A family asks about a residential placement. How does section 1002.36, Florida Statutes, describe the Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind?Section 1002.36(1), Florida Statutes (2026). Written to FTCE Visually Impaired K–12 (044), competency 1
A kindergartner's vision is only mildly reduced after correction, yet it adversely affects her schoolwork. Does Florida's definition of visual impairment cover her?Florida Administrative Code, Rule 6A-6.03014(1)(a). Written to FTCE Visually Impaired K–12 (044), competency 1
An IEP team meets for a student who is blind. Under Florida's IEP rule, when may the team leave braille instruction out?Florida Administrative Code, Rule 6A-6.03028(3)(g)8. Written to FTCE Visually Impaired K–12 (044), competency 1
In planning for a blind student, what does section 1003.55(4), Florida Statutes, presume?Section 1003.55(4), Florida Statutes (2026). Written to FTCE Visually Impaired K–12 (044), competency 1
Which statewide resource center, an IDEA-funded state project housed in Hillsborough County Public Schools, supplies braille and large-print textbooks to Florida students?Florida Instructional Materials Center for the Visually Impaired, home page. Written to FTCE Visually Impaired K–12 (044), competency 1
Show all 50 questions (45 more)
The visual system and development 6
A deafblind student's records say Usher syndrome type 1. By the National Eye Institute, what do people with type 1 have that those with types 2 and 3 do not?National Eye Institute, Usher Syndrome. Written to FTCE Visually Impaired K–12 (044), competency 2
A first-grade teacher reports that a child squints, shuts one eye and tilts her head when looking at the board. The National Eye Institute lists these as signs parents may notice with which condition?National Eye Institute, Amblyopia (Lazy Eye). Written to FTCE Visually Impaired K–12 (044), competency 2
A student squints in bright light because too much light reaches her retina. In the National Eye Institute's account of the eye, which part controls how much light the pupil lets in?National Eye Institute, How the Eyes Work. Written to FTCE Visually Impaired K–12 (044), competency 2
A student's eyes are healthy, but an injury at the rear of the head damaged the area of the cerebral cortex that processes visual information. In which lobe is the visual cortex?Wikipedia, Visual cortex, lead. Written to FTCE Visually Impaired K–12 (044), competency 2
By the National Eye Institute's page on cerebral visual impairment, which behavior may parents notice in a child with CVI?National Eye Institute, Cerebral Visual Impairment (CVI). Written to FTCE Visually Impaired K–12 (044), competency 2
Which statement about the typical development of vision is correct?Wikipedia, Infant visual development, lead. Written to FTCE Visually Impaired K–12 (044), competency 2
Braille, Nemeth, abacus and concepts 9
A grade 1 symbol indicator tells a Unified English Braille reader that the next symbol is a letter, not a contraction. Before which letters standing alone is it not required?International Council on English Braille, The Rules of Unified English Braille, Third Edition 2024, section 5.2. Written to FTCE Visually Impaired K–12 (044), competency 3
A science textbook is transcribed in Unified English Braille, with its equations in Nemeth Code. What marks the start and end of each Nemeth passage?Braille Authority of North America, The Nemeth Braille Code for Mathematics and Science Notation 2022, Rule 4.2. Written to FTCE Visually Impaired K–12 (044), competency 3
A student clears her Cranmer abacus before a new problem. What does the zero position look like?Teaching Students with Visual Impairments (teachingvisuallyimpaired.com), Abacus Basics. Written to FTCE Visually Impaired K–12 (044), competency 3
In contracted Unified English Braille, the letter k standing alone is read as which word?International Council on English Braille, The Rules of Unified English Braille, Third Edition 2024, section 10.1. Written to FTCE Visually Impaired K–12 (044), competency 3
In Unified English Braille, the numeric indicator sets numeric mode. What else does it set?International Council on English Braille, The Rules of Unified English Braille, Third Edition 2024, section 6.5. Written to FTCE Visually Impaired K–12 (044), competency 3
