Special Education Special education teachers work with preschool, elementary, middle, or high school students who have physical disabilities or emotional, behavioral, or learning difficulties. Special education teachers are required to be licensed, which usually requires a bachelor’s degree and a special education teacher training program. Special Education Teachers Special education teachers work with student who have learning disabilities, speech, hearing, orthopedic, or visual impairments, mental retardation, emotional disturbances, autism, combined deafness and blindness, brain injuries, and other health impairments. They help develop an Individualized Education Program (IEP) for each student, taking into account individual needs, abilities, and goals. Special education teachers work with students to carry out the IEPs using various teaching methods that can include individual instruction, problem-solving, and group work, and also with parents, teachers, and school administrators to be sure the student is making satisfactory progress. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the 2007 median earnings of wage-and-salary special education teachers who worked in preschools, kindergartens, and elementary schools were $46,360; those who worked in middle schools earned $47,650, while high school special education teachers earned a median salary of $48,330. The top paying states for special education teachers in 2007 were New York, Connecticut, Rhode Island, California, Alaska, and New Jersey. The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that 459,000 people were employed as special education teachers in 2006 and expect much faster than average ten-year growth in the occupation; job prospects for special education teachers are described as "excellent." The BLS predicts a 15% increase in preschool teaching employment by 2016 for a few reasons: (1) the number of students requiring special education is increasing; (2) school districts will need to replace retiring teachers or those who change professions; and (3) school districts report difficulty in finding qualified teachers. Most special education teachers work in public or private schools, while a much smaller number work for agencies, residential facilities, homes, or hospitals. To become a special education teacher, you will need at least a bachelor’s degree. Even if you don’t have a degree in education, though, some states to offer alternative licensure programs. Certificates George Mason University: Special Education Certificate National University: Early Childhood Special Education Certificate St. Joseph’s University: Special Education Certificate Bachelor’s Degrees Grand Canyon University: BS Elementary Education/Special Education (Dual Major) Western Governors University: BA Special Education Master’s Degrees Abilene Christian University: MEd Special Education Grand Canyon University: MEd Special Education Kaplan University: MS Education/Teaching Students with Special Needs Liberty University Online: MA Teaching/Special Education Regis University: MEd Special Education St. Joseph’s University: MS Special Education University of Phoenix: MA Education/Special Education Walden University: MS Education-Special Education (Non-Licensure) Western Governors University: MS Special Education Doctorate Degrees Capella University: PhD Education-Special Education Leadership Walden University: PhD Special Education Find Special Education Teaching Jobs · Council for Exceptional Children Job Board · SchoolSpring.com · Special Education Jobs · Teachers-Teachers.com