Special Education Certification | Special Education Teacher

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Special education teachers instruct children and youths who have a number of disabilities. Some special education teachers work with students with severe cases of mental retardation or autism, mainly teaching them basic literacy and important life skills.

• Nature of the Work - The majority of special education teachers educate children with mild to moderate disabilities, utilizing or modifying the general education curriculum to meet the child’s special needs. Many special education teachers educate students at the elementary, middle, and secondary school level, and some work with infants and toddlers.
• Special Education Certification - Several colleges and universities across the United States provide special education programs at the undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral degree levels. Special education teachers generally go through longer periods of training than do general education teachers.
• Licensing - All 50 states and the District of Columbia require special education teachers to have a valid license to teach. The state board of education or a licensure advisory committee typically issues licenses, and licensure differs by state. In some states, special education teachers need a general education credential to teach kindergarten through grade 12. These teachers are usually in a specialty like behavioral disorders and learning disabilities.
  
  

Special Education Certification -
Becoming a Special Education Teacher

A growing number of institutions require a 5th year or other graduate-level preparation. The type of courses offered includes legal issues of special education, educational psychology, child growth and development, and strategies for teaching students with disabilities. Some programs require specialization, while others provide general special education degrees or a curriculum of study in several specialized fields. The last year of the program is typically spent student teaching in a classroom supervised by a certified special education teacher.

All states require a bachelor’s degree and the successful completion of an approved teacher preparation program with a certain number of education and subject credits and supervised student teaching. However, many states also require a master’s degree in special education, with at least 1 year of more course work, including a focus area, beyond the bachelor’s degree. Frequently, a prospective teacher must pass a professional assessment exam as well. Some states have reciprocity agreements that permit special education teachers to transfer their licenses from one state to another, but several others still demand that experienced teachers reapply and meet licensing criteria to work in the state.


Special Education Certification - Graduate - Job Outlook

In 2006, special education teachers held a total of approximately 459,000 jobs. Almost all were employed in private and public educational institutions. A small number worked for residential facilities, individual and social assistance agencies, or in hospital or homebound environments.

Employment of special education teachers is projected to rise faster than average. Job prospects should be very good as many districts report difficulty finding sufficient numbers of qualified special education teachers.

The number of special education teachers is projected to rise by 15 percent from 2006 to 2016, faster than the average for all careers. Although student enrollments are generally anticipated to increase slowly, continued increases in the number of special education students requiring quality services will create a greater demand for special education teachers.

In addition to position openings resulting from growth, a large number of positions will open up as a result of the need to replace special education teachers who begin teaching general education, switch careers altogether, or retire. Also, many school districts report trouble finding adequate numbers of qualified teachers. Consequently, special education teachers should have very good job opportunities available.


Special Education Certification - Graduates - Earnings Statistics

In May 2006, the Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, reports the average annual incomes of wage-and-salary special education teachers who worked primarily in preschools, kindergartens, and elementary schools were $46,250. The middle 50 percent made between $37,500 and $59,250. The bottom 10 percent made less than $31,250, and the top 10 percent earned more than $73,500.

Average annual incomes of wage-and-salary middle school special education teachers were $47,650. The middle 50 percent made between $38,450 and $61,500. The bottom 10 percent made less than $32,500, and the top 10 percent made more than $80,000.

Average annual incomes of wage-and-salary special education teachers who worked mainly in secondary schools were $48,250. The middle 50 percent made between $38,750 and $62,500. The bottom 10 percent made less than $32,750, and the top 10 percent made more than $78,000.

Related Occupations: Special education teachers work with students who have special needs and disabilities. Other careers involved with the identification, evaluation, and development of students with disabilities are social workers, psychologists, speech-language pathologists, counselors, recreational therapists, teacher assistants, audiologists, occupational therapists, and preschool, kindergarten, elementary, middle, and secondary teachers.


Special Education Certification - Colleges - Universities

There are an excellent number of choices for an online Special Education Certification. Online colleges and universities now provide the same curriculum as the traditional education. Learning online provides you with so much more flexibility to suit your lifestyle and current employment. We include our top recommendations for Special Education Certification.


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