Nemeth Code digits use the same shapes as the letters a through j. Where in the braille cell are they written?Braille Authority of North America, The Nemeth Braille Code for Mathematics and Science Notation 2022, Rule 3.1.2. Written to FTCE Visually Impaired K–12 (044), competency 3
On the ones rod of a Cranmer abacus, the bead above the separation bar and two of the beads below it are set against the bar. What number does the rod show?Teaching Students with Visual Impairments (teachingvisuallyimpaired.com), Abacus Basics. Written to FTCE Visually Impaired K–12 (044), competency 3
Rather than teach topics one by one, a teacher of students with visual impairments builds a thematic unit on farms that ties vocabulary, stories and science lessons together. Which of Lowenfeld's three strategies is this?Teaching Students with Visual Impairments (teachingvisuallyimpaired.com), Guiding Principles of Concept Development. Written to FTCE Visually Impaired K–12 (044), competency 3
To build the concept "pine tree" for a student who is blind, which lesson is a concrete experience in the sense used for concept development?Teaching Students with Visual Impairments (teachingvisuallyimpaired.com), Guiding Principles of Concept Development. Written to FTCE Visually Impaired K–12 (044), competency 3
Assessment and eligibility 7
A functional vision assessment alone gives enough information to find a student eligible. Under Florida's rule, what happens to the learning media assessment and the mobility screening?Florida Administrative Code, Rule 6A-6.03014(3)(e). Written to FTCE Visually Impaired K–12 (044), competency 4
A learning media assessment under Florida's rule ends in recommendations. About what?Florida Administrative Code, Rule 6A-6.03014(3)(c). Written to FTCE Visually Impaired K–12 (044), competency 4
An eye report gives a near acuity marked "OU". What does OU tell the teacher?Wikipedia, Eyeglass prescription, abbreviations and terms. Written to FTCE Visually Impaired K–12 (044), competency 4
At a reevaluation of a student with a visual impairment, Florida's rule calls for a medical report. When may the IEP team waive it?Florida Administrative Code, Rule 6A-6.03014(4)(a). Written to FTCE Visually Impaired K–12 (044), competency 4
Florida's eligibility evaluation for visual impairment needs a medical report with a diagnosis or information about the impairment. Besides an ophthalmologist or an optometrist, which licensed professional may provide it?Florida Administrative Code, Rule 6A-6.03014(3)(a). Written to FTCE Visually Impaired K–12 (044), competency 4
Which assessment in Florida's rule looks at how a student performs daily tasks across a variety of natural environments, to find the factors that influence visual access?Florida Administrative Code, Rule 6A-6.03014(3)(b). Written to FTCE Visually Impaired K–12 (044), competency 4
Who must conduct the orientation and mobility screening that Florida's evaluation for visual impairment includes?Florida Administrative Code, Rule 6A-6.03014(3)(d). Written to FTCE Visually Impaired K–12 (044), competency 4
Expanded core curriculum 8
A seventh grader explains her own visual impairment and what it means for reading the board to a new teacher. Under which of Florida's expanded core standards does that benchmark fall?Florida's State Academic Standards – Special Skills, 2023 (Rule 6A-1.09401, F.A.C.), Expanded Core Competencies, Standard 7. Written to FTCE Visually Impaired K–12 (044), competency 5
A student who cannot see faces is taught to turn toward a speaker, keep a suitable body space and use gestures. Which of Florida's expanded core standards holds this benchmark?Florida's State Academic Standards – Special Skills, 2023 (Rule 6A-1.09401, F.A.C.), Expanded Core Competencies, Standard 6. Written to FTCE Visually Impaired K–12 (044), competency 5
A teacher of the visually impaired works with a tenth grader on writing a legible signature for a job application. Where do Florida's expanded core standards place handwriting and signature writing?Florida's State Academic Standards – Special Skills, 2023 (Rule 6A-1.09401, F.A.C.), Expanded Core Competencies, Standard 1. Written to FTCE Visually Impaired K–12 (044), competency 5
Florida's Expanded Core Competencies standards for visual impairments are arranged as nine standards. Which of these is one of the nine?Florida's State Academic Standards – Special Skills, 2023 (Rule 6A-1.09401, F.A.C.), Expanded Core Competencies, Standards 1 to 9. Written to FTCE Visually Impaired K–12 (044), competency 5
