How to Become a Special Education Teacher
Written by Brent Loomes
Getting Started as a Special Education Teacher
Kudos on your decision to become a special education teacher! We've put this guide together to provide aspiring special education teachers with all the information they need to engage on the path of this challenging, yet fulfilling career. Here, we'll cover the requirements, types of jobs, available support, and special education resources needed to make the jump. If you're interested in how you can start teaching a special education class at any grade level, read on!
Easy-to-follow study guides, practice tests and resources.
Create AccountSpecial Education Teachers: What They Do
Special education is a field of learning where you'll be working directly with learning-disabled, developmentally delayed and intellectually disabled students. The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), first signed into law in 1975, guarantees the right of students with disabilities to public education. The main components of the law include:
- Access to early intervention services for infants and toddlers and special education for children between the ages of three and 21.
- Formula grants to states.
- Discretionary grants for research, technology development, and information, among others.
While special education has the same goals as other types of education, the particulars of how certain subjects are taught and the approaches to teaching and learning are different. A special education teacher's main aim is to both grow their students' knowledge and manage their disabilities. Doing this can be a challenge, and working in special education takes acceptance, patience, commitment, and understanding beyond the average teacher.
Similarly to other teachers, as a special education teacher you'll:
- Instruct students
- Plan lessons
- Assign activities
- Grade tests and assignments
- Track student progress
- Meet with parents/guardians to discuss individual progress and challenges
Alongside these activities, special education teachers also teach their students life skills and set up Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) for each student.
Individualized Education Program (IEP)
One of the main components of a career in special education is the Individualized Education Program (IEP). An IEP allows you to create a map for each of your students with disabilities and outline their special services, objectives, and strategies. All of a student's teachers participate in creating the IEP, which is then approved by the student's parents/guardians.
Because there are many learning disabilities, individual students may have very specific needs that do not apply to anyone else. You will be able to use the IEP to create specific objectives for each student. As such, you will be able to use IEPs to structure your classroom similar to how other teachers use curricula.
You'll receive extensive training in creating IEPs. It is important to pay particular attention during all your coursework on IEPs to understand how these will direct your teaching in the classroom.
Special Education Teacher Salary & Expected Growth
If you're wondering where you'll be able to get employed as a special education teacher, you'll be happy to know that most types of schools hire special education teachers including both private and public elementary schools, middle schools, high schools, and preschools.
In the last three years, data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) have shown that there is an increasing need for special education teachers because of the growing numbers of students with disabilities. According to 2020 numbers from the BLS, the median annual salary for special education teachers was $61,420 per year. The highest-paid special education teachers work in secondary schools. The highest-paying states are New York ($92,650), Oregon ($84,800), and Maryland ($75,440). Between 2019 and 2029, the BLS forecasts a job growth of 3% for special education teachers.
- Performance summaries
- Highlight strengths and weaknesses
- Track your progress
Skills of Successful Special Education Teachers
You probably have already identified some features within yourself that are drawing you to become a special education teacher. Some of the main features of successful special educators include:
- Being organized
- A sense of humor and self-deprecating humor
- Acceptance
- High creativity, especially in teaching methods
- An even temper
- High intuition
- Drive and determination
- Optimism
- Dedication to students
- Tact and diplomacy
- Master concepts quickly with clips from expert instructors
- You get both video lessons and test transcripts
- Save time by quickly reviewing video transcripts for essential lesson information
Steps to Become a Special Education Teacher
Now that we've seen what you'll be doing as a special education teacher, let's turn our attention to how you can become one. In the next subsections, you'll find out what you need to do to get started in this rewarding career.
Step 1: Get a Special Education Degree
Your first step toward becoming a special education teacher is to get a degree. There are degrees in education from the associate to doctoral levels, but we'll focus here on the most common degrees.
Special Education Bachelor's Degrees
Much like other subject teachers, you'll need a bachelor's degree from an accredited higher education institution. In your case, this degree will have to be in special education. Bachelor's degree programs typically include around 120 credits and take about four years to complete.
