Testing, Licensing, and Certification Study Guides

Learning Express Library

Learning Express Library (LEL) includes many practice tests and other study aids. See the homepage on this guide or see the Career Development section in LEL to find resources for professional certifications.

Engineering

There are several certificates available for the various branches and specialties in Engineering, including: Project Management Professional (PMP), Professional Engineer (PE), and Fundamentals of Engineering (FE). WSU students should be prepared for these exams after completing specific coursework or their degree. 

To find similar books, run an ADVANCED SEARCH in the library catalog and search examinations questions as a subject and Engineering as a subject. You may then want to sort the list by "publication date descending" to sort the new items to the top.

Health Professions

Health is a field that requires certification for all areas and specialties. Practice exams and other study aids are available for dental assisting, EMT (Emergency medical services), COTA (occupational therapy), physical therapy, NCLEX-RN and NCLEX-PN (nursing), and other health-related occupations in LEL. To find books on a particular test, type the word "examinations" and add the test name or abbreviation in the library catalog using quotation marks for phrases like ("physicians assistants" AND  examinations).

Military and Law Enforcement

Joining any U. S. military branch requires an aptitude test called Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) and other tests. Be sure to speak with a recruiter for the specific military branch you're interested in to get the most accurate and up-to-date information on requirements, testing procedures, and potential waivers. Most jobs in law enforcement, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Secret Service, Border Protection, etc. require basic law enforcement training and tests to be accepted into a program.

Psychology and Counseling

Psychology certifications vary by specialization and career goals. There are also certifications for specific therapeutic approaches like cognitive therapy and for working with particular populations like children or the elderly. Check with the board that oversees that speciality for details about certificates required for each specialty. Counseling certifications and state licenses have similar types of specializations. 

Social Work

Common certifications in social work include those related to clinical practice, health care, school social work, gerontology, and substance abuse. Social workers typically need to complete continuing education credits to maintain certifications. Many certifications require graduation from a Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) -accredited program. 

Teaching

All states require potential teachers to take some type of assessment for teaching licensure. The Praxis series of tests are used in Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, and others. Some states use Praxis tests exclusively, while others use it in conjunction with other assessments, and others only for specific educational fields. Praxis tests include Core (basic skills), subject assessments, and Principles of Learning and Teaching (PLT) tests. Wichita State does not administer Praxis on campus, although Testing Services, listed on the left, can help students find a testing site. To find books about this topic, search national teacher examinations study guides as a subject. (Do not use quotation marks; use quotations only with keyword searching.)