Headsets & Microphones

State Testing Headphone Requirements by State (2026–27)

Which headphones do students need for state testing? Platform rules for Cambium, Pearson TestNav, DRC INSIGHT, Cognia and NWEA, plus a 2026–27 lookup for all 50 states and DC.

October 19, 20267 min read

Testing audio for schools

Most state tests need wired headphones, and English learner speaking tests need a headset with a microphone. The details depend less on your state than on the testing platform it uses, so this guide covers both: the rules for each platform, then a lookup for all 50 states and DC.

Written for district test coordinators, school tech staff and teachers ordering for spring 2027 testing. Last reviewed October 2026.

The quick answer: six rules for testing headphones

Buy wired. Most states and testing platforms prohibit or advise against Bluetooth for test security. Michigan is a notable exception.
Match the connector to the device. 3.5mm works on most Chromebooks and Windows laptops. Newer iPads and some new Chromebooks have only USB-C.
Get a boom mic for English learner testing. WIDA ACCESS, ELPAC and other speaking tests require a headset with a microphone.
Choose over-ear for long sessions. Over-ear headsets stay comfortable and block more classroom noise than earbuds.
Look for an in-line volume control. Secure test browsers often lock the device volume once the test starts.
Avoid cheap USB-C adapters. Low-cost adapters can lag or drop audio. A native USB-C headset is more reliable.

Headphone requirements by testing platform

Five companies deliver almost every state test, and each publishes its own audio guidance. Find your platform here, then check your state below.

Platform	Used for	Connector	Microphone	Bluetooth	Notes
Cambium Secure Browser	Smarter Balanced states, CAASPP and ELPAC (CA), STAAR (TX), FAST (FL), NJSLA (NJ) and others	3.5mm or USB	Required for ELPAC Speaking and speech-to-text	Not listed as supported	Headphones required for ELA listening and text-to-speech
Pearson TestNav	IAR (IL), KSA (KY), SOL (VA), TCAP (TN), CMAS (CO), WY-TOPP (WY) and others	3.5mm or USB	Only for tests with spoken responses	Set by each state; Minnesota prohibits it	Students run a “Test Audio” check at sign-in
DRC INSIGHT	Georgia Milestones, PSSA and Keystones (PA), M-STEP (MI), Forward (WI), MAP (MO), LEAP (LA), MAAP (MS), ACAP (AL), SC READY, Smarter Balanced (NV), WIDA ACCESS	3.5mm or USB (some USB headsets need drivers)	Required for WIDA ACCESS Speaking	DRC advises against it; Michigan allows it	Over-ear rated “ideal”; volume can’t change once the app launches
Cognia student kiosks	MCAS (MA), RICAS (RI), NM-MSSA (NM), OSTP (OK), VTCAP (VT)	See state guide	See state guide	See state guide	Each state has its own branded kiosk app
NWEA State Solutions	AK STAR, Maine Through Year, NSCAS (NE), New York grades 3–8	See state guide	See state guide	See state guide	Uses the NWEA or Questar secure browser
WIDA ACCESS for ELLs	English learners, grades 1–12, in WIDA states (runs on DRC)	3.5mm or USB	Required for Speaking	Not recommended	Students record answers in the secure browser
College Board Bluebook	AP world language and AP Music Theory (digital from 2027)	USB-C, USB-A or 3.5mm	Needed for speaking and sight-singing sections	Prohibited	Wired headsets required from the 2027 AP Exams

State-built systems, such as North Carolina’s NCTest and the Kite platform in Kansas and Montana, follow similar rules. Kansas requires a mic headset for its KELPA English learner test.

State-by-state testing platform lookup (2026–27)

Find your state’s main test and platform, then use the platform rules above. Every state also gives an English language proficiency test, usually WIDA ACCESS, and that test needs a headset with a microphone everywhere.