Florida's expanded core standards place career education under a standard named Transition. Which benchmark belongs to it?Florida's State Academic Standards – Special Skills, 2023 (Rule 6A-1.09401, F.A.C.), Expanded Core Competencies, Standard 3. Written to FTCE Visually Impaired K–12 (044), competency 5
How does the American Printing House for the Blind describe the expanded core curriculum?American Printing House for the Blind, Expanded Core Curriculum. Written to FTCE Visually Impaired K–12 (044), competency 5
Once a student is found eligible, Florida's rule has a teacher of the visually impaired conduct a special skills assessment. What does it evaluate?Florida Administrative Code, Rule 6A-6.03014(5)(b). Written to FTCE Visually Impaired K–12 (044), competency 5
Which of these is a benchmark under Independent Living Skills in Florida's expanded core standards?Florida's State Academic Standards – Special Skills, 2023 (Rule 6A-1.09401, F.A.C.), Expanded Core Competencies, Standard 9. Written to FTCE Visually Impaired K–12 (044), competency 5
Literacy media, technology and access 8
A district buys a braille notetaker for a student who is blind. Under IDEA, which of these also counts as an assistive technology service?34 CFR 300.6(e) and (f) (Electronic Code of Federal Regulations). Written to FTCE Visually Impaired K–12 (044), competency 6
A ninth grader with no functional vision needs to use the same laptop as her classmates. Which kind of software fits her?Wikipedia, Screen magnifier, lead; Screen reader, lead. Written to FTCE Visually Impaired K–12 (044), competency 6
A student reads with a strong hand-held magnifier and complains that she sees only a few letters at a time. With optical lenses, what happens to the in-focus field of view as magnification goes up?Wikipedia, Video magnifier, Magnification range and display size. Written to FTCE Visually Impaired K–12 (044), competency 6
A student with low vision keeps losing the edges of a white worksheet on a white desk. Which adaptation raises the contrast?Teaching Students with Visual Impairments (teachingvisuallyimpaired.com), Increase Contrast. Written to FTCE Visually Impaired K–12 (044), competency 6
A teacher of the visually impaired guides a high school student to the cafeteria with the basic human guide technique. Where does the student hold on?Teaching Students with Visual Impairments (teachingvisuallyimpaired.com), Guide Techniques. Written to FTCE Visually Impaired K–12 (044), competency 6
IDEA defines orientation and mobility services as services that enable students who are blind or visually impaired to attain what?34 CFR 300.34(c)(7) (Electronic Code of Federal Regulations). Written to FTCE Visually Impaired K–12 (044), competency 6
Under section 1003.55(5), Florida Statutes, what must the publisher of a state-adopted textbook furnish to the Department of Education?Section 1003.55(5), Florida Statutes (2026). Written to FTCE Visually Impaired K–12 (044), competency 6
Which non-optical device is a matte black frame with a cut-out window that isolates a line of text and reduces glare?Teaching Students with Visual Impairments (teachingvisuallyimpaired.com), Non-Optical Low Vision Devices. Written to FTCE Visually Impaired K–12 (044), competency 6
Instructional strategies 7
A student uses braille materials and extended time in class. Under Florida's rule on statewide assessment, what must be true before she uses them on the state test?Florida Administrative Code, Rule 6A-1.0943(3). Written to FTCE Visually Impaired K–12 (044), competency 7
A student who is blind is learning to pour her own juice. In each lesson she attempts every step of the task analysis, and the teacher prompts only at the steps she cannot yet do alone. Which procedure is this?Wikipedia, Applied behavior analysis, Chaining. Written to FTCE Visually Impaired K–12 (044), competency 7
A teacher first loads paper into a braillewriter while the student follows her hands, then they load it together, then the student loads it alone while she monitors. Which model of explicit instruction is this?Wikipedia, Direct instruction, lead. Written to FTCE Visually Impaired K–12 (044), competency 7
Before lunch a teacher hands a student who is deafblind a spoon, which stands for mealtime. What kind of cue is the spoon?Teaching Students with Visual Impairments (teachingvisuallyimpaired.com), Cues and Prompts. Written to FTCE Visually Impaired K–12 (044), competency 7
