Connecticut Special Education Certification — The 36-Hour Requirement and Structured Literacy Rules

Connecticut's special education certification requirements catch more applicants off guard than any other single rule. The state mandates a 36 clock-hour special education course for every initial teaching certificate — not just special education endorsements, but all of them.

The 36 Clock-Hour Requirement

Under CGS § 10-145b(d), any candidate seeking an initial educator certificate in Connecticut must complete a course of study in special education of not fewer than 36 clock hours. The coursework must cover:

• Growth and development of exceptional children, including those with physical, learning, and gifted capabilities
• Methods for identifying students with special needs
• Planning for those needs within general classroom settings

This applies to every endorsement area — elementary, secondary math, world languages, all of them. If your teacher preparation program didn't include this specific course, or if you're transferring from a state that doesn't require it, you'll need to complete it before receiving your full Initial Certificate.

If you meet every other certification requirement but lack the 36-hour course, the CSDE will issue a one-year, nonrenewable Interim Initial Educator Certificate. This lets you teach while completing the requirement, but the clock is firm — you must finish the course within that year or your certificate lapses.

Structured Literacy and Dyslexia Training

Connecticut has escalated its focus on evidence-based reading instruction, and certification requirements reflect that. Here's what's in play:

The Office of Dyslexia and Reading Disabilities (ODRD), established by statute in 2021, oversees compliance with structured literacy standards. In May 2025, the State Board of Education approved the first Educator Competencies for Structured Literacy and Dyslexia, which require all teacher preparation programs and certification pathways to align with Science of Reading evidence.

Public Act 15-97 mandates at least 12 clock hours of dyslexia instruction within all teacher preparation programs, alongside universal reading screenings for kindergarten through third grade.

For comprehensive special education endorsements (as well as remedial reading and integrated early childhood), applicants must complete a dedicated program of study in the diagnosis and remediation of reading and language arts. This includes structured literacy interventions and supervised clinical practicum hours.

Getting the Special Education Endorsement

If you want to teach special education specifically (not just meet the general 36-hour requirement), you'll need the Comprehensive Special Education endorsement (PreK–12). Requirements include:

• Completion of a state-approved special education preparation program
• Passing the Praxis II Special Education: Core Knowledge and Applications test
• The Pearson Foundations of Reading test (passing score of 240)
• The 36 clock-hour general special education course (if not embedded in your program)
• Clinical practicum hours specific to special education settings

Special education is a perennial state-designated shortage area, which means two practical benefits: districts can sponsor uncertified candidates for a DSAP emergency permit, and certified teachers in other subjects can add a special education cross-endorsement by passing the Praxis II alone, without additional coursework.

Out-of-State Special Education Teachers

If you hold a special education certificate from another state, your experience transfers — but the 36 clock-hour requirement doesn't disappear. The CSDE will still verify that your preparation program included equivalent coursework. If it didn't, expect the one-year Interim Initial Certificate while you complete it.

Structured literacy competencies are where things get tricky for out-of-state transfers. Not every state's preparation programs meet Connecticut's specific dyslexia training standards, and the CSDE may flag this as a gap during transcript review.

The Connecticut Teacher Certification Guide includes a coursework audit worksheet that maps your completed credits against Connecticut's specific requirements, including the 36-hour and literacy provisions.

See more Connecticut guides →