Teaching & Education • Exam
Praxis Special Education: Foundational Knowledge (5355)
Praxis Special Education: Foundational Knowledge (5355) — Education & Teaching credential from ETS
Researched and maintained by TestPrepPilot Editorial BoardTeacher licensure & education certifications desk · Figures last verified August 2026
The short version
What is the Praxis Special Education: Foundational Knowledge (5355) and is it worth it?
Praxis Special Education: Foundational Knowledge (5355) is a professional credential administered by ETS. It validates job-ready knowledge and skills in the Education & Teaching field and is used for career entry, advancement, or compliance.
- Recognized credential from ETS
- Demonstrates verified competence in Education & Teaching
- Supports career advancement and may satisfy licensing or employer requirements
What is it?
What exactly is the Praxis Special Education: Foundational Knowledge (5355)?
Praxis Special Education: Foundational Knowledge (5355) — Education & Teaching credential from ETS
Core special education licensure test covering development, assessment, instruction, behaviour support and federal disability law. Offered by ETS, it is designed for candidates who need to demonstrate verified competence in the Education & Teaching field. The credential is commonly used for career entry, advancement, regulatory compliance, or employer requirements. Candidates should review the official handbook for eligibility, exam format, and scoring before registering.
The path in brief
- Confirm you meet any eligibility or prerequisites
- Review the official handbook and study materials
- Register and pay through the awarding body or authorized provider
- Schedule and take the exam (test center or online proctoring)
- Receive your score and, if passed, your credential
Before you book
Who is eligible to sit the Praxis Special Education: Foundational Knowledge (5355)?
Eligibility varies; many credentials are open to all, while others require coursework, work experience, or sponsorship.
Who it is for: Professionals and candidates seeking to validate Education & Teaching competence.
The test itself
What is the format of the Praxis Special Education: Foundational Knowledge (5355)?
The Praxis Special Education: Foundational Knowledge (5355) is administered by ETS and runs Computer-based exam.
| Administered by | ETS |
|---|---|
| Questions | Selected-response items |
| Time limit | Computer-based exam |
| Pass mark | Passing score set by the awarding body; see the official score report |
| Exam fee | Varies by location and currency — confirm on the official registration page |
| Format | Proctored, computer-based (test center or online remote proctoring) |
Content outline
What topics are on the Praxis Special Education: Foundational Knowledge (5355)?
The Praxis Special Education: Foundational Knowledge (5355) covers 4 content domains.
Weightings come from the official exam outline. Study time is best allocated in roughly these proportions rather than evenly across domains.
- Subject content
Topic area tested on the exam; see the official blueprint for the detailed breakdown.
- Instruction & pedagogy
Topic area tested on the exam; see the official blueprint for the detailed breakdown.
- Assessment
Topic area tested on the exam; see the official blueprint for the detailed breakdown.
- Classroom management
Topic area tested on the exam; see the official blueprint for the detailed breakdown.
Study materials
Which study guide should you use for the Praxis Special Education: Foundational Knowledge (5355)?
Start with the exam sponsor's official content outline. If you also want one structured resource to work through, these are the Mometrix titles that match this exam.
This links to Mometrix's Praxis subject-test range rather than a single Praxis Special Education: Foundational Knowledge (5355) title. Check that it lists an edition for Praxis Special Education: Foundational Knowledge (5355) before you buy.
Affiliate links We may earn a commission if you buy through these links, at no extra cost to you. Mometrix has no say in what our exam guides cover. How we make money.
The path
How do you register for the Praxis Special Education: Foundational Knowledge (5355)?
- 1
Read your state requirements page20 minutes
Open hiset.org and select your state or jurisdiction. Age minimums, residency rules, whether you must enrol in an adult education programme first, and the exact fees are all set locally.
- 2
Create a myHiSET account15 minutes
Sign up through the state requirements page to generate your HiSET number, which you need for scheduling, score access and any state paperwork.
- 3
Take the official practice tests1 to 2 hours per subtest
HiSET publishes free and low-cost official practice tests for each subtest. Unlike the GED at-home route, HiSET does not require a practice-test pass before you can schedule.
