1.3 hours
Prepare for Connecticut Certification Tests
Learn about the exams you need to take and how to prepare.
Learn about the exams you need to take and how to prepare.
Before you can teach in Connecticut, you’ll need to pass some tests. If testing stresses you out, you’re definitely not alone. We’re here to help you find the right tools to ace your exams.
For Connecticut teachers, the most relevant tests will be the core academic skills test, the subject area assessment and edTPA.
We’ll go over each exam in detail—what they cover, who they’re for and what resources can help you prepare.
Already a teacher in a private school or another state/country? If you’re an experienced educator applying for certification in Connecticut, you must have your credentials reviewed by the Connecticut State Department of Education (CSDE). In some cases, you may need to take one or more of the required certification tests, even if you’ve taken other teacher assessments. Head over to our certification guide to learn more.
The core academic skills test is an exam you’ll take before you start a teaching program.
When you apply to a teaching program, you’ll need to submit scores from an approved test that covers basic skills in reading, writing and math. You may have already taken this exam—the SAT counts! If you haven’t taken the SAT, you have a few other test options to meet this requirement.
The SAT, ACT, PAA and GRE all count toward the core academic skills requirement. Keep in mind that Connecticut high school students take the SAT for free as part of the standard high school assessments. In most cases, it’s okay even if you took the tests long ago. You can double-check with your program to make sure they’ll accept older test scores.
If you do need to take a core academic skills test, you can sign up for the Praxis Core through the Educational Testing Service (ETS).
Usually, you’ll need to include your core academic skills scores with your teaching program application, so you’ll need to take the test, or get an official copy of your previous test scores, before you apply. Some programs only require you to be scheduled to take the test when you apply.
Get a leg up on core test requirements in your program checklist. If you have any questions about your teaching program applications, reach out to a TEACH Connecticut coach or admissions staff for support. We’re here for you.
Good news: there is no statewide required passing score for the Praxis Core academic skills test!
Most teaching programs will only use your score as a placement test, to make sure you’re taking the right courses when you start. Some teaching programs may set their own Praxis Core score requirements, so it’s always a good idea to double check with your program before applying.
If you’ve taken the SAT, ACT, PAA or GRE and want to use those scores instead, just make sure they meet the state score requirements.
To get certified to teach in Connecticut, you’ll need to pass an exam in your subject area. This is to show that you know your subject matter well enough to teach it.
For some specialty areas, such as early childhood education, you may need to take other additional tests as well. Check out the CSDE Guide to Assessments for a full list of test types and score requirements by subject endorsement area.
Are you interested in a bilingual education endorsement? If you have a bachelor’s degree, you can skip the language proficiency test for the language in which your classes were taught. For example, if you earned your degree in Puerto Rico and primarily took classes in Spanish, you do not have to take the Spanish ACTFL exam. If you earned your degree from a primarily English-speaking university, you do not have to take an English proficiency exam, such as the TOEFL or Praxis Core. That means one less test on your path to teaching!
The timing of your subject area test will depend on your certification pathway.
You’ll generally take your subject area assessment near the end of your program.
For post-baccalaureate and master’s programs, you may be able to substitute “achievement of excellence” scores on subject area tests for some of the required subject area coursework. You can read more about the subjects that count and the required scores on CSDE’s September 2016 Certification Alert.
You’ll likely sign up for your subject area assessment before you apply to your teaching program. Some programs require you to submit your exam scores with your application. Others just require you to be registered for your exam before you apply.
Either way, you’ll usually need to pass this test before you begin student teaching.
If you don’t pass your exam the first time, don’t panic. Connecticut offers some test takers up to two free retakes. Learn more about Connecticut’s retake policy in the CSDE’s January 2019 Certification Alert.
Your subject area assessment will depend on the subject you plan to teach. Visit the Connecticut State Department of Education’s Guide to Assessments to see a full list of assessment options.
To get your teaching certification, you’ll need to submit a portfolio that shows off your readiness to teach your own classroom. This is called edTPA.
edTPA isn’t a typical test—no multiple choice questions here. Instead, during your student teaching experience, you’ll create a portfolio that includes:
In other words, your edTPA summarizes everything you’ve learned in your teaching program and how you’ve developed as an educator so far.
Highly trained educators score your edTPA. Scorers use rubrics with a five-level scale to evaluate your teaching.
