Special Education Teacher Certification
Begin your rewarding career as a special education teacher! This program is now accepting applicants for the 25-26 school year. Please see the schedule for admission waves and program dates.
Become A Certified Special Education Teacher
Special education is a calling for individuals who are passionate about innovative teaching strategies and serving as advocates for individuals with disabilities and their families. In addition, a special educator is called to work with students of all ranges and abilities, which requires patience, compassion, and technical expertise. The Special Education Certification Program’s purpose is about more than just preparing qualified special education teachers; it is to equip special educators with a foundation in research-based, innovative teaching practices and giving teachers the tools to create environments where students achieve success in academics, behavior, functional, and vocational skills.
Our Special Education Certification Program is appropriately rigorous in preparing you for the reality of teaching. Our dedicated staff trains and supports participants seeking special education certification. Our 17-month certification process includes:
- test preparation
- state-based training
- current instructional practices for special education educators
Special Education Certification Options
All participants must select a content area in addition to the Special Education EC-12 certification. Content areas include: Core Subjects EC-6, Core Subjects 4-8, English Language Arts and Reading 7-12, Math 7-12, and Science 7-12.
Special Education EC-12
Dual Certification
The dual certification allows a participant to become certified in special education EC-12 and bilingual core subjects EC-6.
Certification Options
View all the certification options available through ECP
Program Requirements
Bachelor's Degree
Candidates must have a degree earned from and conferred by an accredited institution of higher education.
Min 2.5 Grade Point Average
Minimum 2.5 GPA on all coursework or 2.75 in the last 60 semester hours of completed coursework.
Official College Transcripts
Request your official transcripts be sent to the ECP office.
Content Area Proficiency
Candidates must meet the content area proficiency requirements specific to their program.
Application
Complete our online application with all required documents.
Requirements
View your content area's specific certification requirements
Curriculum
Our certification program curriculum is aligned with Texas Education Agency standards and educational best practices. All curriculum is taught by certified staff and content area experts.
Training
About 2/3 of our classes are face-to-face and 1/3 of our classes are online. Participants employed by schools within the Region 13 service area, as well as those from schools within a 100-mile radius of Austin, attend classes at the Education Service Center Region 13 in Austin.
Participants will be required to attend training that will continue to build on instruction learned during pre-service training.
- delivering engaging instruction
- integrating content specific strategies into lesson design
- developing and using student assessments
- understanding student diversity and instructional differentiation
- preparing for formal classroom observations
- preparing for TExES PPR exam
- preparing for TExES content exams
- The science of teaching reading
- Facilitating guided reading, writing and math
- Integrating science and social studies content into lesson planning
- Training specific to Early Childhood (Pre-K), Primary (1st – 2nd), Intermediate (3rd – 6th), Secondary (7-12) with special education strategies
- understanding the strengths and skills of students
- legal and ethical responsibilities within special education
- Social, emotional and behavioral skills
Technology
- incorporating the effective use of current technology in instruction
- evaluating students’ technologically produced products and projects
- utilizing technology applications in problem-solving situations and project-based learning activities
- using developmentally appropriate instructional practices, activities, and materials to integrate the Technology Applications TEKS into the curriculum
- managing technology platforms to increase communication with student families on academic and behavior progress
What’s Next?
Info Sessions
Find out more about our programs by attending one of our info sessions.
Apply
Complete our online application and take the first step in becoming a fully certified teacher.