Special Education Teacher

Career Overview

Special education teachers work with students who have a wide range of learning, mental, emotional, and physical disabilities.

Education

Special education teachers in public schools are required to have a bachelor’s degree and a state-issued certification or license. Teachers in private schools typically need a bachelor’s degree but may not be required to have a state license or certification.

Future Outlook

Overall employment of special education teachers is projected to grow 3 percent from 2019 to 2029, about as fast as the average for all occupations. Employment of preschool education teachers is projected to grow 8 percent from 2019 to 2029, much faster than the average for all occupations. However, because it is a small occupation, the fast growth will result in only about 1,900 new jobs over the 10-year period.

Work Environment

Most special education teachers work in public schools, teaching students from preschool to high school. Many work the traditional 10-month school year, but some work year round.

Recommended High School Courses

Psychology
Communication
Sociology
English
Cultural diversity

Active Learning - Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
Active Listening - Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Complex Problem Solving - Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
Coordination - Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
Critical Thinking - Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Instructing - Teaching others how to do something.
Judgment and Decision Making - Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Learning Strategies - Selecting and using training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things.
Monitoring - Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Negotiation - Bringing others together and trying to reconcile differences.
Persuasion - Persuading others to change their minds or behavior.
Reading Comprehension - Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Service Orientation - Actively looking for ways to help people.
Social Perceptiveness - Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Speaking - Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Systems Analysis - Determining how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, and the environment will affect outcomes.
Time Management - Managing one's own time and the time of others.
Writing - Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.

Administration and Management - Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
Clerical - Knowledge of administrative and clerical procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office procedures and terminology.
Computers and Electronics - Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
Customer and Personal Service - Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
Education and Training - Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
English Language - Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
Law and Government - Knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, agency rules, and the democratic political process.
Mathematics - Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
Psychology - Knowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders.
Public Safety and Security - Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.
Sociology and Anthropology - Knowledge of group behavior and dynamics, societal trends and influences, human migrations, ethnicity, cultures and their history and origins.
Therapy and Counseling - Knowledge of principles, methods, and procedures for diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of physical and mental dysfunctions, and for career counseling and guidance.

Category Flexibility - The ability to generate or use different sets of rules for combining or grouping things in different ways.
Deductive Reasoning - The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
Fluency of Ideas - The ability to come up with a number of ideas about a topic (the number of ideas is important, not their quality, correctness, or creativity).
Inductive Reasoning - The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
Information Ordering - The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
Near Vision - The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
Oral Comprehension - The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
Oral Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
Originality - The ability to come up with unusual or clever ideas about a given topic or situation, or to develop creative ways to solve a problem.
Problem Sensitivity - The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.
Selective Attention - The ability to concentrate on a task over a period of time without being distracted.
Speech Clarity - The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
Speech Recognition - The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.
Time Sharing - The ability to shift back and forth between two or more activities or sources of information (such as speech, sounds, touch, or other sources).
Written Comprehension - The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
Written Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.

Develop strategies or programs for students with special needs.
Collaborate with other teaching professionals to develop educational programs.
Teach life skills.
Maintain student records.
Establish rules or policies governing student behavior.
Discuss student progress with parents or guardians.
Modify teaching methods or materials to accommodate student needs.
Discuss problems or issues with supervisors.
Direct activities of subordinates.
Prepare reports detailing student activities or performance.
Set up classroom materials or equipment.
Administer tests to assess educational needs or progress.
Evaluate student work.
Prepare tests.
Develop instructional objectives.
Monitor student performance.
Monitor student behavior, social development, or health.
Assist students with special educational needs.
Encourage students.
Assess educational needs of students.
Advise students on academic or career matters.
Develop instructional materials.
Plan educational activities.
Display student work.
Create technology-based learning materials.
Teach others to use technology or equipment.
Attend training sessions or professional meetings to develop or maintain professional knowledge.
Tutor students who need extra assistance.
Distribute instructional or library materials.
Maintain inventories of materials, equipment, or products.
Plan experiential learning activities.
Supervise school or student activities.

Schools

Abilene Christian Univers...

Adelphi University

Alabama State University

Alvernia University

American International Co...

American University

Angelo State University

Anna Maria College

Appalachian State Univers...

