Praxis
Praxis 5355 (Special Education: Foundational Knowledge): Format, Scores and Prep
Praxis 5355 format, North Dakota qualifying score 151, fees, and study order for special education candidates on the ETS special education test.
| Test code | 5355 |
|---|---|
| ETS test name | Special Education: Foundational Knowledge |
| ND qualifying score | 151 |
| ETS fee (checked) | $130 |
Sources checked November 2026
Sections8
Why North Dakota special education candidates take 5355
Special education teachers in North Dakota must show content knowledge beyond the three Core Academic Skills tests. The ETS North Dakota requirements page lists Special Education: Foundational Knowledge (5355) on the Content and Applications special education path with Core. ETS does not list a PLT test on special education rows. If your university checklist names a different code, stop and match the letter to ETS before you pay for a session.
What ETS measures on test 5355
ETS describes 5355 as a computer-delivered exam built from 120 selected-response questions in two hours. Questions span human development and individual learning differences. They also cover planning, instruction, and assessment. Professional collaboration appears in its own band.
The ETS product page focuses on disabilities in the mild-to-moderate range. Some items still cover severe-to-profound scenarios outside a general education classroom.
The blueprint emphasizes special education concepts. It also tests principles and classroom application across grades K-12. ETS warns that some items may not count toward your score. Treat every item seriously. Unfamiliar scenarios are still framed as classroom cases rather than trivia.
North Dakota qualifying score
North Dakota's qualifying score for 5355 is 151 on ETS qualifying scores (November 2026). Open the score tool with North Dakota selected the same week you schedule. ESPB publishes testing context on ND testing information, but ETS remains the official home for the numeric cut.
Fees, registration, and score recipients
ETS listed a $130 test fee for 5355 in November 2026. Register through My Praxis and search by code 5355, not by a generic special education label. During checkout, add North Dakota Education Standards and Practices Board using ETS recipient code 7848 if you want scores transmitted to the board automatically. Keep a copy of your confirmation email with the test center or at-home delivery method you chose.
Use the ETS center search during registration to choose a seat. If you select at-home testing, verify room requirements in the Information Bulletin on praxis.ets.org.
Study sequence that matches the companion
Start with the free Study Companion PDF linked from the 5355 product page. Outline each content category. Write one paragraph explaining how that category shows up in a co-taught elementary room versus a resource room. That exercise surfaces weak areas faster than generic flashcards.
Drill mental math only where the companion expects computation. Spend extra time on assessment terminology and legally defensible documentation language; those objectives appear often in scenario stems. If you purchase ETS interactive practice, confirm the product title includes 5355 before you pay the listed $24.95 practice add-on shown on the product page.
ETS lists 5355 as computer delivered with 120 questions in two hours on the product page (November 2026). The page sells optional interactive practice near $24.95 and notes that calculators are not permitted unless ETS adds 5355 to the Calculator Use list. Download the Study Companion before you pay for third-party special education decks.
Study IDEA terms in the companion glossary first. Many stems quote federal vocabulary about least restrictive environment or IEP teams. Match each term to a short example from your practicum so the words feel familiar under time pressure.
The product page states that 5355 aligns with Council for Exceptional Children preparation standards. Read that alignment list when you build flash cards so professional terms match what ETS expects on scenario items.
Pairing 5355 with Core on your checklist
North Dakota special education paths on ETS pair the endorsement-specific code with Core. Content and Applications and Strategist use 5355 alone on the test list.
Intellectual Disabilities paths accept 5322 or 5355. Learning Disabilities accepts 5383 or 5355. Other special education areas list their own tests. Finish Core 5713, 5723, and 5733 (or 5752) before you sit for 5355.
Retakes and score reports
Save your first attempt breakdown even when you pass. ESPB staff may ask for the code later during endorsement paperwork. Keep the PDF with the 5355 label in the filename.
ETS enforces waiting periods between attempts; the exact interval appears on your score report and in the Information Bulletin. If you miss 151, download the score breakdown, map misses to companion sections, and only then register again. Ordering extra score reports after you pass is cheaper than repeating the whole exam because ESPB could not match your file.
Sources checked November 2026
- ETS 5355 product page
- ETS North Dakota required tests
- ETS qualifying scores
- ESPB testing information
Quick answers
Does North Dakota require Praxis 5355?
ETS lists 5355 on several special education paths together with Core; the North Dakota list does not add a PLT test to special education. Confirm your exact endorsement on the state requirements page before checkout.
Is a calculator allowed on 5355?
Unless 5355 appears on the ETS Calculator Use list, calculators are not allowed. Check the ETS Calculator Use page on praxis.ets.org for your code.
Does student teaching count as prep for 5355?
Clinical experience helps with scenario tone, but the test still pulls explicit federal and professional vocabulary from the companion outline. Review IDEA terminology and multitiered systems even if your placement already uses them daily.
Will ESPB accept a 5355 score from another state?
North Dakota still cares whether you met the North Dakota qualifying score on the report ETS sends. A passing score from a state with a lower cut does not automatically satisfy ESPB rules.
Should I take 5355 before or after Core?
Most programs finish Core first because ESPB expects 5713, 5723, and 5733 everywhere. Follow your transcript audit, but do not register for 5355 until you can commit a full two-hour practice block weekly.