How to Become a Special Education Teacher in 3 Steps

Some kids need extra assistance to reach their full potential, so it pays to know how to become a special education teacher if you want to help those students. Teaching special education students is an vital role in educational institutions ranging from public to private schools.

However, understanding how to become a special education teacher means grasping the educational and licensure requirements needed to qualify for open positions. Let’s break down how to become a special education teacher in detail.

Article Navigation:What is a Special Education Teacher? | Types of Special Education Teachers | Skills | Career Path | How to Become a Special Education Teacher | Required Education | Program Selection | Curriculum | Student Teaching | Certification Test | State Requirements | Reciprocity | Teaching Endorsements | Career Information | Organizations & Resources | FAQs | Conclusion

What is a Special Education Teacher?

In a nutshell, being a special education teacher means working with students with special educational needs. These can include students with mild intellectual disabilities or more severe disabilities or conditions, such as autism spectrum disorder, ADHD, Down’s Syndrome, or other needs.

How to be a special education teacher requires adapting the lessons and subject matter taught to other students to provide special ed students with an education. They work in public and private schools alike. Depending on their specialization and/or training, some special ed educators teach basic skills to students with severe disabilities, such as how to read, speak respectfully, and do basic arithmetic.

Special education, it should be noted, is not the same as gifted education. Although, teachers can specialize in either special or gifted education. Gifted education is the teaching of students who are above average in their academic abilities. These students may require specialized programs to meet their accelerated pace of learning or to challenge them academically.

What is a SpEd teacher?

A SpEd teacher is a special education teacher. “SpEd” is just an acronym used to shorten the title.

Types of Special Education Teachers

There are several types of special education teachers. These include:

• Teachers who educate particular age groups, like elementary students
• Special ed teachers who educate in resource rooms, offering occasional support to students with mild special ed needs
• Those who educate in integrated classrooms that include both traditional and special needs students
• Special needs classroom teachers, educate special needs students in classrooms with special accommodations

However, how to be a special education teacher is the same: provide support to students who need additional guidance in the education system.

Special Education Teacher Skills

How to be a special education teacher successfully requires education, communication skills, and experience. Special education teachers must have both traditional and specialized educational skills. For example, all teachers of special needs kids have to be patient, kind-hearted, and organized.

Furthermore, special ed teachers need to have excellent communication and presentation skills. That’s because they need to adapt their communication style to each individual student’s learning needs. This ability allows the students to grasp concepts entirely that they find difficult.

Generally, the best special ed teachers have prior teaching experience. This experience refines the skills of a special education teacher. They know how to organize classroom lesson plans and adapt them for special needs students.

Is Special Education the Right Career Path?

It can be difficult to know if being a special education teacher is the ideal career path for you. Check out this overview of what a special education teacher’s professional path includes and requires.

How to Become a Special Education Teacher

Want to know how to become a special education teacher step-by-step? There are three basic steps you must fulfill to meet the requirements to become a special education teacher. Becoming a special education teacher is similar to the steps needed to become a teacher.

Step 1 – Bachelor’s Degree

First, you need to acquire a bachelor’s degree in education. Generally, it’s best to get your degree with a concentration in special ed teaching.

Step 2 – Student Teaching Experience

Next, you’ll need to acquire student teaching experience. This involves working in real classrooms (often educating both traditional and special ed students) and being graded on your performance by proctors or viewers. Most education degrees include student teaching experience requirements for students to graduate.

Step 3 – Take the Certification Test

Lastly, you’ll need to take your state’s certification test(s) to acquire a special education teaching license.

Special Education Degree Requirements

To become a special education teacher you must have a bachelor's degree at minimum. You can earn your degree online and still qualify for special ed teaching positions, provided that you complete a practicum or student teaching hours as well (see more below).

Typical Education Path

A typical educational path for a special ed teacher requires a bachelor’s degree. The bachelor’s degree needs to be in education or, if possible, special education specifically. Many education bachelor’s degrees allow you to concentrate the degree in special ed; such a path will include special ed-specific courses, such as how to instruct special needs students, how to construct special ed lesson plans, etc.

While you can major in another area, doing so means you’ll need to complete a state-approved educator prep program or internship before qualifying for state licensure exams. It’s faster and more efficient to complete a bachelor’s degree in education or special ed, as these programs include the practicum/student teaching hours as special education degree requirements.

Is a Master’s Degree in Special Education Necessary?

You can alternatively complete a master's in special education. A master’s degree further allows you to specialize your education. It also qualifies you for many special ed teaching positions around the country. It may be wise to pursue a master’s in special education if you already have a bachelor’s degree in another subject, like psychology.

