How to Become a Special Education Teacher in Nevada
Special education teachers are generally required to work with students who have varying levels of disabilities. In Nevada, it is possible to become a special education teacher through specific academic and testing achievements.
Overview of Becoming a Special Education Teacher in Nevada
The state of Nevada offers special education in eleven different categories, but this article will focus on one of the most common: Generalist Resource Room special education. The basic requirements are summarized in the table below.
<table border="1"><tr><td>Education/Experience Required</td><td> Bachelor's degree (minimum)</td></tr>
<tr><td>Exam Requirements </td><td> Praxis</td></tr>
<tr><td>Certification Renewal Period </td><td>Five years (standard license)</td></tr>
<tr><td>Requirements for Renewal </td><td> Six semester hours of continuing education OR <br/> Six professional development credits</td></tr>
<tr><td>Average Salary (2018) </td><td> $53,180 (kindergarten and elementary school special education teachers in NV) <br/> $53,640 (middle school special education teachers in NV) <br/> $59,480 (high school special education teachers in NV)*</td></tr>
<tr><td>Estimated Job Growth (2016-2026) </td><td>8% (special education teachers nationally)*</td></tr>
</table><p><i>Sources: *U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics</i>
</p><h3 id="section---BasicRequirementsForAGeneralistResourceRoomLicense">Basic Requirements for a Generalist Resource Room License</h3><p>To qualify for a standard special education teaching license, applicants are expected to hold the minimum of a bachelor's degree in the specific special education area in line with the license of interest. Someone with a Generalist Resource Room License would be teaching students with specific learning disabilities, health impairments and mild to moderate intellectual disabilities among other things.
</p><p>To be qualified for this, the applicant must first complete an approved educator preparation program at an accredited college or university. A list of accredited institutions that offer approved educator programs is maintained by the State of Nevada Department of Education. This list includes the University of Nevada, Reno and the National University, both of which offer undergraduate special education programs in line with the Generalist Resource Room License. Applicants must also pass a background check and the relevant Praxis tests.
</p><h3 id="section---TestingRequirements">Testing Requirements</h3><p>All persons who are interested in earning a teaching license in Nevada must pass the Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators test. This test is comprised of Reading, Writing, and Mathematics subject areas. The Generalist Resource Room License also requires that applicants pass the Special Education: General Knowledge and Applications, Principles of Learning and Teaching: Grades K-6 and Principles of Learning and Teaching: Grades 7-12 tests as well. Applicants can register for the tests online where they will be directed to the nearest testing center. If the test is done in Nevada, the test results will be automatically sent to the Nevada Department of Education.
</p><h3 id="section---BackgroundCheckAndTheMoralTurpitudeMatrix">Background Check and the Moral Turpitude Matrix</h3><p>As an educator in Nevada, the applicant will be expected to have their fingerprints assessed so their criminal history can be obtained from the Central Repository for Nevada Records of Criminal History. Those who live outside of Nevada must request a fingerprint card from the Nevada Department of Education and have their fingerprints collected at a local law enforcement agency. The card must be signed by the officer who collected the fingerprints before the completed card is submitted to the Nevada Department of Education.
</p><p>The Moral Turpitude Matrix applies to applicants whose background check reveals an offense. Crimes such as arson, murder, animal cruelty and identity theft will result in a lifetime ban while embezzlement, fraud and grand larceny will disqualify the applicant from an educator license for ten years starting at the date of conviction.
</p><h3 id="section---ApplicationProcess">Application Process</h3><p>To initiate the initial application for the Generalist Room Resource License, the applicant must first create a profile on the online portal of the Nevada Department of Education website. Applicants will be expected to submit pdf files of their proof of citizenship and their Praxis test scores. Transcripts of the applicant's academic achievements must also be submitted to the Department of Education. The application fee of $180 can be paid online through the portal as well.</p>