Special Education (All Ages) Teacher Pathway
Special Education Teachers: The Education Specialist Instruction Credential authorizes the holder to provide instructional services in their chosen Specialty Area(s): Autism Spectrum Disorders, Mild/Moderate Disabilities, Moderate/Severe Disabilities, Deaf and Hard of Hearing, Visual Impairments, Physical and Health Impairments, Early Childhood Special Education, and Language and Academic Development.
If you would like to teach Special Education at Pre-K or Elementary schools, you will want to follow the academic preparation for Elementary School Teachers and then earn the Education Specialist Instruction Credential (not the Multiple Subject). For teaching Special Education at high schools, complete the academic preparation in either a multiple or single subject and then earn the Education Specialist Instruction Credential (instead of the multiple or single subject).
Pathway Steps:
Do you want to complete a Paraprofessional degree, or not sure if you want to teach Special Education?
Our AA in Paraprofessional Educator/Preteaching is a good option for you.
Students following this pathway will need to follow destination transfer school GE
Pattern.
Be sure to take the Special Education Teacher Concentration of this degree.
Education Specialist in Elementary (Pre-K - 6th) Schools
- Complete: AA-T in Elementary Teacher Education
- Be sure to incorporate the following Certificates on the way to your AA-T:
- Satisfy the basic skills requirement. There are many ways to meet the basic skills requirement, which include earning qualifying scores on the CBEST, CSU EAP/ELM/EPT, SAT, ACT, or AP exams. If you take the CBEST, complete it right after you have completed transferable Math and English
- Complete: BA in Liberal Studies
- Verify Subject Matter Competence
- May be met by completing your Liberal Studies degree at a university that has a Commission-Approved Elementary Subject Matter Prep Program
- Pass the California Subject Exam for Teachers (CSET): Multiple Subject Exam
- Complete an Education Specialist Instruction Credential Program
- Apply for your Preliminary Teaching Credential and become a California teacher!
Education Specialist in Middle or High (7th-12th) Schools
- Complete: AA-T/AS-T in your major
- Be sure to incorporate the following Certificates on the way to your AA-T:
- Satisfy the basic skills requirement. There are many ways to meet the basic skills requirement, which include earning qualifying scores on the CBEST, CSU EAP/ELM/EPT, SAT, ACT, or AP Exams. If you take the CBEST, complete it right after you have completed transferable Math and English.
- Complete: BA/BS in your major
- Verify Subject Matter Competence
- May be met by completing a BA/BS degree in your major at a university that has a Commission-Approved Subject Matter Prep Program
- Pass the California Subject Exam for Teachers (CSET): Single Subject Exam
- Complete an Education Specialist Instruction Credential Program
- Apply for your Preliminary Teaching Credential and become a California teacher!
Click here for more detailed information on the above steps (PDF)
Click here for the Special Education Teacher Pathway flyer (PDF)
If you would like more information or have questions about the Special Education Teacher Pathway, the AA-T in Elementary Teacher Education, or the transfer process, contact the Counseling Department 805-546-3138(SLO) or 805-591-6241(NCC).