- 4
Schedule subtests one at a time10 minutes each
Book any of the five subtests in any order, on paper or computer at a test centre or through HiSET@Home online proctoring where your state allows it.
- 5
Test with valid photo ID65 to 120 minutes per subtest
Bring a current government-issued photo ID showing your name, date of birth, signature and photograph. At-home testers need a private room, a webcam and a stable connection.
- 6
Check scores and claim your credential1 to 2 weeks
Multiple-choice results typically post within about five to seven days and essay results within about seven to ten days. Once all five subtests pass, your state issues the credential.
The fine print
What are the retake and renewal rules for the Praxis Special Education: Foundational Knowledge (5355)?
- Proctoring & delivery
- HiSET is offered in three ways: paper-based at a test centre, computer-based at a test centre and HiSET@Home under live online proctoring, with availability depending on the state. Calculators and formula sheets are supplied at test centres. The full battery in English or Spanish is permitted, and several states allow candidates to mix languages across subtests.
- Retake policy
- Retake rules are set per state, but a common pattern allows three attempts per subtest in a calendar year, sometimes extending to six. Several states use a favourable pricing structure in which the full fee is charged only on the first and fourth attempts while the second and third cost only the test centre or proctor fee.
- Score reporting
- Each of the five subtests is scored 1 to 20. To pass you must score at least 8 on every subtest, at least 2 out of 6 on the Language Arts Writing essay, and at least 45 out of 100 in total across the five. A score of 15 or higher on a subtest is treated as HiSET honours-level performance in several states.
- Recertification
- The credential a state issues on the strength of a passing HiSET battery is permanent and needs no renewal. Passing subtest scores are carried forward within a state-defined window while you complete the remaining subjects.
- Refunds & rescheduling
- Refund and reschedule windows are administered by PSI and vary by state and test centre; most centres require cancellation at least 24 hours before the appointment. Registering by phone rather than online attracts an additional fee in some states.
Context
HiSET subtests at a glance
| Subtest | Questions | Time | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Language Arts - Reading | About 40 to 50 multiple choice | 65 minutes | |
| Language Arts - Writing | About 50 multiple choice plus 1 essay | 120 minutes | |
| Mathematics | About 50 multiple choice | 90 minutes | |
| Science | About 50 multiple choice | 80 minutes | |
| Social Studies | About 50 multiple choice | 70 minutes |
What it pays
How much does this credential pay?
$67,510 median for kindergarten and elementary school special education teachers (BLS, May 2024)
The Praxis Special Education: Foundational Knowledge (5355) is the special-education pedagogy gate for many teacher licensure programs, and the wage question belongs to the occupation you enter with it: special education teaching. The closest official BLS occupation is Special Education Teachers (Kindergarten and Elementary School), SOC 25-2055, which had a May 2024 median wage of $67,510, with the lowest 10 percent under $48,940 and the highest 10 percent above $108,590, with the middle-school ($67,860) and secondary ($69,170) special-education series as the adjacent levels. BLS counted 215,500 kindergarten and elementary special education teacher jobs in 2024 and projects a 3 percent decline from 2024 to 2034, with about 17,200 openings a year, almost all replacement demand. Read the median with the standard teacher-market caveats: pay is set by district salary schedules, varies enormously by state, and the exam itself carries no wage premium. The honest framing: the 5355 is a licensure gate, and the benchmark it unlocks is the special-education teacher wage in your specific state and district, not a national figure that applies everywhere.
| Measure | Figure | Source / note |
|---|---|---|
| Median annual wage, special education teachers (K-8) | $67,510 | BLS OOH, SOC 25-2055, May 2024 |
| Lowest 10 percent | Under $48,940 | BLS OOH, SOC 25-2055, May 2024 |
| Highest 10 percent | Above $108,590 | BLS OOH, SOC 25-2055, May 2024 |
| Projected openings per year (K-8) | ~17,200 | BLS OOH, SOC 25-2055, 2024-2034 |
Job growth.BLS projects a 3 percent decline for K-8 special education teachers from 2024 to 2034, about 17,200 openings per year, mostly replacement demand.
