Connecticut Foundations of Reading Test — Registration, Passing Score, and What to Expect

Who Needs This Test

The Foundations of Reading test (Test #890) is required for anyone seeking a Connecticut teaching certificate with an elementary education, early childhood, or special education endorsement. It's separate from the Praxis II subject assessments — this is Pearson's Connecticut teacher-certification test on the National Evaluation Series (NES) platform, not an ETS product.

The distinction matters because you register through a different portal (ct.nesinc.com), pay a different fee ($139), and follow a different score-reporting process than your Praxis exams.

If you're pursuing a secondary-only endorsement — say, Mathematics 7–12 or English 7–12 — you don't need this test. But if your endorsement touches any elementary or early childhood grade span, including the newly unified PreK–6 endorsements (codes #005, #013, and #305 were harmonized to PreK–6 on July 1, 2025), the Foundations of Reading is mandatory.

Test Format and Logistics

The exam is computer-based and runs 4 hours and 30 minutes. You can take it at an official Pearson testing center or through online remote proctoring from home.

The format includes both selected-response (multiple-choice) questions and open-response constructed items. The content focuses on the Science of Reading: phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary development, and reading comprehension strategies. Connecticut has escalated its focus on structured literacy and dyslexia intervention — the State Board of Education approved the state's first Educator Competencies for Structured Literacy and Dyslexia in May 2025, and teacher-preparation programs and certification pathways are expected to align with those competencies.

Passing score: 240. Scores are typically available 2 to 4 weeks after your test date.

The NES Transition

Pearson is transitioning the Connecticut Teacher Certification Examinations (CTCE) to the National Evaluation Series (NES) platform, effective July 6, 2026. If you're registering after that date, you'll use the NES portal instead of the current CTCE site. The current listing identifies the Foundations test as Test #890 with a 240 passing score; check the Pearson/NES listing when you register.

If you took the CTCE version before the transition, check the current Pearson/NES instructions for how your prior score is handled before registering again.

Registration Steps

1. Go to ct.nesinc.com and create an account
2. Select Test #890 (Foundations of Reading)
3. Choose your testing format — test center or remote proctored
4. Pay the $139 registration fee
5. Select your test date and location

Follow the Pearson/NES instructions for sending the score report to the CSDE; the separate ETS provider-code process described for Praxis does not apply to this Pearson/NES registration.

Retake Policy

Pearson/NES controls the Foundations retake schedule, so check its current waiting-period and attempt rules before booking another attempt. The 21-day waiting period stated for Praxis retakes should not be assumed to apply here.

If you're mapping out the full testing sequence alongside your certification application timeline, the Connecticut Teacher Certification Guide covers how the Foundations of Reading fits into the broader endorsement requirements and application workflow.

See more Connecticut guides →