RICA Written Examination
The Reading Instruction Competence Assessment (RICA) has been extended to October 31, 2025. Examinees now have the opportunity to take and complete RICA Written or RICA Video.
There are two RICA assessment options:
Passing either assessment represents successful completion of the RICA requirement.
The RICA Written Examination consists of three subtests that, together, permit a broad and deep assessment of the candidate's knowledge about effective reading instruction in the five RICA domains and the candidate's ability to apply that knowledge.
Computer-based test (CBT) and online-proctored test:
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Subtest I: 35 multiple-choice questions and 2 constructed-response questions
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Subtest II: 35 multiple-choice questions and 2 constructed-response questions
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Subtest III: 25 multiple-choice questions and 1 constructed-response question
Computer-Based Testing
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Subtests I and II: 1 hour and 15 minutes per subtest
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Subtest III: 1 hour and 30 minutes
You may register to take 1, 2, or all 3 subtests in a single test administration.
Learn more about how the subtests are administered in a single session 
.
15 additional minutes are provided to complete a nondisclosure agreement and tutorial.
Online Proctoring
- Subtests I and II: 1 hour and 15 minutes per subtest
- Subtest III: 1 hour and 30 minutes
Subtests are administered in separate testing sessions; therefore, candidates must register for each subtest separately.
15 additional minutes are provided to complete a nondisclosure agreement and tutorial.
Computer-Based Testing
You may take restroom breaks during testing. Time taken for breaks is considered part of the available testing time.
Online Proctoring
No breaks allowed.
198 per subtest, effective October 18, 2024 (see information above)
Computer-Based Testing
Test results are available within 4 weeks of your test date.
Review test results release dates .
Candidates will receive a receipt of completion at the conclusion of their test center appointment.
Online Proctoring
Test results are available within 3 weeks of testing.
Review test results release dates .
Candidates taking an online-proctored test will not receive a receipt of completion when their test ends.
The multiple-choice section of the RICA Written Examination includes 70 multiple-choice questions. The multiple-choice questions include both content questions, in which knowledge about reading and reading instruction is directly assessed, and contextualized questions that assess the candidate's ability to apply specific knowledge, to analyze specific problems, or to conduct specific tasks related to reading instruction.
Focused Educational Problems and Instructional Tasks (4 essays, one each for Domains 2, 3, 4, and 5)
In these assignments, the candidate is presented with a problem or task relating to a class, a group of students, an individual student, or an instructional situation. The candidate is asked to consider this information and provide explanations related to appropriate instructional strategies or assessment approaches. The assignments for Domains 3 and 4 each require a typed response of approximately 75–125 words, and those for Domains 2 and 5 each require a typed response of approximately 150–300 words.
Case Study (1 essay)
For this assignment, candidates receive substantial background information about a student and samples of materials illustrating the student's reading performance. Candidates are asked to assess the student's reading performance, describe appropriate instructional strategies, and explain why these strategies would be effective. The examination includes one case study, which includes content related to all five domains of the revised RICA Content Specifications and requires a typed response of approximately 300–600 words.
If you register to take more than one subtest in a single session at a CBT test center, you will be presented with one subtest at a time. Subtests are individually timed and are administered in consecutive order beginning with Subtest 1. After you complete a subtest, you will not be able to return to a subtest.
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