However, a master’s degree is not necessary to become a special education teacher. Similarly, doctoral degrees in special education are not required to become a special education teacher. However, both master’s and doctoral degrees in special education can open up further career opportunities in administration and teaching people how to become special education teachers.

Doctorate in Special Education

Similarly, doctoral degrees in special education are not required to become a special education teacher. However, both master’s and doctoral degrees in special education can open up further career opportunities in administration and teaching people how to become special education teachers. Generally, those with postgraduate degrees take on administrative work or design curricula for other teachers, so it will be less likely you’ll be teaching in the classroom. Therefore, becoming a Doctor in Special Education could be a good terminal position for the end of your career.

Online Special Education Teacher Certification Programs: How to Choose

CAEP Accreditation

There are many special education teaching programs you can pursue. However, you should only choose a program accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educational Professionals or CAEP.

This accrediting organization is the most respected and well known accrediting body for teacher prep programs around the country. You’ll only qualify for most special ed teacher positions if your degree is CAEP-accredited.

Accreditation is important because it shows that a given program is rigorous and academically modern enough to be worthwhile for you and future employers.

Online vs. On-Campus

Before attending a specific school, you should consider whether the program is available online or on campus. Online special education teacher certification programs are flexible and allow you to complete most or all of your work asynchronously or on your own schedule. But you will be required to connect with a local school to complete your student teaching hours.

In-person or on-campus programs offer different benefits, such as networking more directly with peers and professors. Furthermore, on-campus programs allow you to complete your student teaching practice hours at local schools that may know your university.

Whether your program is in person or online, you may have a different learning experience. For example, an online special education teacher certification program will likely involve little face-to-face interaction. You’ll complete most of your work on your own schedule, then attend student teaching hours toward the end of your degree program.

In contrast, an in-person program will involve sitting for lectures, interacting more with fellow students and professors, and so on. Both methods result in a well-rounded, comprehensive education. Still one or another may be ideal depending on your needs or location.

Cost & Financial Aid

Remember to consider cost and financial aid when attending a special education teacher program. The average cost of a bachelor’s degree is $35,551 per year. Most bachelor’s degrees take four years to complete, so you could end up paying well over $100,000 for your education. If you already have a master’s, consider an online EdS in special education, which can cost less than $10,000.

If a special education teacher program is available at a lower cost (while still being accredited and highly reviewed) or if it is available with financial aid opportunities, like grants and scholarships, it may be worthwhile to attend that program to minimize your financial burden.

Other Factors to Consider

Lastly, remember to consider other factors, such as whether the school in question has excellent student support resources. These factors can help you break a tie between two similar programs and choose the best school for your unique needs.

Curriculum for a Special Education Degree Program

A standard curriculum for a special education degree program involves selecting special ed as your major while also choosing a minor in a topic like speech pathology, social justice, or education. In any case, you’ll complete a variety of courses on topics such as:

• Lesson plan creation
• Communicating with special needs students
• Communicating with parents
• Specialized teaching methodologies and techniques

Special Education Student Teaching Requirements

Completing a degree also involves completing student teaching practice or practicum hours. Student teaching consists of  teaching real-life students in a real classroom while a proctor observes and monitors your progress.

Student teaching is required to become a special education teacher unless you already have some experience as a professional educator. Most education and special education programs include student teaching hours or credits as part of their curriculums. The purpose of student teaching is to give you practice in a real classroom environment before you apply to special ed teaching positions.

Every state has different licensure and student teaching practice hour requirements. However, most states require between 400 and 600 hours of student teaching experience before you qualify to sit for state licensure exams.

Alternatives to Student Teaching

As noted, you may not need to take student teaching practice hours if you already have some experience as a professional educator. However, you may still need to complete a state-approved special education degree or certification program depending on your state’s requirements.

Special Education Teacher Certification

Once you have the required degree and student teaching hours under your belt, you’ll only be able to become a special ed teacher if you pass your state’s special ed teaching certification test. The special education teacher certification test qualifies you to work as a special ed teacher in your state. It’s similar to, but different from, the standard teaching certification tests for other educators.

Depending on your state, you may be required to take a generalized special ed teaching certification test called the Professional Teaching Knowledge exam or PTK exam. The test is taken on a computer and consists of 100 multiple-choice questions with a writing component.

After that, aspiring special ed teachers must pass the American Board Special Education exam. This computerized exam must be taken at a Pearson VUE testing center. Next is the American Board Elementary Education exam, which has the same testing requirements.

You must pass all three of these exams to receive your special ed certification in most states. As a result of passing the exams, you’ll receive an ABCTE certification in Special Education from the American Board.

Meeting Your State’s Special Education Requirements for Licensing

However, your state may have different requirements for special education certification. Most states have specific tests that aspiring special ed teachers must complete to receive state licensure. Other states may required a special education endorsement (more on that below) or a certificate in special education. Both endorsements and certificates are for licensed teachers who want to specialize in special education. They don’t require as much time to obtain as a degree in special education.