Depending on your intended specialization, you may need to also complete an additional (fifth) year of college. During this extra year, you'll receive instruction in specialized areas, such as nonverbal learning disabilities or speech therapy.
If you already have a degree, and it's not in the field of education, you may be able to enroll in an alternative teacher certification program. These programs help bridge the gap and fulfill state requirements for certification.
Special Education Master's Degrees
You can also pursue a master's degree in special education. Two common master's degrees that you can pursue include the Master of Education (MEd) with a specialization in Special Education and the Master of Arts (MA) in Special Education. These are designed to provide you with further skills in a particular specialty and may help you take on leadership roles in the field. Master's degrees in education typically take about two years to complete when attending full-time.
Special Education Student Teaching
Once you've completed your undergraduate or graduate training, you'll often be required to get experience through hands-on training as a special education student teacher. Lasting between one and two years, student teaching gives you the opportunity to work directly with students with disabilities in real-life settings under the guidance and supervision of a collaborating special education teacher.
It is important to note that many higher education institutions offer online special education degrees. If you choose to complete an online degree, you'll be completing your courses online and then doing student teaching at an affiliated local school.
Step 2: Pick an Area of Specialization
As mentioned above, you'll often find that you need to decide on which area of specialization you need to pursue as a special education teacher. Most bachelor's degree holders need to develop advanced skills to succeed as a special education teacher. Areas you can decide to get more in-depth knowledge in include:
- Gifted education
- Elementary education
- Autism spectrum disorders
- Talented education
Some of these specializations can be obtained through the master's degrees mentioned in the previous section, while others can be blended with work experience.
Step 3: Get Licensed to Teach Special Education
Certification or licensure is required in every state to teach in a public school setting. Some private schools may hire teachers without a license. The requirements for licensure are different in every state but generally include the following:
- A bachelor's degree (often with a minimum GPA)
- Completing a student-teaching program
- Passing a background check
- Passing a basic skills test of writing, reading, and math; and a subject-knowledge exam that tests knowledge in special education
These certification exams will vary from state to state. Make sure to do your research to find out what the exam requirements are in your state.
Step 4: Find a Special Education Teaching Job
This is the final step before you can begin your special education career. Once you have been licensed to work as a special education teacher, you can start applying for a special education teacher job in:
- Public schools: If you're interested in working in a public school, apply directly to the district you're interested in before looking at a specific school within the district.
- Private schools: Many private schools offer special education services and can be a great place to launch your career and get experience in the field.
- Charter schools: If you're interested in working in charter schools, be aware that they may have extra requirements for special education teachers than public schools.
- Residential facilities: Some residential facilities also require extra qualifications and requirements before you can apply.
While most special education teachers find work in public schools, do not let this discourage you from applying to other types of facilities.
Special Education Jobs
The job description for special education teachers can change quite a bit depending on the level/area they teach. Let's see what is required for your success at each grade level.
Elementary School Special Education Teacher
When you start teaching at this level, you're usually considered a generalist teacher. Some of the tasks you're expected to perform in this career are:
- Work with students with disabilities
- Start your planning each year by developing your students' IEPs, which are useful not just for you, but also for support staff, parents/guardians, and teachers
- Meet with parents/guardians to review the IEPs in Identification, Placement, and Review Committee (IPRC) meetings
- Ensure that all accommodations, modifications, and alternate programming exist in each classroom and are available for all assignments
- Work together with and guide support staff
- Create student transition plans for each year of elementary school
Minimum requirements to work as an elementary school special education teacher include a bachelor's degree and certification. Some states may require postgraduate degrees, like a master's degree.