Arcadia University

Arkansas Tech University

Asbury University

Assumption College

Auburn University

Augustana University

Azusa Pacific University

Bakersfield College- Pano...

Ball State University

Barry University

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Bemidji State University

Bethel University

Bethel University (indian...

Biola University

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Bob Jones University

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Bradley University

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Cal Poly Pomona

California Lutheran Unive...

California State Universi...

Campellsville University

Canisius College

Central Connecticut State...

Chaminade University Of H...

Clarion University

College Of Saint Scholast...

Colorado Christian Univer...

Colorado Mesa University

Columbus State University

Community College Of Alle...

Concordia College- New Yo...

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Concordia University-chic...

Concordia University-wisc...

Dallas Baptist University

Delta State University

Desales University

Drew University

Drexel University

Drury University

Duquesne University

East Stroudsburg Universi...

Eastern New Mexico Univer...

Eastern University

Edinboro University

Elmhurst College

Elon University

Emporia State University

Fairfield University

Fairleigh Dickinson Unive...

Fayetteville State Univer...

Ferris State University

Flagler College

Florida Gulf Coast Univer...

Florida State University

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Framingham State Universi...

Frostburg State Universit...

Furman University

Georgia College And State...

Georgia Southwestern Stat...

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Hamline University

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Johnson And Wales Univers...

Kodiak College

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Manhattan College

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Minot State University

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Missouri Baptist Universi...

Monmouth University

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North Carolina Central Un...

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Notre Dame University Of...

Nyack College

Our Lady Of The Lake Univ...

Pace University- Nyc Camp...

Pennsylvania State Univer...

Pittsburg State Universit...

Point Park University

Prescott College

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Purdue University- Northw...

Roberts Wesleyan College

Rowan University

Saint Cloud State Univers...

Saint Joseph's College -...

Saint Joseph's University

Saint Michael's College

Saint Xavier University

Salve Regina University

Samford University

Siena Heights University

Simmons University

Sonoma State University

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Southern New Hampshire Un...

Southwestern College- Mai...

Southwestern Oklahoma Sta...

Spring Arbor University

St. Bonaventure Universit...

Stonehill College

Suny At Binghamton

Suny At Cortland

Suny At Old Westbury

Suny At Oneonta

Suny At Oswego

Suny At Potsdam

Suny Plattsburgh

Texas A & M University- C...

Texas A & M University- K...

Texas Women's University

Trevecca Nazarene Univers...

Troy University

University Of Alaska Fair...

University Of Alaska Sout...

University Of Arkansas- L...

University Of California-...

University Of Charleston

University Of Hartford

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University Of Lynchburg

University Of Maryland- E...

University Of Maryland- H...

University Of Maryland- S...

University Of Mississippi

University Of Mount Olive

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University Of North Alaba...

University Of North Carol...

University Of Northern Co...

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University Of Scranton

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University Of Southern Mi...

University Of St. Francis

University Of Texas- Perm...

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University Of Wisconsin-...

Upper Iowa University

Vincennes University- Vin...

Virginia Wesleyan Univers...

Viterbo University

Wagner College

Walden University

Walla Walla University

Wayland Baptist Universit...

West Texas A & M Universi...

Westminster College- Penn...

Wheeling Jesuit Univesity

Wittenberg University

Xavier University

York College

York College Of Pennsylva...

Capilano University- M...

Cdi College- Richmond...

Trinity Western Univer...

Université De Saint-bo...

University Of Alberta

University Of Northern...

Vancouver Island Univer...

Potential Scholarships

5 Strong Scholarship

Agnes M. Lindsay Scholars...

- Traditional Fulbright P...

Approx Salary Expectation

Currency:

Low End:

$40,730.00 /yr

Avg/Med:

$61,030.00 /yr

High End:

$98,530.00 /yr

Related Careers

Special Education Teacher

College Professor

Secondary School Teacher (HS)

Teacher (Kindergarten & Elementary)

References

Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, https://www.bls.gov/ooh/.
Trend Analysis - Explorer the Market, Labour Market Information, Government of Canada https://www.jobbank.gc.ca/trend-analysis.
O*NET OnLine, National Center for O*NET Development, https://www.onetonline.org/.