one voucher.
- Vouchers may or may not cover the full cost of the registration fee, depending on the exam.
- Priority will be given to those who must take multiple exams (seeking certification in more than one content area) or exams with multiple subtests (elementary education).
- Vouchers are available only for area(s) in which you are seeking recommendation for initial certification. Vouchers are not available for area(s) which you are seeking to add via exam.
- Missouri Content Assessment Voucher Request Form