Middle School Special Education Teacher
In addition to the tasks and requirements introduced in the previous subsection, a middle school special education teacher also needs to ensure the following:
- Create student transition plans from elementary to middle school and from middle to high school, along with a timeline
- Set objectives for students in both the academic and developmental aspects of their education, as well as metrics for their measurement
- Communicate and collaborate with non-teaching staff and other professionals from outside the school
- Support inclusion as a part of the school's culture and work with students with disabilities in both co-curricular and extracurricular settings
Minimum requirements to work as a middle school special education teacher include a bachelor's degree and certification. Some states may require a master's degree
High School Special Education Teacher
This job is often considered a specialist teaching position. In addition to the tasks and requirements introduced in the previous two sections, special education high school teachers are tasked with the following:
- Decide on and offer less support, when it is in a student's best interest, to encourage independence and self-reliance
- Research and understand teenage development theories and how the students' disabilities influence them
- Formally and informally support individual students' needs in relation to other teachers and administrators
- Provide support staff and administration with the best approaches on how to interact with your students with disabilities
Minimum requirements to work as a high school special education teacher include a bachelor's degree and certification. Some states may require a master's degree
Special Education Teacher's Aide
Teacher's aides work at all levels of special education from preschool onward and represent a great way for aspiring special education teachers to gain valuable experience.
If you want to work as a teacher's aide, you'll work with students with disabilities both inside and outside of the classroom and will often be their main point of contact. Activities include grading tests and assignments, planning lesson planning and sometimes even delivering them.
There are no minimum requirements to become a teacher's aide. Most of the required training is performed on the job by the special education teacher that you'll be assisting. However, to continue working as a teacher's aide, some states may require you to complete coursework or certification.
Special Education Administrator
A special education administrator is usually the head of the special education department of the school district. If this position interests you, you'll have to demonstrate skills related to budgeting, operations management, policy setting, and teacher support.
The position represents the backbone of the special education system and includes:
- Grant writing and budget preparation
- Special education educational standards setting
- Progress reports for parents
- Special education program reviews
- Dispute mediation
- Teacher and support staff motivation
To qualify for a special education administrative career, you need a postgraduate degree in special education as well as previous experience in administration.
Financial Support for Special Education Teachers
There are many avenues to getting financial support as a prospective teacher. Here, we'll take a look at your best bets for getting money to pay for teacher training.
Federal Funding
Federal funding for special education majors includes:
- Pell Grants, which are available to all students.
- Federal TEACH Grant, which deducts $4,000 per year from the costs of students working to become teachers in return for agreeing to a term of service after graduation.
To apply, you'll want to fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
State Funding
Many states offer scholarships programs for individuals who want to become special education teachers. The vast majority of these programs include a term of service in the state that is providing them, meaning you would need to work as a teacher for a certain number of years in the state. Examples include:
- The Special Education Teacher Tuition Waiver Program, offered in Illinois.
- The Minority Teacher and Special Education Services Scholarship, offered in Indiana.
- The Teacher Shortage Conditional Scholarship, offered in Washington state.
College Funding
Additionally, college funding is also available for aspiring special education teachers. These programs are usually privately funded by businesses or alumni. The amounts being offered vary widely from school to school but are likely to be higher in colleges with large teaching programs.
Scholarships
There are many private and public scholarships for future teachers, including ones specifically geared toward prospective special education teachers. These opportunities do not need to be paid back upon completion of your teacher certification program. They often require personal essays and letters of recommendation during the application process.
Professional Associations and Charity Funding
Many regional and local associations and charities also offer funding for special education programs. However, they are more difficult to discover. If you already know where you'll be going to school, you should research the main professional association and charities in the area and see if they are willing to offer funding for your program. Also, speak with your school's financial aid counselor; he or she may have connections within the community to help soon-to-be teachers pay for school.
Special Education Resources
There are many valuable resources for special education teachers. Below, we'll take a look at the most popular of these resources and how they can assist you.
NASET: National Association of Special Education Teachers
The National Association of Special Education Teachers provides support and assistance to many teachers, including students who want to become special educators. If you become a member of NASET, you can take part in professional development programs, continuing education courses, and networking.
