Elementary and early childhood cross-endorsements for Connecticut educators
Effective July 1, 2023, in accordance with Public Act No. 23-159, someone who holds a valid Connecticut teaching certificate may obtain a cross-endorsement for Integrated Early Childhood/Special Ed., Birth-Kindergarten (#112) and/or Integrated Early Childhood/Elementary Ed. N-3 and Special Ed., N-K (#113) endorsements based on meeting coursework and assessment requirements. An institutional recommendation verifying completion of a planned certification program is no longer required, but will still be accepted.
NOTE: Coursework may be completed at any regionally accredited college or university at the associate, bachelor, master, or doctoral levels.
The following endorsements apply to elementary and early childhood educators:
- Elementary, PK-6 (305)
- Integrated Early Childhood/Special Education, Birth-Kindergarten (112)
- Integrated Early Childhood/Elementary Education N-3 and Special Education N-K (113)
The requirements outlined on this page are general guidelines. Approval and/or acceptance of specific course work will be determined once an application, fee, and official transcripts have been submitted for review.
Elementary, PK-6 (#305)
The following requirements must be met for an elementary endorsement:
- 30 semester hours of credit in course work specifically focused on elementary education, including:
- six credits in language arts; and
- six credits in child growth and development.
- Passing scores on Praxis II Elementary Education: Multiple Subjects (#5001) test AND the Pearson Connecticut Foundations of Reading test
A list of approved courses for elementary cross-endorsement is available on our website.
Early Childhood/Special Education (#112 and #113)
Effective July 1, 2023, in accordance with Public Act No. 23-159, someone who holds a valid Connecticut teaching certificate may obtain a cross-endorsement for Integrated Early Childhood/Special Ed., Birth-Kindergarten (#112) and/or Integrated Early Childhood/Elementary Ed. N-3 and Special Ed., N-K (#113) endorsements based on meeting coursework and assessment requirements. An institutional recommendation verifying completion of a planned certification program is no longer required, but will still be accepted. NOTE: Coursework may be completed at any regionally accredited college or university at the associate, bachelor, master, or doctoral levels.
Please note: Coursework for all endorsements must result in the award of college-level credit posted to an official transcript from an accredited college or university.
Integrated Early Childhood/Special Ed., Birth–Kindergarten (#112)
A minimum of 30 semester hours of credit including study in each of the following:
- typical/atypical development, birth – age 5
- emergent literacy
- integrated early childhood language arts
- program planning and evaluation in young children, including those with special needs
- the role of play in learning environments
- early childhood program models and the role of family
- methods for teaching early childhood students with special needs
- special ed diagnosis at the early childhood level
AND
At least two of the following areas:
- infant & toddler assessment and development
- infant & toddler program models
- curriculum development for infants and toddlers
- adaptations for infants and toddlers with special needs
INCLUDING
Field experience in Birth-Kindergarten (Choose ONE to complete)
- 10 school months of service under a DSAP in B-K setting; * or
- appropriate practicum in integrated B-K setting (min. 6 credits); ** or
- 10 months under Birth-to-Three Waiver Authorization or Kindergarten Waiver Authorization***
* If you are employed in a Connecticut public school district and serve successfully under a one-year Durational Shortage Area Permit (DSAP) #112, the field experience is satisfied.
** Practicum means supervised field or clinical training in an educationally suitable placement as determined by an approved institution. Placement in PreK or K must include children with special needs.
*** Birth-to-Three Waiver Authorization (Public Act 21-172, Section 15)
*** Kindergarten Waiver Authorization (Public Act 18-51, Section 6)
Integrated Early Childhood/Elementary Education N-3 and Special Education N-K (#113)
A minimum of 30 semester hours of credit including study in each of the following:
- typical/atypical development, birth – age 8
- emergent literacy
- language arts in the primary grades
- program planning and evaluation in young children, including those with special needs
- the role of play in learning environments
- early childhood program models and the role of family
- methods for teaching early childhood students with special needs
- special ed diagnosis at the early childhood level
AND
At least two of the following areas:
- elementary curriculum and methods
- assessment and evaluation in the primary grades
- adapting curriculum for primary grade children with special needs
- other areas of study with an elementary education focus
INCLUDING
Field experience in PreK and/or Kindergarten (Choose ONE to complete)
- 10 school months under a DSAP in PreK/K; * or
- appropriate practicum in integrated PreK/K (min. 6 credits); ** or
- 10 months under Kindergarten Waiver Authorization***
* If you are employed in a Connecticut public school district and serve successfully under a one-year Durational Shortage Area Permit (DSAP) #113, the field experience is satisfied.
** Practicum means supervised field or clinical training in an educationally suitable placement as determined by an approved institution. Placements in PreK or K must include children with special needs.
*** Kindergarten Waiver Authorization (Public Act 18-51, Section 6). Note: Effective 7/1/2025, Kindergarten Authorizations will no longer be available.
AND
Testing
- Pearson Early Childhood test
- Pearson Foundations of Reading test