Exams
School Leaders Licensure Assessment (SLLA)
The School Leaders Licensure Assessment (SLLA), currently Praxis test code 6990, is a school-leadership exam used by several states as part of principal or building-administrator licensure. It is not universal. Cut scores and whether the test is required are set by each state board.
Reviewed by Brittnie Vargas, School principal, M.Ed.Editorial processKey takeaways
- The School Leaders Licensure Assessment (SLLA), currently Praxis test code 6990, is a school-leadership exam used by several states as part of principal or building-administrator licensure. It is not universal. Cut scores and whether the test is required are set by each state board.
- No. Several large states use their own leadership assessments. Check the exam map on this page and the exams section on your state’s principal credential page.
- No. PASL (Performance Assessment for School Leaders) is a separate performance assessment. Texas requires both TExES 268 and PASL for the standard principal certificate. Other states may require SLLA, a state exam, or a performance assessment — not a national default.
- There is no national cut score on this site. New Jersey publishes 151. Virginia publishes 146 for principals and assistant principals. Confirm your board’s current number before you sit the test.
States that publish SLLA on this site do so from their own testing pages. New Jersey lists SLLA 6990 with a passing score of 151. Virginia’s Board of Education approved a cut score of 146 for SLLA 6990, required for people seeking to serve as principals or assistant principals, not for central-office-only instructional personnel. Maryland requires a State Board-approved SLLA qualifying score on specified pathways and does not publish that number on the page we cite, so this site does not invent it.
Other states use different leadership exams: TExES 268 plus PASL in Texas, FELE in Florida, CalAPA or CPACE in California, PAL in Massachusetts, OAE 015 in Ohio, ILTS 195 and 196 in Illinois, Praxis 5412 in Indiana, and NYSTCE SBL plus EAS in New York until a successor administrator examination is operational.
SLLA does not replace an approved administrator preparation program, internship hours, or the experience requirement in states that use it. Read the principal credential page for your state, then confirm the current test code and cut score on the state board or ETS state requirements page.
This site displays a fee or cut score only when a cited state source publishes it. Do not treat a neighboring state’s cut score as your own. Register for the current form (6990), not an older SLLA code, unless the board still lists that form.
SLLA vs other leadership exams (sourced)
| State | Instrument | Cut score on this site |
|---|---|---|
| New Jersey | SLLA 6990 | 151 |
| Virginia | SLLA 6990 | 146 |
| Maryland | SLLA on specified pathways | Not reported on the cited page |
| Texas | TExES 268 and PASL (not SLLA) | 240 on 268 |
| Florida | FELE (not SLLA) | Not a single composite score republished here |
| California | CalAPA or CPACE (not SLLA) | Not republished here |
| Massachusetts | PAL (not SLLA) | 2.75 overall |
| Ohio | OAE 015 (not SLLA) | Not republished here |
Frequently asked questions
Is the SLLA required in every state?
No. Several large states use their own leadership assessments. Check the exam map on this page and the exams section on your state’s principal credential page.
Is SLLA the same as the PASL?
No. PASL (Performance Assessment for School Leaders) is a separate performance assessment. Texas requires both TExES 268 and PASL for the standard principal certificate. Other states may require SLLA, a state exam, or a performance assessment — not a national default.
What SLLA score do I need?
There is no national cut score on this site. New Jersey publishes 151. Virginia publishes 146 for principals and assistant principals. Confirm your board’s current number before you sit the test.