Navigating the Path: Special Education Teacher Degree Requirements
Special education teachers play a vital role in shaping the lives of students with diverse learning needs. They are dedicated professionals who adapt general education lessons and teach various subjects, such as reading, writing, and math, to students with mild and moderate disabilities. This article provides a comprehensive overview of the degree requirements for becoming a special education teacher, touching upon various aspects of this rewarding career.
The Role of a Special Education Teacher
A special education teacher (or SPED teacher) instructs students who have special needs. These teachers work with children of all ages who have special needs, adapting general education lessons and teaching various subjects, such as reading, writing, and math, to students with mild and moderate disabilities. Created for students of all ages with emotional, physical, and learning disabilities, special education programs were signed into law in 1975 after Congress passed the Education for All Handicapped Children Act, now known as the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.
In order to promote and manage the growth of their students (from infants to adults), special education teachers modify the general education curriculum to make sure each student’s individual needs are met. They help students develop the problem-solving, motor, and social skills they’ll need to complete their education and live independently.
Similar to other teachers, special ed teachers create lesson plans, assign activities, and grade assignments and tests. They also keep track of student progress and meet with parents to discuss their child’s abilities and challenges. The individualized instruction and curriculum distinguish special education from standard education.
Special education teachers are responsible for instructing a broad range of students (infants to adults) with a broad range of disabilities and work at the elementary, middle, or secondary school level at public or private schools.
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Special ed instructors often work with general education teachers in identifying and assessing students who may have disabilities or special needs. The job of a special ed teacher in a general education classroom is to adjust the general lessons to fit the needs of each child. These adaptations are included in a student’s Individualized Education Program (IEP). IEPs are crucial because what may be an effective teaching approach for one student may not work for another. IEPs involve working with parents and other instructors to know what a special education student needs to learn, how to teach them, and the best process forward to meet their educational needs.
Educational Foundation: Bachelor's Degree
Pursuing a career in special education begins with obtaining the right education. A bachelor's degree is the minimum requirement for becoming a special education teacher, with many aspiring educators opting for a degree emphasis in special education or autism spectrum disorder (ASD). For those drawn to working with young children but aiming for a career in special education, the Bachelor of Arts in Early Childhood Education (ECE) is an option, though it's not specialized for this field.
At the bachelor's level, programs like ECE often focus on broader aspects of child development, emphasizing how teaching practices need to adapt to accommodate the emotional, social, and physical needs of young learners. These programs offer valuable experiences through fieldwork and practicums with a more generalized scope.
Relevant Coursework
In a program leading to a bachelor’s degree in special education, prospective teachers learn about the different types of disabilities and how to present information so that students will understand. Programs typically include a student-teaching program, in which prospective teachers work with a mentor and get experience instructing students in a classroom setting.
Student Teaching Internship
Complete a student teaching internship in a special education classroom. This provides aspiring teachers with the opportunity to apply theoretical knowledge in real-world settings and develop essential skills under the guidance of a cooperating special education teacher.
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Advanced Studies: Master's Degree and Specializations
In the realm of teaching, a bachelor's degree serves as a foundational step preceding a master's degree, where specialization becomes important. To venture into special education, a master's degree in one of the specialized areas is required.
Advanced degrees are the primary pathway to becoming a special education teacher. There are a variety of master's programs available, some with a specific emphasis on special education, and different specializations within special education.
Specialization Options
- Mild/Moderate Disabilities: Focuses on strategies for teaching students with learning disabilities, mild intellectual disabilities, and emotional/behavioral disorders.
- Emotional/Behavioral Disorders: Equips teachers with techniques for managing challenging behaviors and creating supportive learning environments.
- Severe Disabilities: Prepares teachers to work with students who have significant cognitive and physical disabilities, often requiring intensive support.
- Gifted Education: Provides educators with the skills to identify and challenge gifted students, fostering their intellectual growth.
- Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD): Offers specialized knowledge and strategies for teaching students with autism, addressing their unique learning styles and needs.
Mississippi Example
At the graduate level, the University of Southern Mississippi’s master’s degree in special education allows students to choose elective coursework which leads to Mississippi teaching certification in Mild/Moderate Disabilities, Emotional/Behavior Disorders, Severe Disabilities or Gifted Education.
