Connecticut Teacher Certification Forms — Which ED Form to Use and When

Connecticut's teacher certification process involves at least six distinct paper forms, each completed by a different person and sent to the CSDE at a different stage. Sending the wrong form, or sending the right form with a photocopied signature, resets your timeline.

Here's what each form does and who fills it out.

Form ED 170 / ED 170A — The Main Application

Who completes it: You (the applicant)

This is your primary application for obtaining or updating an educator certificate. ED 170A is the electronic equivalent submitted through the CECS portal. Use this form whether you're a traditional program graduate, an out-of-state transfer, or seeking a cross-endorsement.

Accompanies: the $50 nonrefundable application review fee for a first-time application; a cross-endorsement request uses the $100 per-subject fee described below. Online via CECS (credit card only — Visa, Mastercard, Discover; no debit cards). By mail: money order, cashier's check, or certified bank check payable to "Treasurer, State of Connecticut."

Form ED 125 — Institutional Recommendation

Who completes it: The dean or certification officer at your teacher preparation program

This form verifies that you completed a state-approved educator preparation program. Your university sends it directly to the CSDE — you don't carry it yourself.

Critical rule: Requires an original wet signature. The CSDE rejects photocopies, scans, and emailed attachments. The certification officer must mail the physical original to Hartford.

Form ED 126 — Professional Experience Verification

Who completes it: Your superintendent of schools or executive director

This form documents your months of classroom teaching service. It's required for:

• Advancing from Initial to Professional Certificate (verifying 50 school months)
• Out-of-state educators claiming TEAM exemption (verifying 50+ months of experience)
• Experience credit from out-of-state or approved nonpublic school positions

Critical rule: Same wet-signature requirement as ED 125. Former employers must mail the physical original — no scans, no email.

Form ED 711 — Out-of-State Testing Verification

Who completes it: Your previous state's licensing agency or testing provider

Used by out-of-state applicants transferring under the NASDTEC Interstate Agreement (not needed for Enhanced Reciprocity states). It verifies that you passed equivalent subject-matter assessments in your previous state.

Form ED 172A — 90-Day to Initial Transition

Who completes it: Your school district superintendent (Part III)

Used by ARC program graduates who received a Temporary 90-Day Certificate. After completing 90 school days of classroom instruction, the superintendent signs Part III confirming successful service, and you mail the original to the CSDE. This triggers the transition to the ten-year Initial Educator Certificate.

Important: This is one of the few forms that must be mailed as a physical original — online submission isn't available for ED 172A.

Form ED 177 — Durational Shortage Area Permit

Who completes it: Your hiring district's HR department

You cannot submit this form yourself. The school district must determine that no certified teacher is available for the position, then the district initiates the DSAP application through the state's educator database. The permit is issued at $0 cost.

Submission Rules That Trip People Up

• No personal checks by mail. Paper applications submitted with a personal check are returned. Use a money order, cashier's check, or certified bank check.
• Wet signatures on ED 125 and ED 126. The CSDE enforces a strict original-signature policy. Third parties (universities, superintendents) must mail physical originals.
• Track everything. The CSDE recommends USPS Certified Mail, FedEx, or UPS for all physical submissions. If a form gets lost in transit, you have no proof of delivery and must restart.

The Connecticut Teacher Certification Guide includes a document tracker that maps each form to its sender, deadline, and submission method, so nothing falls through the cracks.

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