CEC: Council for Exceptional Children
The Council for Exceptional Children is the most important and largest organization that is working to make educational success a reality for both students with disabilities and gifted and talented students. Aspiring teachers get access to research, a resource library, a career center and a member forum where they can interact with current teachers.
NCLD: National Center for Learning Disabilities
Similar to the previous organization, the National Center for Learning Disabilities' main goal is to allow all students with disabilities to succeed in school and be prepared for a successful career as an adult. Among others, it offers scholarships and awards for students with disabilities.
AASEP: American Academy of Special Education Professionals
The American Academy of Special Education Professionals is a great resource for special education teachers, mainly because it provides them with networking and professional development opportunities. Additionally, the organization offers Certificates of Advanced Professional Development that are a great addition to any special education teacher's resume.
IASE: International Association of Special Education
The International Association of Special Education is an organization dedicated to improving services and the quality of life for children and adults with disabilities. It provides a host of professional development resources.
NAPSEC: National Association of Private Special Education Centers
The National Association of Private Special Education Centers has over 200 programs that are available in the US. The nonprofit works to ensure that students with disabilities have access to special education programs tailored to their needs.
Frequently Asked Questions
To wrap up this guide, here are the most commonly asked questions about being a special education teacher.
Can I Teach Regular Classes as a Special Education Teacher?
Yes and no. Depending on your state and the school district where you'll be teaching, you may be allowed to teach regular classes. However, most states do not allow this. Most private schools also won't allow you to teach regular classes.
Am I Likely to Get Better Pay as a Special Education Teacher?
The average pay of special education teachers is aligned with the average pay of regular elementary, middle school, and high school teachers. However, there are some regional differences that may mean that you could get higher pay depending on where you live. The BLS offers lots of information on salaries for special education teachers.
How in Demand Is the Job of a Special Education Teacher?
The job is projected to keep growing between 2019 and 2029, according to the BLS. The overall growth is around 3% (13,600 new openings) through that time frame.
Do I Have to Return to School to Become a Special Education Teacher?
If you have a bachelor's degree in special education or you majored in it and already have the degree, you don't need to return to school. However, if you have a degree in another field, you may need to return to school to meet your state's requirements.
Expert Answers to Common Questions about special education teacher salary
- How can prospective teachers make the most out of their student teaching experiences?
- How can student teachers get the most value of their teaching experiences in terms of determining which age groups, subjects, and types of school would be a fit for them?
- How do you help your students best prepare to pass their teacher certification exams?
- In what ways can new teachers find support during their first year of teaching?
- What classroom management or instructional strategies may be helpful for prospective and new teachers to learn more about?
- What is one piece of advice you wish you had when you were working to become a teacher?
- Which classroom management strategies may be the most helpful for prospective and new teachers to learn more about?
You can read their biographies and answers below:
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Dr. Doran Gresham
Assistant Professor
Dr. Greshams primary research interest pertains to the overrepresentation of minorities in classrooms for students with special needs. To that end, he created "The Gresham Survey" to quantitatively assess the perceptions of general educators about the overrepresentation of elementary-aged African-American males identified as having an emotional disturbance. Since 2005, this tool has been modified so that it might also include the voices and opinions of administrators. The purpose of this research is to shed light on this chronic institutionalized civil rights issue, which leads to systemic poor outcomes for students of color.In 2015, Dr. Gresham published a collection of essays and interviews called Why the SUN Rises: the faces and stories of women in education. This interesting and vibrant work was co-written and edited by Dr. Gresham and helps to reveal why women in education return to work with and advocate for their students day after day.Prior to joining the faculty of the George Washington University, Dr. Gresham worked for 5 years as a Master Educator and 1 year as a Senior Master Educator with the D.C. Public Schools system. In this capacity, Dr. Gresham and an elite group of content specialists from the IMPACT team evaluated and supported each teacher in the district using the Teaching and Learning Framework (TLF).In 2004, 100 Black Men of Greater Washington, D.C. recognized Dr. Gresham as their Elliott Hair Man of the Year for his work in helping to create the Saturday Leadership Academy, which exists today as a group-based mentoring platform that provides mentees with opportunities to form healthy connections with positive minority male professionals.In 2015 the George Washington University recognized Dr. Gresham by presenting him with the Rita Ives Award, which is given to one person in the field of special education who has shown exemplary progress in advancing the lives of students with special needs.
