There is a great need for special education teachers as states all across the country are experiencing shortages. ​Today's special​ ​education​ teachers​ ​must​ ​be​ ​highly-skilled​ ​individuals who​ ​not just understand​ ​the​ ​complexities​ ​of​ ​their​ ​students’​ ​needs,​ but are can modify ​curriculum,​ ​and provide​ ​remedial​ ​instruction.

Drexel​ ​University’s​ School​ ​of​ ​Education​ program​ prepares​ ​special​ ​education teachers​ ​for​ ​these​ ​challenges.

​What ​Can ​You ​Do ​with ​a ​Special ​Education ​Certification?

Drexel’s​ online​ Special​ ​Education​ ​Certification​ ​program​ ​seeks​ ​to​ ​produce professionals​ ​who​ ​are​ ​equipped​ ​with​ ​the​ ​fundamental​ ​skills,​ ​knowledge,​ ​and competencies​ ​they​ ​require​ ​to​ ​meet​ ​the​ ​needs​ ​of​ ​students​ ​at​ ​risk​ ​for​ ​school​ ​failure and​ ​students​ ​with​ ​disabilities​ ​in​ ​multiple​ ​settings.​ ​The​ ​program​ ​is​ ​intended​ ​for​ ​those interested​ ​in​ ​gaining​ ​greater​ ​skills​ ​and​ ​expertise​ ​and​ ​a​ ​teaching​ ​certification​ ​in​ ​the area​ ​of​ ​special​ ​education.

How ​to ​Get ​Certified ​in ​Special ​Education

This​ online​ ​Special​ ​Education​ ​certification​ program​ ​is​ ​for​ actively​ ​certified​ ​teachers seeking​ ​Pennsylvania's​ ​Special​ ​Education​ ​PreK-12​ ​certification.​ ​Candidates must​ ​have​ ​an​ ​active​ ​PA​ ​Instructional​ ​I​ ​or​ ​Instructional​ ​II​ ​teaching​ ​certificate​.

Out-of-state​ ​teachers​ ​are​ ​welcome​ ​to​ ​participate​ ​in​ ​the​ ​Special​ ​Education​ ​Program as​ ​non-PA​ ​certification​ ​students.

Special ​Education ​Certification ​Program Curriculum

The​ ​Special​ ​Education​ ​Certification​ ​program​ ​is​ ​a​ ​part-time​ online​ program​ ​consisting of​ ​27​ ​graduate​ ​credits.​ ​For​ ​students​ ​that​ ​have​ ​not​ ​completed​ ​the​ ​prerequisite courses,​ ​the​ ​program​ ​will​ ​require​ ​36​ ​credits:​ ​27​ ​credits​ ​in​ ​Core​ ​Special​ ​Education Certification​ ​courses​ ​and​ ​9.0​ ​credits​ ​in​ ​prerequisites​ ​for​ ​certification​ ​in​ ​special education.​ ​The​ ​certification​ ​areas​ ​are​ ​Special​ ​Education​ ​PreK-8​ ​and​ ​Special Education​ ​7-12.

Course​ ​descriptions​ ​may​ ​be​ ​found​ ​in​ ​the​ ​Drexel​ ​University​ ​Catalog.

Most​ ​of​ ​the​ ​coursework​ ​requires​ ​field​ ​hours.​ ​Students​ ​must​ ​have​ ​the​ ​necessary clearances​ ​in​ ​order​ ​to​ ​begin​ ​the​ ​program.

How ​Long ​Does ​it ​Take ​To ​Get ​Certified ​in ​Special Education?

The Special Education certification program is a part-time, accelerated program. Students, on average, complete the program in about a year and a half.

Master​ ​of​ ​Science​ ​in​ ​Special​ ​Education

Credits​ ​earned​ ​in​ ​the​ ​Special​ ​Education​ ​Certification​ ​program​ ​may​ ​be​ ​applied​ ​to​ ​the Master​ ​of​ ​Science​ ​in​ ​Special​ ​Education​ ​graduate​ ​program​.​ ​The​ ​MS​ ​program​ ​offers four​ ​concentrations:​ ​Applied Behavior Analysis; Autism​ ​Spectrum​ ​Disorders;​ ​Collaborative​ ​Special​ ​Education Law​ ​&​ ​Process;​ and ​Dyslexia Specialist (Wilson® Level 1 certification).​ ​Students​ ​may​ ​also​ ​work​ ​with​ ​their​ ​academic​ ​advisor​ ​to​ ​develop​ ​a customized​ ​concentration​ ​to​ ​meet​ ​specific​ ​objectives.

How ​to ​Apply ​to ​the ​Special ​Education ​Certification Program

The Special Education certification program is offered 100% online. you can get started by filling out the Drexel Online Application.