Hawaii Special Education Teacher Certification Requirements

<h2 id="section---CareerOverview">Career Overview</h2> <p>Special education teachers ensure that students with disabilities are provided with an education that is adapted to their needs. The chart below shows the education requirements, job duties, and salary of special education teachers in Hawaii. </p> <p /> <table border="1"><tr><td> <b>Degree Required</b> </td><td> Bachelor's degree</td></tr> <tr><td> <b>Licensing Required</b> </td><td> State issued teaching license</td></tr> <tr><td> <b>Testing Required</b> </td><td> None, replaced by bachelor's degree and teacher preparation program</td></tr> <tr><td> <b>Key Responsibilities</b> </td><td> Assess the needs of special education students, provide instruction that meets the needs of their students, keep parents updated on their child's progress</td></tr> <tr><td> <b>Average Salary (2018)</b> </td><td>$58,040 (preschool), $56,330 (secondary school), $34,920 (all other)*</td></tr> <tr><td><b>Job Outlook (2016-2026)</b></td><td> 8% (all special education teachers nationwide)</td></tr> </table><p><i>Source: *U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics</i> </p> <h3 id="section---WhatAreTheJobDutiesOfSpecialEducationTeachers">What Are the Job Duties of Special Education Teachers?</h3> <p>Special education teachers instruct students with disabilities. These teachers have to adapt teaching methods to meet the requirements of each individual student. Special education teachers may find themselves working one-on-one with a student in a regular classroom, teaching a single student in a disabled classroom, or teaching an entire class of students. Special education teachers must also keep parents and school officials updated on the progress and needs of students. </p> <h3 id="section---WhatAreTheEducationalRequirementsForASpecialEducationTeacher">What Are the Educational Requirements for a Special Education Teacher?</h3> <p>Special education teachers in Hawaii, as are all other teachers, are required to have a bachelor's degree. The Hawaii Board of Education has a hard time filling these positions, so has not made it mandatory that one's degree be in special education. However, it is advisable that one complete their degree in this area. A degree in special education will prepare one for events that may occur in the classroom that may not be covered in a regular education degree program. </p> <h3 id="section---WhatAreTheProvisionalLicenseRequirements">What Are the Provisional License Requirements?</h3> <p>A Provisional License is the first teaching license a new teacher in Hawaii will typically receive. It requires that one completes a state-approved teacher education program, passes the professional fitness check, and meets basic skills and content knowledge requirements. The basic skills and content knowledge requirements can be met through taking a teacher preparation program or providing the state with one's bachelor's degree transcripts. Unlike the Standard License, the Provisional License does not have a teaching experience requirement. It is valid for a period of three years and cannot be renewed. </p> <h3 id="section---WhatAreTheStandardLicenseRequirements">What Are the Standard License Requirements?</h3> <p>The requirements for a Standard License are that one completes a state-approved teacher education program, passes the professional fitness check, meets basic skills and content knowledge requirements, and provides verification that one has spent three of the last five years teaching full time in a preschool through grade twelve school. A Standard License is valid for a period of five years, and is renewable. </p> <h3 id="section---WhatAreTheAgesOfSpecialEducationStudents">What Are the Ages of Special Education Students?</h3> <p>In Hawaii, special education is provided for students from ages three to twenty-two. For early intervention for children under the age of three, parents or guardians are encouraged to contact the Early Intervention Referral Line for questions. The support for those over the age of twenty-two is provided by the Hawaii State Department of Human Services, Vocational Rehabilitation and Services for the Blind Division as well as the Hawaii State Department of Health, Case Management and Information Services Branch. If one is interested with working with disabled individuals outside of the ages three to twenty-two, they should reach out to one of the two aforementioned groups.</p>