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How can student teachers get the most value of their teaching experiences in terms of determining which age groups, subjects, and types of school would be a fit for them?
Teaching shouldn't be a purely selfless act. So, consider which groups you could best move, while also thinking about what's in it for you. Here, knowledge of self is critical. For instance, spend some time as a substitute teacher before you decide on a location, subject, or grade level. Subs are an absolute necessity for school systems, especially at a time when we are suffering through a national teacher shortage. So, dive in and figure out whom you gel with. Also consider the depth of your content-specific knowledge, personal attributes, and interests. For example, if you have a love for coaching and mathematics, perhaps teaching at a high school is best for you. Or, maybe you've always cherished the times you've spent as a babysitter of young children, and you find that these experiences were most rewarding. This might point you to elementary instruction. And when it's time to figure in demographics or location, let your experiences and comfort level guide you, realizing that there are kids in need, no matter where you choose to teach. Essentially, follow your gut instincts while considering your proven record of success.
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How do you help your students best prepare to pass their teacher certification exams?
The Special Education for Cultural Responsiveness and Equity in Teaching (SECRET) master's program is designed for initially certified educators who are passionate about serving students who sit at the intersection of special education and culture. We are accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) and this program is one of only eight in the country that provides students with the pedagogy and research methods needed to instruct culturally and linguistically diverse students with or without disabilities. We routinely prepare our students to pass their teacher certification exams by placing them side by side with educators and professors from across the globe, who help each other to sharpen their skills so that they might push all learners forward. After they have matriculated through their programs of study, our students are well-equipped to address the cultural, language, social, and learning needs of a variety of exceptional students.
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What is one piece of advice you wish you had when you were working to become a teacher?
I've learned over time how to circumvent outdated and narrowly focused public school curricula and instead provide students with the information and experiences they need using mentoring programs. However, if I could do it all over again, I'd find new and innovative ways to prepare 21st-century students for the steadily changing world that awaits. Essentially, we need to revisit what our children are taught and think clearly about the skillsets that are honed in K-12 public education. To that end, I would have focused my early years as an educator on reading interventions from across the globe, while supporting kids to learn more about entrepreneurship, tax codes, vocational skill development, 3D printing, coding, etc. These are innovative and exciting markets that might help to capture, inspire, and teach students who are on the fringes of society. This would also ensure that they receive an education that would immediately help them to join the workforce after graduation.
Also, there is a tremendous need for special educators to move from being generalists to specialists. For instance, just think about the havoc that might be caused when a student processes written texts slowly. This doesn't just affect English instruction; it can compromise their ability to understand math prompts as well. Too many children are expending terrible amounts of energy just getting through the instructions of academic tasks, leaving them confused about what's needed. In my book, highly effective reading instructors are everyday heroes who help students to access the content and connect the material to their lives.
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Which classroom management strategies may be the most helpful for prospective and new teachers to learn more about?