Source: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook - Special Education Teachers
Your odds
What are the pass rates?
ETS does not publish a single national pass rate — it publishes scaled scores, and each state sets its own passing line
ETS does not publish one national pass rate for the Praxis Special Education: Foundational Knowledge (5355), and any single percentage you see online is a state-specific report or a third-party estimate, so we do not present one as authoritative. What ETS does publish is the reporting model: the 5355 produces a scaled score, and the passing score is set by each state education agency — the same exam has different pass lines in different states, which is exactly why no national pass rate exists. Your target is your state's published passing score, which you should look up before you study. The exam itself is a computer-based test of selected-response questions built on the content categories: development and characteristics of learners; learning environments and social interactions; and the foundational knowledge of special education — including the laws (IDEA, Section 504, ADA), the IEP process, the delivery models and the evidence-based practices. Because state cut scores typically sit in the mid-150s to low-160s scaled range, a candidate who covers all the content categories clears the line in most states — but verify your state's number, because the margin changes with it.
Read this before quoting the number.ETS reports scaled scores and each state sets its own passing score; there is no single national pass rate to quote.
Source: ETS - Praxis Special Education: Foundational Knowledge (5355)
Your schedule
How long should I study for it?
40-60 hours over 3-4 weeks of focused study
The Praxis Special Education: Foundational Knowledge (5355) is a computer-based exam of selected-response questions built on the ETS content categories: development and characteristics of learners; learning environments and social interactions; and the foundational knowledge of special education — the laws, the IEP process, the service-delivery models and the evidence-based practices. A defensible plan runs 40 to 60 hours over three to four weeks. Week one: the legal framework — IDEA (eligibility categories, the IEP process, FAPE, LRE), Section 504 and the ADA — because the law items are precise and heavily weighted. Week two: development and characteristics of learners — the disability categories, their characteristics and their implications for instruction. Week three: learning environments and social interactions — the delivery models, positive behaviour supports and the collaboration with families and professionals. Week four: practice — two timed practice exams and a review of the weak categories. The plan is law-and-characteristics-heavy because the 5355 rewards knowing the special-education framework precisely; candidates who study general teaching theory instead of the special-education content miss the exam's core.
- Week 114
Legal framework
- IDEA: eligibility, IEP, FAPE and LRE
- Section 504 and the ADA
- The special-education process
- Week 214
Learners and characteristics
- The disability categories and their characteristics
- Implications for instruction
- Evidence-based practices
- Week 312
Environments and interactions
- Service-delivery models
- Positive behaviour supports
- Family and professional collaboration
- Week 412
Practice and review
- Two timed practice exams
- Review weak categories
- Schedule the exam
Adjusting the pace
Working special-education teacher.The IEP and legal material is familiar; focus study on the disability-characteristics items and the exam format.
General-education teacher adding SPED.Add 1-2 weeks on the legal framework and disability categories before the full plan.
How to study
How do I prepare most effectively?
The 5355 rewards precise knowledge of the special-education framework, so the dominant strategy is mastering the legal material first: IDEA's eligibility categories, the IEP process, FAPE and LRE, plus Section 504 and the ADA, because the law items are precise and heavily weighted. Second, learn the disability categories and their characteristics as decision rules: the exam asks which characteristics or instructional implications fit a described learner, so scenario practice matters more than memorising lists. Third, cover the learning-environments material — the delivery models (inclusion, resource, self-contained), positive behaviour supports and the collaboration roles — a distinct content area. Fourth, use the ETS Study Companion as the scope map and its sample questions for the item style. Finally, look up your state's passing score early and target practice scores comfortably above it, because the state cut line is the number that decides pass or fail.
Master the legal framework
IDEA, 504, ADA, FAPE and LRE are precise and heavily weighted.
Learn characteristics as decisions
Which characteristics or supports fit a described learner.
Cover environments and collaboration
Delivery models, behaviour supports and team roles are a distinct area.
Use the Study Companion
The authoritative scope and the item-style reference.
Target your state's cut score
Look up your state's passing line and aim practice above it.
