Become a Special Education Teacher in Pennsylvania

<p>Special education teachers in Pennsylvania instruct students with different levels of disability, which could include learning, visual, or hearing impairments. You'll need a bachelor's degree and possibly a certificate depending on which students you want to teach. You'll also need to pass several different exams before teaching on your own. </p> <p /> <table border="1"><tr><td>Education/Experience Required</td><td>Bachelor's degree and/or graduate certificate, student teaching experience</td></tr> <tr><td>Exams Required</td><td>Praxis Pre-Service Academic Performance Assessment (PAPA) or Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators; Pearson NES Special Education Exam for PreK-8 or 7-12; Praxis Special Education Exams for Hearing, Visual, or Language Impairment</td></tr> <tr><td>Certificate Validity</td><td>Six years for initial Level I certificate</td></tr> <tr><td>Certificate Extension</td><td>N/A; certificate must be upgraded to Level II within six years of teaching and requires 24 continuing education credits</td></tr> <tr><td>Average Pennsylvania Special Education Teacher Salary* (2018)</td><td>$54,160 for preschool, $66,860 for kindergarten and elementary school, $69,040 for middle school, $63,260 for secondary school</td></tr> <tr><td>Nationwide Job Growth* (2016-2026)</td><td>11% for preschool; 7% for kindergarten, elementary, middle, and secondary school</td></tr> </table><p><i>Source: *U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics</i> </p> <h3 id="section---JobDescription">Job Description</h3> <p>Teachers of special education students work with grades from preschool through the end of high school. These classes educate students with various disabilities, including learning or physical ailments. Your lesson plans will take their special needs into consideration, and you'll have to develop many individual approaches to accommodate each student. You'll need to keep a close eye on the progress of each student and report feedback to parents and any case workers. Your goal is to help each student move through the education system and eventually transition into the professional world. </p> <h3 id="section---EducationAndTrainingRequirements">Education and Training Requirements</h3> <p>If you plan to teach students with special needs, you'll have to earn at least a bachelor's degree. You can start with a Bachelor of Science in Special Education. As you earn this degree, you can also seek a dual certification in various grade levels, including PreK-4, 4-8, and 7-12. Choosing 7-12 (secondary education) also allows you to specialize in a content area, such as biology or math. There are also graduate certificates for other types of special education, such as a graduate certificate to become a teacher of the deaf and hard of hearing for PreK-12. Undergraduate options include a teacher education program, where you will work closely with a supervisor while gaining experience inside a special education classroom. </p> <h3 id="section---ExamRequirements">Exam Requirements</h3> <p>Depending on your specialization, you'll need to pass several different standardized exams. You'll start with one of two options to fulfill the requirements for a basic skills assessment: the Praxis Pre-Service Academic Performance Assessment (PAPA) or three sections (writing, reading, and math) of the Core Academic Skills for Educators. From here, your teaching area will determine which content exams you must take. Pearson provides the Special Education content exam for either PreK-8 or 7-12, while Praxis has Special Education content tests for Hearing Impaired, Speech &amp; Language Impaired, and Visually Impaired students for PreK-12. </p> <h3 id="section---CertificationRequirements">Certification Requirements</h3> <p>A Level I certification is granted to you upon passing your exams and earning your degree and/or certificate in special education. You'll also have to pass a full background check that includes a criminal history and any record of child abuse. The Level I certificate isn't permanent, and you'll need to upgrade it to a Level II before you teach for a total of six years. After teaching for three years and earning 24 credits of continuing education (including six credits in special education), you can apply for a Level II certification. This credential is permanent, as Pennsylvania does not have any requirements for renewing certificates.</p>