If you were to hop on a plane with me and travel to classrooms across the United States, you'd note that most of our management strategies are reactive and punitive. And by the way, they're just loose strategies. For instance, removing a child from class, 30-minutes into instruction is reactive. It's behind the beat. Talking with parents about student misbehavior or keeping a child inside for recess are two more examples of reactive and punitive strategies that are commonly used. Now, don't get me wrong, in life, there is oftentimes a need for reactive strategies that curb behaviors that go against societal norms. For instance, if I'm speeding and a policeman stops me down the road, I'm given a ticket that I must pay or dispute in court. When this is done too often, I'll likely slow down. So reactive, punitive strategies do have their place. But teachers, administrators, and school communities have a better chance of promoting positive behavioral norms if they use proactive and positive systems for forming relationships, establishing interdependence, and positively affecting the classroom environment. Just think, in the example above, where there was a disturbance 30-minutes into instruction, this means that the teacher likely had 29 minutes to intercede, catch the child doing well, make a seating change, etc. Using class dojo, for instance, is a proactive and positive system. Additionally, publishing school calendars with activities that are connected to attendance and the lack of critical incidents is a proactive and positive system that can be used to foster tight bonds within school communities.
Finally, one of the core elements of any sterling classroom management system is the use of well-planned lessons. Does the teacher utilize bell-to-bell instruction? Is the work accessible and differentiated for the scholars to prevent frustration? Does she have strong relationships with her kids? Will the classroom get out of their seats to collaborate and do children get a chance to genuinely show their thinking during class time? Additionally, is the relationship between the content and life evident in predictable and unpredictable ways? If these considerations are met, you leave little time or space for behaviors that might negatively impact the academic milieu.
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Dr. Helane Folske-Starlin
Assistant Professor
BA and MAT in Learning and behavior disorders. PhD in learning and behavior disorders. I teach at Peru State College in the Special Education area. I work with preservice educators in special education and mentor general education teachers through he college and my consulting company. I taught in self contained and inclusive classrooms in the public school system where I worked with implementing PBIS programs school wide.
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How can student teachers get the most value of their teaching experiences in terms of determining which age groups, subjects, and types of school would be a fit for them?
Volunteer and get in the classrooms. Work in areas that interest you like special olympics or library reading programs. Immerse your self in different grade levels. Try them all, you never know what works for you.
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How do you help your students best prepare to pass their teacher certification exams?
promote practice in content area and then work on testing skills. Most students appear to have issues with test taking skills and testing anxiety when they look at teacher certification exams.
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What is one piece of advice you wish you had when you were working to become a teacher?
Understand learning is a process and that process will be something you and your students work with.
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Which classroom management strategies may be the most helpful for prospective and new teachers to learn more about?
PBIS and Universal Design for Learning that engages more students and reduces possible behavior struggles for students.
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Dr. Terri Hessler
Associate Professor for Special Education
Dr. Terri Hessler is an associate professor of special education at The Ohio State University at Newark. Her research interest involves interventions to improve academic performance for children with high-incidence disabilities, especially those with dyslexia, as well as those considered at risk for being identified as having high-incidence disabilities. She teaches a variety of courses, including Intro to Exceptional Children, Educational Psychology, and supervises student teachers, and she is a credentialed dyslexia interventionist and trainer. Prior to her experience in higher education, she taught English/language arts to adolescents and was a special education teacher for students with specific learning disabilities.
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How can prospective teachers make the most out of their student teaching experiences?
Offer to do everything you can. Go to extra-curricular activities. Meet parents and community members. Save everything and anytime you see a lesson taught by someone else that you love, ask for it. Spend some time just thinking about how to teach something better.
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In what ways can new teachers find support during their first year of teaching?
Find other first year teachers and form an informal support group that does not focus on complaining. Stay in touch with your friends from your education program and share resources. Don't over-volunteer; learn to say 'no,' but participate and contribute in a way that's manageable for you. Get involved with the school community. Do your best to stay in one position for longer than one year. Job hopping (in teaching, that would be changing grades/subjects too frequently) is a recipe for burnout.
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What classroom management or instructional strategies may be helpful for prospective and new teachers to learn more about?
Praise! Don't be afraid to praise your students, especially those with special needs, for doing and acting how you want them to act. You don't need anything other than your voice and face to praise; it's a tool you always have access to!
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What is one piece of advice you wish you had when you were working to become a teacher?
That children with special needs are not that different from "typical" children, and that teaching them has the potential to be far more rewarding.
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