If you are a certified teacher, you can add special education certification to your current certificate. Special education teachers work with students who have learning, mental, emotional, and physical disabilities. They work with students of all ages in a variety of settings.
You can start by getting additional training or education to help you teach students with special needs. This is a good option if you’ve already earned your teaching license but want to specialize in special education. You may be able to complete this training on its own or as part of an advanced degree program for teachers.
You can also take courses so you can obtain your initial teaching license and add-on certification in special education at the same time. This is a good option if you don’t have any certification as a teacher yet but want to work with students who have special needs. These programs often allow you to complete both the teaching certification and special education certification at the same time, but they may not be available in every state.
Finally, if you’re already certified as a teacher in another subject area and you want to switch over to special education, some states allow you to do so without any additional training or coursework as long as you have enough experience working with students who have disabilities.
Earning a special education certificate is also a great way to get into teaching if you’re not sure which age group or particular subject area you want to work with. Many states will allow you to hold an elementary or secondary education certification along with a certificate in special education.
So how do you add this special certification onto your existing teaching license? This guide will walk you through the basics of what it takes to become an educator who works with students who have various learning challenges.
In most states, a special education endorsement requires that you hold an active teaching license and complete additional coursework and student teaching hours as specified by state guidelines. Some states also require that you pass an exam based on the content of the courses you’ve taken.
The amount of time it takes to earn a Special Education Certification depends on the state where you live, as well as your current status as a certified teacher. Obtaining this certification may take one year or several years depending on your current status and whether you attend school part-time or full-time.
The requirements to add special education certification vary by state. Requirements usually include specific coursework and practicum experience. You may earn a special education certificate or endorsement once you meet the requirements and apply for the certification or endorsement through your state’s department of education.
If you have a certification in special education, it may be possible to add additional areas of certification to your teaching license. All states require that a teacher completes additional coursework in the area of special education. Once you complete that coursework, you can apply for the endorsement on your license.
Ensure that your current teaching license is valid and active before you begin the process of adding an endorsement. The requirements to become a special education teacher vary from state to state, but all teachers must have at least a bachelor’s degree and a teaching certificate or license.