What to buy
Which study resources are worth paying for?
Praxis 5355 prep is inexpensive because ETS publishes the authoritative materials at low or no cost. The free Study Companion is the core resource: it lists the content categories and provides sample questions. ETS also sells the official study product with additional practice questions (roughly $20-$50). Third-party special-education study guides ($30-$60) and question banks ($20-$80) add volume. Free resources include the Study Companion, the IDEA text and state department-of-education pages. The exam fee is roughly $130-$156 (confirm at ets.org/praxis). Prices below are list prices as of mid-2026 and change frequently; we rank nothing by commission.
| Resource | Price | Format | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| ETS Study Companion (5355) | Free | Official PDF | The authoritative scope and sample items |
| ETS official study product | $20-$50 | Online practice questions | Official item-style practice |
| Special-education study guides | $30-$60 | Printed or digital book | Structured content review |
| Question banks | $20-$80 | Online practice items | Selected-response volume |
| State DOE requirement pages | Free | Official state resources | Your state's passing score and rules |
List prices as of mid-2026, subject to change; the 5355 exam fee is roughly $130-$156; no commission or affiliate ranking is implied.
Avoid these
What mistakes do candidates most often make?
The most common 5355 mistake is studying general education theory instead of the special-education framework: candidates who prepare with generic pedagogy materials meet the IDEA, eligibility and disability-characteristics items unprepared. The fix is special-education-content-first study. The second mistake is mislearning the legal distinctions — IDEA vs Section 504 vs the ADA, and the eligibility categories — which the exam tests precisely. Third, candidates under-prepare the learning-environments and collaboration content, a distinct tested area. Fourth, some candidates never take a timed practice exam and misjudge the format. Finally, candidates who do not look up their state's passing score study toward a vague target; the state cut line is the number that matters.
✕Studying generic pedagogy
✓The exam is about the special-education framework; study that content.
✕Mislearning the legal distinctions
✓IDEA vs 504 vs ADA and the eligibility categories are tested precisely.
✕Skipping environments and collaboration
✓A distinct tested area; cover it.
✕Never timing a practice exam
✓Run two timed practice exams before the real one.
✕Ignoring your state's cut score
✓Find your state's passing line and target practice above it.
What you'll face
What question types will I see?
The 5355 is a computer-based exam of selected-response questions built on the content categories: development and characteristics of learners, learning environments and social interactions, and the foundational knowledge of special education. The items test the legal framework, the disability categories and their instructional implications, and the service-delivery practices, with many scenario items describing a learner and asking for the correct characteristic, support or legal requirement. Samples below are editor-written illustrations of the ETS content categories, not live exam items; they show the special-education style of the real items.
IDEA, 504, ADA, the IEP process, FAPE and LRE.
Disability categories and their instructional implications.
Delivery models, behaviour supports and collaboration.
Try these
Q1Under IDEA, the requirement that students with disabilities be educated with their non-disabled peers to the maximum extent appropriate is known as:
Answer:A
LRE is the IDEA requirement that students with disabilities be educated with non-disabled peers to the maximum extent appropriate. FAPE is the right to a free appropriate education, the IEP is the individualised plan, and child find is the identification duty.
Q2A teacher is preparing for the annual IEP meeting for a student. The IEP must include:
Answer:A
The IEP must include present levels of performance, measurable annual goals and the special-education services — the core components the law requires. Grades-only, observation-only or disability-list-only documents do not constitute a compliant IEP.
Q3A student with a specific learning disability reads below grade level. The most appropriate evidence-based instructional practice is:
Answer:A
Evidence-based special education uses explicit, systematic instruction in the identified deficit areas with progress monitoring. Waiting, reducing expectations or removing instruction each fail the evidence-based-practice standard the exam rewards.
Samples are editor-written illustrations of the ETS content categories, not live exam items.
The big day
What should I expect on exam day?