Certification and Licensure
All states require special education teachers in public schools to have at least a bachelor's degree. Some require teachers to earn a degree specifically in special education. All states require teachers in public schools to be licensed in the specific grade level that they teach. A license frequently is referred to as a certification.
State-Specific Requirements: Mississippi
According to the Mississippi Department of Education (MDE), aspiring teachers qualify for an initial Class A License if they have at least a bachelor’s degree that includes teacher education coursework from an accredited university program. These candidates must also pass state-mandated exams. Graduates who hold a master’s degree from an accredited institution in education, special education or the area of expertise in which they plan to teach qualify for a Class AA License. Those with post-graduate degrees and specialist endorsements meet MDE criteria for a Class AAA License, while candidates with doctorate degrees in relevant subject areas can obtain a Class AAAA License.
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As mentioned above, the MDE grants four classes of Educator Licensure depending upon the academic experience of the candidate. Regardless of class, this license is valid for five years and granted to candidates who have completed all teacher preparation requirements. The MDE issues several Special Five Year Educator Licenses for special educators, including Audiologist, Dyslexia Therapy, Emotional Disability, Psychometrist, Special Education Birth-Kindergarten and Speech/Language Clinician. In addition, several types of licenses are awarded to candidates who pursue alternative routes to certification.
Alternative Routes to Certification
All states offer an alternative route to certification or licensure for people who already have a bachelor’s degree. These alternative programs cover teaching methods and child development. Candidates are awarded full certification after they complete the program. Other alternative programs require prospective teachers to take classes in education before they can start to teach.
Mississippi Example
Aspiring teachers in Mississippi have several routes toward alternative licensure, including: Candidates in the Master of Arts in Teaching program receive alternative licensure after completing six graduate hours of MDE-approved pre-teaching coursework. They then complete additional credit hours and an internship.
Reciprocity
The MDE grants reciprocity to candidates who earned their licenses out of state, with a few stipulations. Candidates must hold a valid, standard credential in an area in which Mississippi awards endorsement, and must meet all criteria for in-state licensed educators or make up any deficiencies through state pedagogical exams, content area exams and coursework. Depending upon their qualifications, the MDE issues a Five Year Reciprocity License or a Two Year Reciprocity License. Applicants with foreign credentials and experience must meet the same criteria as those who apply from out of state, with the additional step of sending documentation of their credentials to a professional evaluation agency that can translate all information and analyze it for equivalency with Mississippi requirements.
California Example
In California, obtaining a special education teaching credential, also known as an Education Specialist credential, is a necessary step in the journey to becoming a special education teacher. The process begins with passing either the California Basic Educational Skills Test (CBEST) or the California Subject Examinations for Teachers (CSET), depending on the age level of children you would like to teach.
In order to receive your Education Specialist Preliminary Credential, you must complete a Commission on Teaching Credentialing-approved Education Specialist Credential program in a specialty area. The program should include coursework related to English language skills and the diagnosis of developmental delays, technology use in the classroom, and health education and CPR. You will also be evaluated through the Teaching Performance Assessment (TPA) for Mild to Moderate and Extensive Support Needs students.
Once the Preliminary Credential is obtained, special education teachers are expected to complete an induction program, which provides support and mentorship for new teachers. Education Specialists must also work through Level II special education content, which is often part of California's teaching preparation programs. Special education teachers in California may also need to obtain additional authorizations or credentials, depending on their area of specialization.
Indiana Examples of Alternative Licenses
- Alternative Special Education License: The Alternative Special Education License is available as of July 1, 2022, for applicants who hold a bachelor’s degree and who are enrolled in a post-baccalaureate approved alternative preparation program for initial special education licensure or for a special education addition to an existing license. An application for this license must be submitted through the applicant’s online LVIS account. Applicants for this license must be employed in Indiana as a classroom teacher in the special education area of the preparation program. This license is also available to applicants who hold a bachelor’s degree, are employed in Indiana as a special education teacher, and have completed an approved special education licensure program but require additional time to pass the required licensure tests. The new Alternative Special Education License is valid for three years and is non-renewable. Holders of this alternative license are eligible to serve as the Teacher of Record (TOR) in the area displayed on the license.
