Navigating the Path to Becoming a Special Education Teacher: License Requirements and Career Overview

A special education teacher, often referred to as a SPED teacher, plays a crucial role in the lives of students with special needs. These educators are dedicated to instructing students of all ages who have emotional, physical, and learning disabilities. The foundation for special education programs was established in 1975 with the Education for All Handicapped Children Act, now known as the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. This legislation underscores the commitment to providing tailored education to meet the unique needs of every student.

The Role of a Special Education Teacher

Special education teachers are responsible for modifying the general education curriculum to ensure that each student's individual needs are met. They work with students from infancy through adulthood. They help students develop problem-solving, motor, and social skills, and prepare them to complete their education and live independently. Their responsibilities include developing lesson plans, assigning activities, grading assignments and tests, tracking student progress, and meeting with parents to discuss their child’s abilities and challenges.

The individualized instruction and curriculum are what set special education apart from standard education. Special education teachers work with a wide range of students with various disabilities at the elementary, middle, or secondary school levels, in both public and private schools. They often collaborate with general education teachers to identify and assess students who may have disabilities or special needs.

In a general education classroom, the special education teacher's job is to adapt lessons to fit the needs of each child, and these adaptations are included in a student’s Individualized Education Program (IEP). IEPs are important because what may be an effective teaching approach for one student may not work for another. IEPs involve collaboration with parents and other instructors to determine what a special education student needs to learn, how to teach them, and the best process forward to meet their educational needs.

Educational Requirements and Certification

Degree Programs

Most special education teachers earn a degree in education or special education. Credential requirements for special ed teachers vary between public and private schools. Most jobs among both types of institutions require a focused special education degree whether at the bachelor’s or master’s level. Private schools require a bachelor’s degree but don’t always require certification. Completing a student teaching internship in a special education classroom is typically a requirement.

Read also: Find Remote Special Education Jobs

For those who already have a bachelor's degree in any field and want to become licensed to teach special education, a Master of Education program in special education with a concentration in teacher certification is an option. This type of program builds on connections between educational design and decision-making and is designed to foster strong professional growth and leadership development.

State-Specific Examples: Arizona and Minnesota

Arizona: Arizona offers two routes to teacher certification: traditional and alternative.

Traditional Certification Route: Students can pursue single certification in special education for mild/moderate disabilities, or dual certification in special education for mild/moderate levels and elementary education.
- For single certification, students complete two internships and student teaching, earning an institutional recommendation from ASU recognized by the Arizona Department of Education.
- For dual certification, students complete two internships (one in elementary and one in special education) and two eight-week student teaching experiences (one in special education and one in an elementary school setting). Dual certification graduates earn an institutional recommendation from ASU recognized by the Arizona Department of Education for teacher certification in Mild/Moderate Disabilities, K-12, and Elementary Education, K-8.
Alternative Certification Route: Individuals employed full-time by a school as a teacher of record can pursue this route, leading to single certification in special education for mild/moderate disabilities. To qualify, individuals must secure a full-time teaching position in an approved special education setting; dual certification is not an option.

Minnesota: The Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) oversees public and charter school services. An education or special education major is the preferred course of study. Graduate degrees in education or special education must include the coursework in pedagogy necessary to qualify for Minnesota licensure. If you already have a general education credential, you can take additional special education courses to add one of several special education licenses to your existing license.

The MDE’s Educator Licensing Division provides information on the types of licenses issued in Minnesota and the requirements for obtaining them. Individuals who have graduated from an accredited teacher preparation program can apply for a First-Time Full Professional Minnesota Education License. Graduates holding a bachelor’s degree or higher in a relevant academic area, but who have not completed a teacher preparation program, might be eligible for a Limited Full Time License, but only in an academic area or grade level deemed as having a shortage of qualified teachers. The MDE’s licensing webpage provides a link to a list of current teacher shortage areas. Applying for a Limited Intern certificate requires coordination between the school district and the candidate’s current university. The MDE offers several types of special education licenses. For information about approved special education programs and certificates that qualify teachers to work in special needs settings, see this organization’s special education licensure webpage.

Reciprocity

Applicants who were trained or licensed in another state or who hold a valid credential can qualify for reciprocity, but with a few stipulations. All certificates earned must be from regionally-accredited institutions that include content comparable to that provided by Minnesota certification programs. The candidate must also have completed student teaching experience. Candidates who do not meet all of these requirements for a reciprocal five-year license may still qualify for a limited license. Applicants from outside the United States must submit transcripts, as well as proof of training and degrees awarded, to a professional evaluation service to determine equivalency of experience before they can apply for a teaching license.

Alternative Certification Pathways

Alternative certification is a tricky process in Minnesota. The MDE used to have an alternative pathway to certification involving portfolio submission, but, as of May 2013, this program has been suspended for new applicants. In 2011, the state passed a law allowing highly-qualified instructors who obtained their licenses through alternative certification programs in other states to work in high-need classrooms in Minnesota, but the MDE has yet to create a way for them to apply for licensure. Teach for America Twin Cities is one of the few alternative programs in Minnesota, placing candidates in intense, short preparation programs before releasing them to work with mentors and support in high-need Minnesota schools.

Missouri has several methods for an individual to enter the education profession with a “certificate of license to teach.” The following routes are available:

Traditional route: An individual completes a four-year, college-recommended course of study that starts either in a four-year institution or a two-year community college teacher education program, does student teaching, passes the designated assessment test, graduates with a bachelor’s degree in a field of education and is issued an initial certificate. An alternate option is available for those who have completed a traditional route towards certification, but are unable to pass the final designated assessment test. This option includes a superintendent’s recommendation for initial certification. It was signed into law in June 2022 (Section 168.021, RSMO).
Alternative route: An individual with a bachelor’s degree returns to a college of education for an alternative certification program of study that may enable him/her to take courses and teach simultaneously. The teacher may teach on a two-year, provisional certificate and usually completes about 30 semester hours. When the college program is completed and the designated assessment passed, the college makes a recommendation and the individual receives an initial professional certificate. Some of these programs are offered via distance learning, some programs offer a master’s degree plus certification, and some offer only the certification.
Temporary Authorization route: An individual with a bachelor’s degree in a content area (such as mathematics or English) takes self-directed courses - a minimum of 24 college credits (varies for different areas) to meet specified competencies, teaches for two years, is mentored by the school district, and passes at least two exit examinations. The individual works under a one-year, renewable certificate that requires nine semester hours of college credit each year in order to be renewed. When requirements are completed, the individual receives an initial certificate. The individual receives an initial certificate. It was signed into law in May 2008 (Section 168.021, RSMo).
Teachers of Tomorrow: An individual with a bachelor’s degree can complete a program of study from Teachers of Tomorrow and be certified. The individual receives an initial certificate. It was signed into law in August of 2025 (Section 168.021, RSMo).

Career Outlook and Salary

Like other teaching jobs, the salary for special ed teachers 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.

Resources and Professional Development

Minnesota-Specific Resources

The MDE supports and hosts a range of workshops and training programs for educators.

Assistive Technology Listserv: This MDE listserv allows educators, parents, and other community members to post questions and comments regarding MDE’s rapidly-expanding assistive technology program.

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