The Praxis Special Education: Foundational Knowledge (5355) is a computer-based exam at a Pearson VUE centre or through online proctoring. Bring a valid government-issued photo ID matching your registration name and your appointment confirmation; personal items go in the locker. Arrive 30 minutes early; late arrivals forfeit the appointment and fee. Pace yourself across the selected-response items, flag uncertain items for review, and finish with time to spare. Your scaled score appears on screen immediately, with the official score report following. If you do not pass, the retake wait is 21 days. On a pass, the score is valid for 10 years subject to your state's acceptance window, and your state education agency applies its own passing line. The afterwards matters: forward your score to your state's licensure system through the ETS score-reporting tools, and keep the score report for your records.
Bring
- Valid government-issued photo ID matching your registration name
- Appointment confirmation
Leave at home
- Phone, smartwatch and all electronics
- Notes and study materials
- Personal bags beyond what the centre allows
How the day runs
Rules in the room
- No personal electronics in the testing room
- Computer-based selected-response exam
- Retakes require a 21-day wait
Afterwards.On a pass, your score is valid 10 years subject to your state's window; report it to your state education agency. On a fail, wait 21 days and retake after additional special-education study.
Reference
What are the key facts about the Praxis Special Education: Foundational Knowledge (5355)?
Praxis Special Education: Foundational Knowledge (5355) is a exam credential; awarded by ETS; the exam fee is Varies by location and currency — confirm on the official registration page; typical preparation is Computer-based selected-response exam; holders typically earn $49,000-$109,000.
| Credential | Praxis Special Education: Foundational Knowledge (5355) |
|---|---|
| Type | Exam |
| Profession | Teaching & Education |
| Specialty | Praxis Special Education |
| Awarded by | ETS |
| Difficulty | Mixed |
| Typical prep time | Computer-based selected-response exam |
| All-in cost | ~$130-$156 |
| Typical salary range | $49,000-$109,000 |
| Credential | Praxis Special Education: Foundational Knowledge (5355) |
| Awarding body | ETS |
| Exam format | Proctored, computer-based |
| Validity | Praxis scores are valid for 10 years. |
| Languages | Varies — see awarding body |
| Scope | National / Multi-state |
| Also known as | 5355, Core Knowledge and Applications |
Real questions
Frequently asked questions about the Praxis Special Education: Foundational Knowledge (5355)
How do I register for the Praxis Special Education: Foundational Knowledge (5355) exam?
Register through ETS's official portal or an authorized test provider (e.g., Pearson VUE or Prometric where applicable). Create an account, select the exam, pay the fee, and schedule a date.
How much does the exam cost?
Fees vary by location and currency. Confirm the current fee on the official registration page before scheduling.
How long is the credential valid, and how do I renew?
Praxis scores are valid for 10 years, subject to your state's acceptance window; the state sets the passing score.
What if I do not pass?
Most bodies allow retakes after a waiting period and payment of the full or partial fee. Check ETS's retake policy before rescheduling.
Is HiSET run by ETS or by PSI?
Both. ETS develops the HiSET test content and PSI delivers it operationally, following the ETS acquisition of PSI in January 2024. In practice you register and schedule through myHiSET on the PSI platform.
Do I have to live in a HiSET state to test?
Usually not. Several HiSET states, including Georgia and Oklahoma, explicitly allow non-residents to test, though you generally must pass your final subtest in the state whose credential you want.
Is HiSET easier than the GED?
They are set to comparable standards but structured differently: HiSET has five subtests with reading and writing separated, while the GED combines them into one Reasoning Through Language Arts test. HiSET is more widely available on paper, which some candidates prefer.
In short
Is the Praxis Special Education: Foundational Knowledge (5355) worth it?
- Praxis Special Education: Foundational Knowledge (5355) is awarded by ETS.
- Validates job-ready competence in Education & Teaching.
- Registration is through the awarding body or an authorized test provider.
- Renewal and retake policies vary — confirm before scheduling.
Same awarding body
What other credentials does ETS award?
Worth comparing
How does the Praxis Special Education: Foundational Knowledge (5355) compare with similar credentials?
Trust
Where does this information come from?
Everything above is taken from the awarding body's own published material. Fees, question counts and domain weights are revised regularly — check the official page before you pay.
- ETS Awarding body
Research confidence: medium · Last reviewed 2026-08