Rubric scores represent a continuum from “not quite ready to teach” to “advanced beginning teacher.” Each rubric level shows an expanding repertoire of teaching skills and strategies, as well as deepening rationale for instructional choices.
You can learn more about Connecticut’s edTPA passing requirements at the Connecticut edTPA page.
You won’t begin the edTPA process until you’re student teaching—but it’s good to know about edTPA in advance!
You don’t have to prepare for edTPA before you apply to your teaching program, but you may want to research how your prospective programs will help you prepare for this assessment. Ask program staff about this component before you enroll!
Tests are required to get certified—but remember, your scores don’t necessarily reflect the kind of teacher you will be. Exams like the core skills test and subject area assessment are just one more step on your way to teaching, and you can take them more than once.
You’re on a mission, and you’ve got this!
You’ve worked hard to get where you are. You’ve put together an amazing application, and you’re pretty sure you aced your teaching exam. But just as you’re submitting your materials to your program, you find out that your test scores won’t be available until after the application deadline.
Don’t let this happen to you! Making a test schedule can save you application frustration and stress later on. You’ll want to know:
Once you know these important dates, we recommend adding in at least an extra week or two of cushion. That way, if your test is rescheduled or your testing equipment isn’t working, you won’t be scrambling to take the test in time.
After you register for your test, you can work backward: Figure out how much time you have between now and your testing date. Then, make yourself a study schedule that maps out how and when you’ll study for your exam (more on that in Step 4!)
Check with your teaching program to find out when you need to have taken and passed the subject area assessment, and to verify which tests you’ll take.
If you’re taking a Praxis exam, head over to the Praxis registration page. There, you will:
For a world language teaching certificate, you'll take your exam through Language Testing International (LTI). On the LTI page, you will:
If you need to take the Foundations of Reading assessment, you’ll do that through the Connecticut Teacher Certification Examinations website. Click “Register” in the top bar. Once you create an account, you can schedule your test, access preparation materials and check your scores. The test fee is $139.
Due to Covid-19, most test-makers now offer a “test from home” option. This lets you take your exam online through a secure portal or proctoring service.
You can register to take your Praxis at home through your Praxis account. Visit the Praxis At Home Testing page to see which Praxis exams are available for at home testing and what equipment you’ll need.
You can choose a remote proctoring service when you register for your exam. When you get to the test scheduling page, click the web-based proctoring option.
All exams have options to request special accommodations, such as alternative testing locations or extra time. Make sure you schedule your exam far enough out so that your accommodations request can get processed. Depending on the exam, this extra processing time can be anywhere from ten days to six weeks.
Learn more about available accommodations and how to request them for each exam:
Once you’ve registered, make a list of everything you need to do between now and your test day.
Make a study schedule that includes time to:
Whichever test you’re taking, there are study guides to help you prepare. Some come directly from test-makers, while others come from other educational organizations and universities.
We’ll share a few resources here.
You also have numerous test prep options from third-party companies. Here are a few suggestions to get started. While we have not personally vetted all of these resources, you may find them useful in your test preparation.
Before you purchase any test prep materials, check with your program to see if any discount codes are available for your test prep option of choice.
TEACH Connecticut offers $100 in reimbursement for any test fees that are required for you to apply and enroll in a teaching program. That could include registration fees and test prep materials for the Praxis Core or your content exam! (Reimbursements do not include tests that you take after you’ve enrolled.) Visit the TEACH Connecticut Fee Reimbursements page to learn more about eligibility and how to apply.
You’ve registered, studied and taken practice tests—and you’re ready for your exam!
Some of the suggestions above, such as getting enough sleep and eating a good breakfast, are important for at-home testing as well. You can also consider these at-home testing tips:
If you’re testing from home, try setting up your exam space the way it will look on test day, and use it to take practice tests! If you’re studying in your test environment, it can help you recall information when it’s time to take the test for real.
Score availability will depend on which exam you take and when you take it.
When you register for your exam, you can request that your scores get sent to your teaching program when they are available. You may also need to report your scores on your program application itself. In some cases, submitting your score report will be part of the required paperwork during your program’s onboarding process. (Your application checklist has a step for submitting scores!)
Applications have a lot of steps, and we’re here to support you with all of them.
Check out more FREE tools to simplify the process.