- American Board (ABCTE) Alternative Licensure: The American Board (ABCTE) program is available to individuals who already hold a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution. School employers of novice Professional Educator License holders under this program must submit a plan to the DOE detailing how they will provide supervision and opportunities for exposure to classroom management and instructional techniques, including meaningful exposure to special education, during the first year of full-time employment.
Indiana Advanced Degree Option
The Office of Educator Licensing now offers a licensing option to individuals who have an advanced degree. By statute, instructional licenses issued under the advanced degree option are available only at the secondary (middle school and high school) grade levels. Applicants must meet the following criteria to be eligible for a license using the advanced degree option:
- Hold a master’s degree or higher from a regionally accredited postsecondary educational institution in the subject content area in which the applicant seeks to be licensed.
- Verify at least one (1) academic year of experience teaching students in a middle school, high school or college classroom setting. Substitute teaching experiences will not count.
- Successfully complete the content area testing corresponding to the major of the advanced degree and the secondary pedagogy test (Indiana Praxis, Principles of Learning & Teaching test #5624).
- Valid CPR certification from an IDOE approved provider.
Career and Technical Education (CTE) content areas (Agriculture, Business and Information Technology, Family and Consumer Sciences, Health Science, Marketing, and Trade and Industrial Areas) also require documentation of 4000 hours of related non-teaching industry work experience.
Essential Skills and Qualities
Becoming a successful special education teacher requires a unique set of skills. Cultivating these skills is an ongoing process that requires dedication, reflection, and a commitment to professional growth. Special education teachers must be lifelong learners, continually seeking out opportunities to enhance their knowledge and abilities.
- Communication: Strong communication skills are crucial for explaining concepts in ways that meet the individual needs of students. Special education teachers need to be able to explain concepts in terms students with learning disabilities can understand.
- Critical-thinking: As a special education teacher, you must be able to solve problems as they arise throughout the school day.
- Empathy and patience: Special education teachers must exhibit high levels of empathy and patience, understanding the unique challenges faced by each student. Without patience, you cannot thrive as a special ed teacher. Students with special needs often have unique challenges and learning paces.
- Data management: The ability to organize and analyze educational data helps in tracking student progress and adapting teaching methods.
- Interpersonal skills: Special education teachers work regularly with a team of educators and the student’s parents to develop IEPs.
- Resourcefulness: Special education teachers must develop different ways to present information that meet their students’ needs.
Job Outlook and Salary
The overall need for special education teachers is expected to remain stable through 2032, with an average 33,500 job openings each year. All of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to other occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
Special education teachers earn an average salary that depends mostly on education and experience. Special education teachers typically work in elementary or high schools. The skill set needed for each is slightly different. Special education teachers can also make upwards of $90,000, whereas the cap for general education teachers is $79,230.
The median annual wage for special education teachers was $64,270 in May 2024. The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. These estimates are available for the nation as a whole, for individual states, and for metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas.
Professional Development
Experienced teachers may advance to become mentors who help less experienced teachers improve their instructional skills. Teachers may become school counselors, instructional coordinators, and elementary, middle, and high school principals. These positions generally require additional education, an advanced degree, or certification.
Mississippi Example
Mississippi State University coordinates several programs and resources that provide continuing education units to working special education teachers. The Mississippi Association of Educators offers seminars and resources for working professionals. Members of Mississippi Professional Educators can take advantage of intensive trainings and workshops that prepare leaders in education and special education.
Professional Groups
The state teacher’s union, the Mississippi Association of Educators (MAE), advocates for its membership of public school employees, retired public educators and students in teacher preparation programs. MDE’s Special Education Advisory Panel, mandated by the federal government, meets to interpret special education policy and advise the Office of Special Education on its proper implementation. The Mississippi Council for Exceptional Children advocates on behalf of children and youth with disabilities. The Arc of Mississippi organizes programs and events focused on inclusion of individuals with disabilities. Disability Rights Mississippi is an advocacy group focused on the interpretation and implementation of laws protecting Mississippi’s citizens who have disabilities.
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