For example, how to become a special education teacher in California requires that you:

• Obtain a state-approved baccalaureate degree
• Satisfy a basic skills requirement
• Satisfy a subject matter competence requirement
• Pass the RICA or Reading Instruction Competence Assessment
• Complete a course or pass an exam on the U.S. Constitution
• Complete a Commission-approved Education Specialist Instruction Credential program
• Complete a Commission-approved teacher induction program and submit your application through your program sponsor
• Get a National Board of Professional Teaching Standards certification

Meanwhile, how to become a special education teacher in Texas looks like this:

• Complete a state-approved baccalaureate college program
• Pass a special education TExES exam and Core Subjects Exam for your chosen grade level
• Complete an Internship Year or the first year of your teaching experience. This year is completed with an assigned Field Supervisor who has experience teaching special ed students

What is Reciprocity?

What if you want to move states after acquiring licensure to teach special needs students in your current state? Most states offer some level of reciprocity: a concept that enables you to transfer your license or qualifications from one state to another.

For instance, if you pass the special education certification exam to teach special needs students in Texas, you may be able to “count” that exam toward teaching special needs students in Oklahoma. Not all states have the same reciprocity requirements or qualifications, however. Do your research before moving to see what exams, programs, or other qualifications you may need to complete or fulfill before acquiring your new state’s licensure.

Special Education Teaching Endorsements

One of the best ways to advance your career and qualify for higher-paying special ed teaching positions is to acquire teaching endorsements. Teaching endorsements are educational certifications that showcase your skills, knowledge, or experience in a specific area, like speech pathology, special needs lesson plan creation, and so on.

Endorsements can effectively show that you are ready to teach special ed students if you are already a general educator. For example, suppose you already have your teaching degree and some years of teaching experience. In that case, you can acquire a special ed teaching endorsement and complete a state-approved special ed qualification or certification program before sitting for your required exams.

However, teaching endorsements are only sometimes needed to become a special education teacher from scratch.

Getting a Job as a Special Education Teacher

Let’s break down what you can expect in your career as a special ed teacher.

Special Education Teacher Salary

The average annual salary for special ed teachers is $61,820. This is similar to the average salary for standard high school or middle school teachers. Like these other educational professionals, special ed teachers can earn significantly more; the highest 10% of special ed teachers earn over $100,000 per year.

Generally, you can improve your salary by earning teaching endorsements, gaining experience, obtaining a master's degree, and staying with the same school for longer to acquire tenure.

Projected Growth

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, special education teacher employment should grow by 4% until 2031. That’s around as fast as the average growth rate for other occupations. In other words, if you have the right credentials, you should be able to find employment as a special education teacher easily. There should be many special education employment opportunities for elementary special education teachers, middle school special education teachers, and high school special education teachers.

Furthermore, some school districts or areas are in dire need of special ed teachers. They may be willing to attract qualified special ed teachers with higher salaries or other benefits. Jobs for special education teachers are more common in low-pay areas, such as inner cities.

Professional Organizations & Resources

Check out these professional organizations and resources as you continue your journey to becoming a special education teacher.

• Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation
• American Board for Certification of Teacher Excellence
• National Association of Special Education Teachers
• Council for Exceptional Children
• National Organization on Disability
• National Center for Learning Disabilities
• Council for Learning Disabilities
• Association of Positive Behavior Supports
• International Association for Special Education

FAQs

What do you need to be a special ed teacher

To be a special ed teacher, you must have a state-approved bachelor’s or master’s degree in education or special education. You must also have completed between 200-400 student teaching practice hours, and pass your state’s special education teaching licensure test.

How to become a special education teacher with a psychology degree

You can become a special education teacher with a psychology degree if you then earn a master’s degree in special education and complete a student teaching internship in a special ed classroom. You’ll then need to complete more student teaching requirements (if applicable), take your state’s special ed teaching licensure test, apply for your license, and then apply to open positions.

How do I get a special education license?

You can get a special education license by passing your state’s special ed teacher certification exam.

What is the average salary of a special education teacher?

The average salary of a special ed teacher is $61,820 per year. However, the highest potential special education teacher salary is usually around $100,000 annually. The highest-paid special education teacher jobs are available to those with the most experience teaching special education or the most time at a given school.

What is the burnout rate for special education teachers?

According to resources, the burnout rate for special education teachers can be as high as 25% per year.

Become a Special Education Teacher Today!

To summarize, you know how to become a special education teacher and can use this knowledge to search for the best online teaching program. GetEducated has a host of excellent resources to find the perfect online special ed teacher program for your needs. Check out our resources today!