In hand-under-hand support, where are the adult's hands?Teaching Students with Visual Impairments (teachingvisuallyimpaired.com), Hand Under Hand Support. Written to FTCE Visually Impaired K–12 (044), competency 7
Sighted classmates learn how the cafeteria line works by watching it. Why does a student who is blind often need the same routine taught directly?Teaching Students with Visual Impairments (teachingvisuallyimpaired.com), Concept Development. Written to FTCE Visually Impaired K–12 (044), competency 7
Which rule for prompting a student with a visual impairment and additional disabilities supports independence?Teaching Students with Visual Impairments (teachingvisuallyimpaired.com), Cues and Prompts. Written to FTCE Visually Impaired K–12 (044), competency 7
How this list was compiled: Our own questions, written to the Competencies and Skills and Blueprint of FTCE Visually Impaired K–12 (044) in the test information guide on the Florida Teacher Certification Examinations website, https://www.fl.nesinc.com/studyguide/FL_SG_obj_044_redev.htm (copyright 2021 State of Florida, Department of State; test page https://www.fl.nesinc.com/testPage.asp?test=044), read 2026-10-15: approximately 80 multiple-choice questions in 2 hours 30 minutes, passing at a scaled score of at least 200, seven competencies weighted 10, 12, 18, 14, 16, 16 and 14 percent. This bank holds 50: 5, 6, 9, 7, 8, 8 and 7. Every fact was read on 2026-10-15 in the public document named under its question: Florida Administrative Code rules 6A-6.03014, 6A-6.03028, 6A-1.0943 and 6A-1.09401 with its Special Skills standards of 2023 on flrules.org; sections 1003.55 and 1002.36 of the 2026 Florida Statutes on leg.state.fl.us; 34 CFR 300.6 and 300.34 on ecfr.gov; The Rules of Unified English Braille (Third Edition 2024) of the International Council on English Braille; The Nemeth Braille Code for Mathematics and Science Notation 2022 of the Braille Authority of North America; pages of the National Eye Institute, the American Printing House for the Blind, the Florida Instructional Materials Center for the Visually Impaired and Teaching Students with Visual Impairments; and Wikipedia articles for terms. Licence: Questions, choices and explanations are original work of this site.
How it works
Fifty questions of our own for FTCE Visually Impaired K–12 (044), weighted like its seven competencies, from Florida's eligibility rule to braille and the abacus. Unofficial: not affiliated with or endorsed by the Florida Department of Education or Pearson.
Read the full guide
What exam 044 weighs
Compensatory skills (braille in UEB, Nemeth Code, the abacus, concept development) are 18% of the test. The expanded core curriculum and literacy media with assistive technology are 16% each, assessment and instructional strategies 14% each, the visual system 12%, foundations and law 10%. The 50 questions here fall 9, 8, 8, 7, 7, 6 and 5.
Florida's rule changed in 2024
Rule 6A-6.03014, amended May 21, 2024, counts any impairment in vision, whatever its severity, that adversely affects educational performance even with correction. Eligibility rests on a medical report, a functional vision assessment, a learning media assessment and an orientation and mobility screening.
The braille questions here give UEB and Nemeth rules in words. The competencies ask you to interpret both codes, so read real braille too.
Florida writes the expanded core curriculum as nine Expanded Core Competencies standards, in its Special Skills standards of 2023.
Questions and answers
How many questions are on the FTCE Visually Impaired K-12 test?
Approximately 80, all multiple choice, in 2 hours 30 minutes of testing time on a computer. The timed exam on this page keeps that pace: 48 questions in 90 minutes.
What is the passing score for the FTCE Visually Impaired test?
The FTCE site gives a scaled score of at least 200. A scaled score is neither a percent nor a number of questions, so no pass mark is shown here.
What is the ECC on the FTCE Visually Impaired test?
The expanded core curriculum: what students who are blind or visually impaired need to learn beyond the standard core curriculum. Competency 5, 16% of the test, covers its areas, among them social, independent living, career, recreation and self-determination skills.