Are you curious about a career as a special education teacher in the United States of America? Now you can learn what Special Education Teachers do, the work environment, how to become one, salary, and job outlook.

What is a Special Education Teacher?

A special education teacher teaches students who have learning disabilities, emotional disorders, and behavioral problems in a mainstream setting. The majority of special education teachers hold a Master’s degree in Special Education and many others hold a Bachelor’s degree. There are also some teachers who do not hold a formal college education but have been trained and certified by the state.

Special Education Teacher Job Description 

According to BLS, special education teachers teach children with emotional, behavioral, or developmental disabilities, and are usually employed by a school district, state agency, or other government entity.

Educational Requirements

Aspiring special education teachers must first earn a bachelor’s degree in special education or related fields, such as psychology, sociology, social work, and speech-language pathology.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) predicts that employment for special education teachers is projected to grow 18% from 2012 to 2022. Special Education Teacher Job Description Job Description According to BLS, special education teachers teach children with emotional, behavioral, or developmental disabilities, and are usually employed by a school district, state agency, or other government entity. Educational Requirements Aspiring special education teachers must first earn a bachelor’s degree in special education or related fields, such as psychology, sociology, social work, and speech-language pathology.

First-year special education teachers generally spend three years at the college level while preparing for the certification exam. Second-year special education teachers may attend another year of college. A master’s degree is also required.

Teachers who have a bachelor’s degree may need to complete more than one semester of additional courses in order to obtain their master’s degree. These courses may include:

Special Education Certification

After completing at least one year of coursework and earning a bachelor’s degree, teachers must then take a certification examination. The requirements for taking the certification test vary by state.

Special education certification is not required by the federal government. Many states do, however, require that all teachers who work in special education programs be certified.

Certification may be earned through a program offered by the state in which the teacher works or by another state-approved program. The certification may include specialized training in the field of special education.

Most states require that teachers have passed a state-administered exam in order to receive their special education certificate.

Consequently, most states offer two or three paths for students to choose from for certification. The state may offer a standard certification exam or multiple choice test, a practice exam, or a portfolio review. Certification requirements for special education teachers vary from state to state. In California, for example, teachers must complete 36 hours of coursework before they can take the licensing exam. In North Carolina, teachers must complete 60 hours of coursework before taking the test. Once special education teachers are certified, they must then be licensed by their state. The license is often granted by an administrative authority of the state. Licenses vary in length and cost and usually include a fee and background check. Some states also require that special education teachers renew their licenses each year. 

Special Education Salary

Information According to BLS, special education teachers generally earn a median salary of $51,000 per year. Special education teacher salaries differ depending on a number of factors, including the size of the school district where the teacher works, whether the school is public or private, and the teacher’s experience level. Salary information is typically updated twice a year. Advancement Opportunities Aspiring special education teachers may advance through the ranks of teaching jobs and eventually earn the title of superintendent.

You are strongly encouraged to watch both videos about special education teachers below, take good notes, and then visit the comments section below and share your thoughts and your knowledge on special education teachers in the United States of America.

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3 thoughts on “Special Education Teachers”
  1. Hello , Hind from Iraq , special education teacher teach student who have learning disabilities emotional disorder and behavior problem in main stream setting .
    The majority of special education teacher hold a master degree in special education and many other hold bachelor ‘s degree . There are also some teachers who do not hold formal college education but have been trained but certified by state.
    The employment for special education teacher is project to grow 18% from 2012, to 2022

  2. […] 2. Maestro Sersea’s educational website of the week: http://www.americanenglishvocabulary.com3. Character is how you choose to act. Every choice you make defines the character you have. Do you want to be remembered as a person of solid character? Study the 30 qualities that make up good character below:— Thrifty (Definition)4. Careers and Jobs in the USA #30: Special Education Teachers— Here is our educational section designed to help you improve your English reading and listening comprehension and learn about jobs and careers in the United States of America. Please click on the link below and watch the videos to improve your English skills and your knowledge as well. Don’t forget to write a comment and suggest which American careers and jobs you’d like us to include here in the future. Click here: Special Education Teachers […]

  3. Greetings Maestro Sersea
    Special Education Teachers are oriented to help students with disabilities to improve and develop their skills apprenticeship. They assess students, grade papers, and plan lessons according to the need of every student, also teach them communication and basic life skills. Frequently, they meet with their parents to talk about the performance of students, sometimes they gather with administrators, counselors, general education teachers, and other member’s staff after or before classes. Usually, they work on a schedule of 10 months in a row and take two months of breaks.
    Thank you so much

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