SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHER CERTIFICATION

There is a national shortage of qualified teachers with a special education certification. To help our school-district partners address that shortage, NTEC offers several teacher certification programs leading to a teaching license (currently, in Illinois or Wisconsin) in special education, including:

• Master of Science in Education Traditional Track

• Master of Science in Education Alternative Teacher Certification

• Accelerated Bachelor’s Degree

 

Most special education graduate students participate in the alternative certification track because students in that track are able to work as full-time paid teachers as early as the second semester of the program.

The Role of a Teacher with a Special Education Teacher Certification

The primary responsibility of teachers with a special education certification is to ensure that all students have access to learning in the least restrictive environment. Teachers with a special education certification accomplish that goal by understanding the nature of each student’s disability and then adapting the educational program to meet the individual needs of each special education student.

In most circumstances, special education students remain in the general student population, taking classes with their peers. In these cases, the special education teacher works with other classroom teachers to ensure they understand the disabilities faced by each student. The special education teacher also works with classroom teachers to develop and implement accommodations that allow each student to participate and learn to his or her full potential. Special education teachers often work as resources teachers as well, taking students out of the general population to provide additional instruction as needed to ensure learning.  In some cases, special education teachers work in self-contained classrooms with students whose disabilities prevent them from learning in the general school environment.