Do I Need a Bachelor's in Special Education To Teach It?

A career in special education offers the amazing opportunity to help students with mental, physical, emotional, and learning disabilities so they can excel academically and socially. These teachers work in elementary, middle, and high schools to help special education students understand general education concepts and learn basic life skills.

If you're interested in becoming a special education teacher, you might assume that earning a bachelor's in special education is necessary. However, you don't need a special education degree to teach it.

Still, a bachelor's degree in any subject, teaching experience, and educator licensure is required for this role. Below, we'll explore what it takes to become a special education teacher, including some of the best degrees for starting this career.

Is a Bachelor's in Special Education Required To Teach It?

A bachelor's degree in special education isn't required to teach students with special needs. While special education bachelor's and master's degree programs are available, most states don't have subject area requirements for special education teachers. Any bachelor's degree is enough to get started.

The traditional route to becoming a special education teacher typically involves earning a bachelor's degree, completing student-teaching experiences, passing a background check, and passing a teacher certification exam. However, states also offer alternative certification options for individuals who have already earned a bachelor's degree.

Best Degrees To Become a Special Education Teacher

Whether you already have a bachelor's degree or are looking to earn one in your pursuit of a special education teaching career, you have plenty of education and teaching degrees to consider. Here are some of the best degrees for individuals who want to become special education teachers.

Special Education

A special education program is often the top degree choice for special education teaching careers. Whether you want a bachelor's or master's degree, you can find programs that prepare you for teacher licensure. Program coursework might focus on the following:

• teaching learners with disabilities
• research in special education
• autism spectrum disorders
• assessment and curriculum
• social competence
• assistive technology for general education teachers

Programs deliver valuable teaching strategies and share guidelines for processes like creating Individualized Education Programs (IEPs). Most also provide student-teaching experiences.

Elementary Education

If you're interested in special education but want to focus on working with young students, a degree in elementary education is a great choice. You'll learn important teaching methods for young students and gain valuable experience in the classroom. Many elementary education programs prepare students for licensure.

Some degrees allow students to focus on special education. You could add a minor or concentration to enhance your special education qualifications.

Early Childhood Education

An early childhood education degree prepares teachers to educate young learners from birth to early elementary years (ages 5 to 8). School teachers with this degree typically teach in preschools, childcare centers, Montessori schools, and Head Start programs. However, some work in elementary schools.

Teachers interested in early childhood special education could seek a program that includes a special education concentration. Educators could also earn a bachelor's degree in early childhood education and a master's degree in special education.

Psychology

Individuals with psychology backgrounds commonly work in schools as psychologists or guidance counselors. However, a psychology degree can also serve as an entry point to a career in special education classrooms.

You could start by earning a school-related psychology degree, such as an educational psychology or education specialist in school psychology. But keep in mind that you must complete a teacher preparation program and secure licensure to work in public schools. Private schools will likely require a bachelor's degree but not a teaching license.

Child Development

A degree in child development examines developmental milestones for children. This program traditionally prepares students for careers as social workers, youth counselors, social services assistants, or childcare directors. However, the background gained in child development can also serve as a great foundation for special education teachers.

Some degrees include a credential program that helps students secure a teaching license. However, you might need additional courses to qualify for special education teaching roles.

Speech-Language Pathology

A speech-language pathology degree is great for individuals interested in special education. Your background will prepare you to work closely with students with special needs. Speech-language pathology is a part of the communications disorder field and focuses on language, speech, fluency, hearing, swallowing, memory, and voice challenges.

A background in speech-language pathology teaches you the communication skills, patience, and compassion to help students with disabilities. Many programs provide field experiences to give student-teachers real-time student interactions. However, you might be required to complete a teacher preparation program and secure licensure to teach special education with this degree.

How To Become a Special Education Teacher

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) expects about 35,900 job openings annually for special education teachers between 2023 and 2033. If you want to take advantage of one of these opportunities, read the following FAQs to learn how to become a special ed teacher.

Earn a Bachelor's Degree

All states require teachers in public schools to possess a minimum of a bachelor's degree. A degree in education provides important teaching strategies and guidance for classroom management, lesson plan development, and more.

A special education degree gives you the skills to work with students facing physical, mental, emotional, or learning impairments; however, a bachelor's degree in any field can open doors to your chosen career. Enrolling in a teacher preparation program will help you get licensed to teach in special education.

Complete Student Teaching

Student teaching offers hands-on experience in the classroom. Students observe licensed teachers in action and, in time, assume teaching duties.

Spending time in real learning environments helps aspiring teachers connect the theory learned in the classroom with practical experience. Working with a teacher mentor gives student teachers the feedback they need to excel in their roles.

Obtain Teaching Credentials

The process of obtaining teaching credentials and becoming qualified to teach in most states involves completing the following steps:

• earning a bachelor's degree with a minimum GPA
• completing a teacher preparation (student teaching) program
• passing a fingerprinting/background check
• earning a passing score on a teaching certification test (i.e., Praxis)

Alternate routes might be available for students who have already earned bachelor's degrees. For example, aspiring teachers in Missouri with a bachelor's degree can receive a provisional certificate to teach while completing an alternative certification program as they aim to earn their initial professional certificate. California offers an intern option that lets students with bachelor's degrees teach while taking postgraduate-level coursework to earn a preliminary credential.

Become a Special Education Teacher

Begin your journey toward an exciting career in special education by exploring the accredited degree programs offered by various schools on Learn.org. Contact one of these colleges directly to learn how they can help make your special education teaching dreams a reality.