State	Main test	Platform	Headphone note
Alabama	ACAP Summative	DRC INSIGHT
Alaska	AK STAR	NWEA
Arizona	AASA	Pearson TestNav	Bluetooth hearing devices by state request form
Arkansas	ATLAS	Cambium
California	CAASPP, ELPAC	Cambium (via ETS)	Mic headset for ELPAC Speaking
Colorado	CMAS	Pearson TestNav	Paper only as an accommodation from 2026
Connecticut	Smarter Balanced	Cambium
Delaware	DeSSA	Cambium
District of Columbia	DC CAPE 2.0	Pearson TestNav	New Smarter Balanced content from spring 2027
Florida	FAST	Cambium
Georgia	Georgia Milestones	DRC INSIGHT
Hawaii	Smarter Balanced	Cambium
Idaho	ISAT	Cambium
Illinois	IAR	Pearson TestNav	New TestNav web app required on Chromebooks
Indiana	ILEARN	Cambium
Iowa	ISASP	Pearson TestNav
Kansas	KAP	Kite (state-built)	KELPA English learner test requires a mic headset
Kentucky	KSA	Pearson TestNav
Louisiana	LEAP 2025	DRC INSIGHT
Maine	Through Year Assessment	NWEA
Maryland	MSTAR (grades 3–8, new in spring 2027)	Pearson (new app)	Districts require wired headphones
Massachusetts	MCAS	Cognia (MCAS Student Kiosk)	Replaced TestNav in 2025
Michigan	M-STEP	DRC INSIGHT	Wired, or Bluetooth paired only to the test device (2024–25 guidance)
Minnesota	MCA	Pearson TestNav	Bluetooth headphones not allowed
Mississippi	MAAP	DRC INSIGHT
Missouri	MAP	DRC INSIGHT
Montana	MAST	Kite
Nebraska	NSCAS	NWEA
Nevada	Smarter Balanced	DRC INSIGHT
New Hampshire	NH SAS	Cambium
New Jersey	NJSLA-Adaptive	Cambium	Replaced TestNav in 2025–26
New Mexico	NM-MSSA	Cognia
New York	Grades 3–8 tests	NWEA Nextera
North Carolina	EOG, EOC	NCTest (state-built)
North Dakota	NDSA	Cambium
Ohio	Ohio's State Tests	Cambium
Oklahoma	OSTP	Cognia (OSTP Kiosk)
Oregon	OSAS	Cambium
Pennsylvania	PSSA, Keystones	DRC INSIGHT
Rhode Island	RICAS	Cognia (RICAS Student Kiosk)
South Carolina	SC READY	DRC INSIGHT
South Dakota	Smarter Balanced	Cambium	Some districts require USB-C on iPads
Tennessee	TCAP	Pearson TestNav	Grades 3–5 move online in spring 2027
Texas	STAAR	Cambium
Utah	RISE	Cambium
Vermont	VTCAP	Cognia
Virginia	SOL	Pearson TestNav	New test system planned for 2027–28
Washington	Smarter Balanced	Cambium
West Virginia	WVGSA	Cambium
Wisconsin	Forward Exam	DRC INSIGHT	DPI advises against Bluetooth
Wyoming	WY-TOPP	Pearson (new for 2026–27)	Moved from Cambium

All 51 rows were checked against state or vendor sources in October 2026. Platforms can change between school years, so confirm with your state’s current technology guide before buying.

Matching headphones to your testing devices

Device	Best connector	Watch for
Chromebooks (most)	3.5mm or USB-A	Newer models may drop the 3.5mm jack; check before reordering. See our Chromebook audio guide.
iPads (recent models)	USB-C	No headphone jack, so choose a native USB-C headset. Cheap adapters can lag or drop audio.
iPads with a wired keyboard	USB-C plus a wired hub	One port must serve both the keyboard and the headset.
Windows laptops	3.5mm or USB-A	Some USB headsets need a driver; test on a sample device.
Macs	USB-C or 3.5mm	Select the headset as the input device for speaking tests.

Buying checklist and testing-day tips

Count test-takers per session, then add about 10% spares for breaks and forgotten pairs.
Order mic headsets separately for English learners and students using speech-to-text.
Match connectors to each building’s devices: 3.5mm, USB-A or USB-C.
Choose over-ear models with an in-line volume control.
Order at least 8 weeks before your state’s testing window.
Label each headset with a student or seat number.
Clean shared headsets between students.
Turn device volume up before launching the secure test browser.
Run the platform’s audio check with every student at sign-in.

Testing headsets with mic →

Wired headsets for speaking tests like WIDA ACCESS and ELPAC.

Chromebook headphones →

3.5mm and USB-C headphones for school Chromebooks.

Language assessment headsets →

Picks and a checklist for speaking tests.

State testing headphones FAQ

Can students use Bluetooth or AirPods for state testing?

In most states, no. Platforms like DRC advise against Bluetooth because a headset can pair with a phone as well as the test device. Michigan allowed Bluetooth in its 2024–25 guidance if paired only to the testing device. AP exams prohibit all wireless audio from 2027.

Do students need a microphone for state testing?

Only for tests with spoken answers, such as the WIDA ACCESS Speaking test, the ELPAC Speaking domain and students using speech-to-text. A boom microphone gives the clearest recordings.

Are USB or 3.5mm headphones better for testing?

Both are accepted by the major testing platforms. Pick the connector your devices have. USB-C is the safe choice for newer iPads and Chromebooks without a headphone jack.

Are earbuds allowed for state testing?

Usually yes, but DRC rates over-ear headsets as ideal. Earbuds fit young students poorly and are harder to clean between students.

Can students bring their own headphones for testing?

Many states allow it, but schools still need to supply working pairs. Keep spares, since personal headphones are often wireless.

Do students need headphones for every subject?

Not always. Smarter Balanced requires them for ELA listening and for text-to-speech in math. Many schools issue them for every session to keep routines simple.

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