Education and training requirements for Teachers-special educationAll 50 States and the District of Columbia require special education teachers to be licensed. The State board of education or a licensure advisory committee usually grants licenses, and licensure varies by State. In many States, special education teachers receive a general education credential to teach kindergarten through grade 12. These teachers then train in a specialty, such as learning disabilities or behavioral disorders. Some States offer general special education licenses, while others license several different specialties within special education, and still others require teachers to obtain a general education license first and an additional license in special education afterwards. All States require a bachelor�s degree and the completion of an approved teacher preparation program with a prescribed number of subject and education credits and supervised practice teaching. Many States require a master�s degree in special education, involving at least 1 year of additional course work, including a specialization, beyond the bachelor�s degree. Some States have reciprocity agreements allowing special education teachers to transfer their licenses from one State to another, but many still require that the teacher pass licensing requirements for the State in which they work. In the future, employers may recognize certification or standards offered by a national organization. Many colleges and universities across the United States offer programs in special education, at the undergraduate, master�s, and doctoral degree levels. Special education teachers usually undergo longer periods of training than do general education teachers. Most bachelor�s degree programs are 4-year programs that include general and specialized courses in special education. However, an increasing number of institutions are requiring a 5th year or other postbaccalaureate preparation. Among the courses offered are educational psychology, legal issues of special education, and child growth and development; courses imparting knowledge and skills needed for teaching students with disabilities also are given. Some programs require specialization, while others offer generalized special education degrees or a course of study in several specialized areas. The last year of the program usually is spent student teaching in a classroom supervised by a certified teacher. Alternative and emergency licenses are available in many States, due to the need to fill special education teaching positions. Alternative licenses are designed to bring college graduates and those changing careers into teaching more quickly. Requirements for an alternative license may be less stringent than for a regular license. Requirements vary by State. In some programs, individuals begin teaching quickly under a provisional license and can obtain a regular license by teaching under the supervision of licensed teachers for a period of 1 to 2 years while taking education courses. Emergency licenses are granted when States have difficulty finding licensed special education teachers to fill positions. Special education teachers must be patient, able to motivate students, understanding of their students� special needs, and accepting of differences in others. Teachers must be creative and apply different types of teaching methods to reach students who are having difficulty learning. Communication and cooperation are essential traits, because special education teachers spend a great deal of time interacting with others, including students, parents, and school faculty and administrators. Special education teachers can advance to become supervisors or administrators. They may also earn advanced degrees and become instructors in colleges that prepare others to teach special education. In some school systems, highly experienced teachers can become mentors to less experienced ones, providing guidance to those teachers while maintaining a light teaching load. More information on Teachers-special education from The U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook Overview of Teachers-special education occupation Number of Teachers-special education in the U.S. Salary and earnings for Teachers-special education Working conditions for Teachers-special education Significant points for Teachers-special education Training requirements for Teachers-special education Labor Information Home | Occupational data by city | Search Rainforests | Madagascar | What's new |